You've set up your LinkedIn profile, filled in your work experience, and added your skills. But there's one powerful feature you might be overlooking – LinkedIn recommendations. These personal testimonials can significantly boost your professional credibility and help you stand out in a competitive job market.

Whether you're a sales development representative like Sarah, a technical recruiter like David, or a business founder like Maria, understanding how to effectively use LinkedIn recommendations can enhance your professional presence and open doors to new opportunities.

What Are LinkedIn Recommendations?

LinkedIn recommendations are brief testimonials written by your connections that appear on your profile. Unlike endorsements (those one-click skill validations), recommendations are personalized statements that detail your professional abilities, work ethic, and achievements from someone who has worked with you.

These testimonials function like online reviews, providing third-party perspectives on your skills and strengths. For recruiters and hiring managers, they offer valuable insights beyond what you've written about yourself.

Interestingly, many recruiters are suspicious of profiles without recommendations. As one recruiter noted on Reddit: "In my role, I get large volumes of fake resumes for my open requisitions. One thing the fake profiles have in common is this: no recommendations." Having quality recommendations helps legitimize your profile in an era of increasing fake online presences.

Why LinkedIn Recommendations Matter

You might wonder if LinkedIn recommendations are worth the effort. Here's why they deserve your attention:

1. Enhanced Visibility and Credibility

Recommendations boost your visibility on LinkedIn's algorithm and provide social proof of your abilities. They serve as third-party validations of your skills, making your claims more credible to potential employers or clients.

2. Differentiation in a Crowded Market

In competitive fields, recommendations help you stand out. They showcase your unique strengths and work style through the eyes of colleagues who have firsthand experience working with you.

3. Personal Brand Development

Well-crafted recommendations highlight not just your technical skills but also your work ethic, values, and interpersonal abilities – all crucial elements of your personal brand.

4. Reconnection Opportunities

Requesting recommendations gives you legitimate reasons to reconnect with former colleagues, strengthening your professional network.

How to Request LinkedIn Recommendations

Asking for recommendations can feel awkward, but with the right approach, it becomes much easier:

Select the Right People

Choose connections who truly know your work quality. Ideal candidates include:

• Current or former managers

• Colleagues who worked closely with you

• Clients or customers you've impressed

• Professors or academic advisors (for recent graduates)

If you're struggling to find recommenders due to company policies (some organizations restrict formal references), consider classmates, vendors, or networking contacts. As one professional advised on Reddit: "If you can't get recommendations from your company, get them from former classmates, vendors, people who have left Industry, retired, or those that you meet through networking/volunteer."

Send a Personalized Request

LinkedIn makes it easy to request recommendations, but don't rely on the generic message. Here's a template you can customize:

Hi [Name],

I hope you're doing well! I'm currently updating my LinkedIn profile and was wondering if you'd be open to writing a recommendation for me. It would mean a lot if you could highlight [specific skill/achievements] from our time working together on [specific project].

Thank you so much for considering this!

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Make It Easy for Them

If appropriate, offer some talking points or reminders about your work together. Some people even draft a recommendation for the recommender to edit, though this should be done thoughtfully and only when requested.

Express Gratitude

Always thank the person regardless of whether they agree to provide a recommendation. Appreciation goes a long way in maintaining strong professional relationships.

Writing Effective LinkedIn Recommendations

When it's your turn to write recommendations for others (which can encourage reciprocation), follow these best practices:

1. Start with a strong opener that establishes your relationship and sets the tone

2. Be specific about the person's skills and contributions

3. Include tangible results or examples that showcase their impact

4. Highlight unique qualities that make them stand out

5. Keep it concise – around 3-4 short paragraphs is ideal

6. End with a clear endorsement that summarizes your recommendation

LinkedIn Recommendation Templates

Here are some templates you can adapt for different professional relationships:

For a Colleague

I had the pleasure of working with [Name] at [Company] for [timeframe], collaborating closely on [specific projects]. [Name] consistently demonstrated [key strengths] that made our team more effective. I was particularly impressed by [specific achievement or quality], which resulted in [tangible outcome]. Any team would be fortunate to have [Name]

For a Manager

I reported to [Name] at [Company] for [timeframe], where they led our [department/team]. [Name] excels at [leadership qualities], creating an environment where team members could [positive outcomes]. Their approach to [specific challenge] was particularly effective, resulting in [measurable results]. [Name] is the kind of leader who [distinctive quality]

For a Client or Service Provider

I worked with [Name] on [project] during [timeframe]. Throughout our collaboration, [Name] demonstrated exceptional [skills/qualities], consistently delivering [positive outcomes]. What sets [Name] apart is their ability to [unique strength], which made our project [specific benefit]. I confidently recommend [Name] for anyone seeking [type of service/expertise]

Real LinkedIn Recommendation Examples

Here are some real-world examples that effectively showcase different professional strengths:

Example 1: Highlighting Leadership and Innovation

"Working with Jane has been transformative for our marketing team. During her three years as Marketing Director, she implemented innovative campaigns that increased our lead generation by 45%. Jane has a rare ability to balance creative vision with data-driven decision-making, inspiring the team while maintaining focus on business objectives. Her collaborative leadership style brings out the best in everyone around her."

Example 2: Emphasizing Technical Expertise and Problem-Solving

"Michael is the kind of software engineer you want on your most challenging projects. During our two years working together at XYZ Tech, he consistently tackled complex problems with both creativity and technical rigor. His redesign of our authentication system reduced security incidents by 80% while improving user experience. Beyond his technical brilliance, Michael's ability to communicate complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders made him invaluable to cross-functional teams."

Example 3: Showcasing Client Relationship Management

"As our account manager, Sarah transformed our relationship with ABC Corp from a standard vendor arrangement into a true strategic partnership. Her proactive approach to understanding our business challenges, combined with her deep product knowledge, resulted in solutions that drove a 30% increase in operational efficiency. What truly sets Sarah apart is her responsiveness and accountability – when issues arise, she owns them completely and resolves them quickly."

Best Practices for Managing LinkedIn Recommendations

Quality Over Quantity

Focus on securing 3-5 strong, diverse recommendations rather than collecting dozens of superficial ones. As one LinkedIn user noted on Reddit: "Quality counts - the job title of the recommender and thought put into post make a difference."

Curate Your Display

You can choose which recommendations to display prominently on your profile. Highlight those most relevant to your current career goals or job search.

Update Regularly

Periodically request new recommendations, particularly after completing significant projects or when changing roles. Some professionals suggest refreshing recommendations every six months to keep your profile current.

For professionals managing busy LinkedIn inboxes, tools like Kondo can help organize your messages, set reminders for follow-ups on recommendation requests, and use snippets to send personalized thank-you messages efficiently. This is especially useful for recruiters like David or business development professionals managing numerous LinkedIn conversations.

Final Thoughts

LinkedIn recommendations aren't equal to formal references, but they play a valuable role in building your professional reputation. As one hiring manager commented on Reddit: "I don't see them as equal to references - but I am impacted by those who have quality recommendations and will ask about them in interviews."

By thoughtfully requesting, writing, and managing recommendations, you can strengthen your LinkedIn presence and open doors to new professional opportunities. Remember that the LinkedIn ecosystem thrives on reciprocity – be generous with your own recommendations, and you'll likely find others more willing to provide them for you.

What makes recommendations truly valuable isn't just having them, but ensuring they reflect your authentic professional strengths and contributions. When they do, they become powerful tools for advancing your career and building meaningful professional relationships.

Have you recently updated your LinkedIn recommendations? Consider which colleagues might provide valuable testimonials to enhance your profile and reach out with a personalized request today.