How to write a great LinkedIn recommendation

How to write a great LinkedIn recommendation is a frequent question for professionals who want to help peers, build goodwill, and improve personal branding. A well-crafted recommendation can open doors for colleagues, strengthen your network, and reflect positively on your professional judgment. This guide gives step-by-step advice, proven templates, and practical examples so you can write recommendations quickly, authentically, and with measurable impact.

Why LinkedIn recommendations matter for your personal brand

A LinkedIn recommendation is social proof that adds authority to a profile. When hiring managers, clients, or partners visit a profile, recommendations provide context beyond titles and dates — they show real-world results and professional character.

• Trust signals: Recommendations from respected peers increase credibility.
• Search impact: Profiles with active recommendations get more profile views and engagement (LinkedIn data shows engagement correlates with richer profiles — see LinkedIn).
• Networking ROI: A thoughtful recommendation often leads to return recommendations and stronger relationships.

When to write a recommendation (and when not to)

Ideal moments

• After completing a project or contract together
• When a colleague earns a promotion or new role
• Following a measurable achievement (launched product, closed major deal, improved KPI)
• To support a job search or public recognition

When to pause

• Don't write recommendations for people you haven't worked with directly
• Avoid vague praise without examples — it looks templated and hurts authenticity

Anatomy of a great LinkedIn recommendation

A high-performing recommendation usually follows a compact structure you can reuse:

1. Context: How you know the person and duration.
2. Role & challenge: What they were hired to do.
3. Specific contribution: One or two clear achievements or behaviors.
4. Result or impact: Quantify when possible.
5. Personal endorsement: Short closing sentence recommended for future roles.

Featured snippet-ready example (short answer)

Example: "I worked with Alex for 18 months while he led our product marketing team. He restructured messaging that increased demo requests by 32% and led a cross-functional launch that beat targets. Alex is strategic, data-driven, and excellent at rallying teams. I strongly recommend him for senior product marketing roles."

7-step process to write a recommendation in 10 minutes

1. Open with context: "I worked with [Name] at [Company] for [time period]..."
2. State the role & scope: "As [role], they were responsible for..."
3. Highlight one clear accomplishment: Use numbers when possible.
4. Describe behaviors or strengths: teamwork, leadership, creativity, reliability.
5. Share an anecdote: One short line that illustrates their approach.
6. Conclude with recommendation: "I recommend [Name] for..."
7. Edit for voice: Make it sound like you — not a template.

Practical template bank (copy-and-edit)

Examples: Real-world recommendations that work

Below are polished examples you can adapt. Each follows the anatomy above and is optimized for clarity, authenticity, and impact.

Example A — Product lead (concise)

"I collaborated with Maya for two years while she led product design. Maya translated complex user needs into elegant interfaces that raised retention by 18%. She's a thoughtful leader and an excellent communicator — I recommend her for senior product roles."

Example B — Sales director (detailed)

"I worked directly with Sam when he served as Sales Director at NovaCorp. He rebuilt our enterprise sales playbook, coached reps through field training, and personally closed several key accounts contributing to 27% revenue growth in Q3. Sam is strategic, persistent, and brings energy to every deal. He's a top-performer I'd hire again."

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Vagueness: Avoid broad praise without examples. Add one concrete result or behavior.
• Tone mismatch: Match your voice to the person and situation — keep it professional.
• Overuse of superlatives: Too many "best" or "exceptional" claims feel inauthentic.
• Too long or too short: Aim for 2–4 short paragraphs (or 3–6 sentences for quick endorsements).

How to ask for a recommendation (so you actually get one)

Requesting a recommendation is a skill. People are busy — make it easy for them:

1. Ask privately (DM or email) and specify the role or skill you want highlighted.
2. Provide context: remind them of the project and the timeframe.
3. Offer a short bullet list of points they could reference (they can edit for voice).
4. Be gracious and give them time — follow up once if needed.

Scale recommendations (for managers and solopreneurs)

If you manage a team or help multiple clients, maintain authenticity as you scale:

• Keep a simple template for internal use, then personalize one sentence.
• Use a checklist for facts to include (role, duration, impact).
• Consider scheduling time monthly to write 2–4 recommendations — batch the task.

For professionals who want to automate parts of their LinkedIn content workflow (but still keep human voice in recommendations), tools like Linkesy can save hours per week by generating content drafts and scheduling other profile updates while you write personal recommendations by hand.

Quick checklist before you hit "Save"

• Is the relationship & timeframe clear?
• Is there a specific achievement or behavior noted?
• Is the tone authentic and aligned to your voice?
• Is it brief enough to be read quickly (3–6 sentences preferred)?
• Did you proofread names, numbers, and company details?

Pro tip: A 30–45 second, concrete anecdote often makes the recommendation memorable and credible.

Resources and further reading

• LinkedIn Blog — profile and networking best practices.
• HubSpot — LinkedIn recommendation templates and examples.
• How to build a LinkedIn content strategy (Linkesy blog).
• AI for LinkedIn: Automating authentic content (Linkesy blog).
• 30-day content calendar: Save time and stay consistent (Linkesy blog).

FAQ

Can recommendations be edited or removed?

Yes. Once submitted on LinkedIn, the recipient can accept, request edits, or remove a recommendation. You can also delete your own recommendation through your profile if needed.

How long should a LinkedIn recommendation be?

Aim for 3–6 sentences (around 40–120 words). Short recommendations are more likely to be read, but include at least one concrete example.

What should managers avoid when writing a recommendation?

Avoid generic vocabulary and internal-only jargon. Focus on external value and clear results so the recommendation resonates with recruiters and external contacts.

Is it okay to write a recommendation for someone outside your industry?

Yes, if you can speak credibly about the person’s skills or results. Emphasize transferable skills and specific behaviors relevant to the opportunities they seek.

How do I make my recommendation sound authentic (not AI-generated)?

Use a personal anecdote, include small details (timeframe, numbers), and write in your natural voice. If you use AI to draft, always edit to add a human touch and unique phrasing.

Conclusion — Write more recommendations, build stronger networks

Writing thoughtful LinkedIn recommendations is a high-leverage habit: they help peers, strengthen relationships, and enhance your reputation. Use the templates and checklist above to write recommendations faster without sacrificing authenticity. If you want to free up time for relationship-building, try Linkesy free to automate routine LinkedIn content while you focus on meaningful endorsements and networking.

Explore the LinkedIn Growth and Personal Branding pillar to build a complete strategy and see how automation can help you scale without losing your voice.

Ready to save time? See our plans and get started: Linkesy — Automate your LinkedIn.