11 February, 2026 (Last Updated)

How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation and Ask for One Professionally

Ever visited a LinkedIn profile, scrolled past the experience section, and stopped at the recommendations, wondering how people get such powerful testimonials?
LinkedIn recommendations act like public references. Recruiters trust them, hiring managers read them, and candidates with strong recommendations often stand out, especially in competitive job markets.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a LinkedIn recommendation, how to give one professionally, and how to ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn with ready-to-use templates and examples you can personalize instantly.

Quick Summary:

LinkedIn recommendations act as public references
Strong recommendations include context, skills, proof, and endorsement
Asking professionally is normal and acceptable
3–5 high-quality recommendations are ideal

What is a LinkedIn Recommendation?

A LinkedIn recommendation is a written testimonial on your profile where colleagues, managers, clients, or mentors describe how you worked, what you contributed, and why they recommend you professionally.

Why LinkedIn Recommendations Matter for Your Career?

LinkedIn recommendations work like online reference letters that anyone can see. They help recruiters answer one critical question: “Can this person actually deliver?”

Here’s why they matter:

They build credibility and trust
They strengthen your profile for job searches and referrals
They support your claims with real-world validation
They improve profile visibility for relevant keywords

For freshers, recommendations show potential. For experienced professionals, they prove consistency and impact.

Why recruiters care:

Recruiters use recommendations to validate skills, assess work ethic, and compare candidates with similar resumes.

Preparing for interviews beyond LinkedIn?

Explore our complete placement preparation roadmap to understand how recruiters evaluate candidates, resumes, and interviews together.

How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’re unsure how to write a LinkedIn recommendation that feels genuine and professional, this step-by-step framework makes it easy. You don’t need fancy words, just clarity and honesty.

Step 1: Start with Context (Relationship + Role)

Always begin by explaining how you know the person and in how long you worked together. This gives recruiters context and makes your recommendation credible.

Example:

I worked with Neha at ABC Technologies, where she was a software tester reporting directly to me for over a year.

Why this works:

Recruiters immediately understand who you are, how closely you worked, and why your opinion matters.

Step 2: Highlight Key Skills with Proof

Mention 2–3 key skills you personally observed and support them with examples. Avoid listing too many skills.

Example:

Neha consistently demonstrated strong analytical skills and attention to detail, especially while handling regression testing for major releases.

Why this works:

Specific skills and real exposure builds trust.

Step 3: Add Measurable Impact

This is what separates average recommendations from powerful ones. Whenever possible, include results, outcomes, or improvements.

Example:

Her testing efforts helped reduce production bugs by nearly 30% over two quarters.

Why this works:

Numbers and outcomes make the recommendation believable and memorable.

Step 4: Close with a Strong Endorsement

End clearly. Say who should hire/work with them and why.

Example:

I would strongly recommend Neha to any organization looking for a reliable and detail-oriented QA professional.

Why this works:

It leaves no doubt about your recommendation.

Writing a strong LinkedIn recommendation uses the same clarity recruiters expect in interviews. Strengthen your answers with our interview preparation guide.

How to Give a Recommendation on LinkedIn

Many professionals want to help but don’t know how to give recommendations on LinkedIn properly.

Keep it between 80 and 150 words
Write like a human, not a brochure
Focus on work impact, not personality alone
Be honest and specific

How to give a recommendation on LinkedIn:

Go to the person’s profile
Scroll to the “Recommendations” section
Click “Recommend”
Choose your relationship and write your recommendation

LinkedIn Recommendation Template (Easy to Customize)

Use this LinkedIn recommendation template when you want to write quickly without sounding generic.

Template: Professional Recommendation

I had the pleasure of working with [Name] at [Company] as a [Role].

During this time, they consistently demonstrated strong skills in [Skill 1] and [Skill 2].

One instance that stood out was [specific example or achievement].

Their ability to [result/impact] made a real difference to our team.

I highly recommend [Name] to any organization looking for a reliable and skilled [role].

LinkedIn Recommendation Sample for Different Roles

LinkedIn Recommendation Sample for Freshers

I mentored Aman during his internship at XYZ Solutions. He showed strong enthusiasm for learning and quickly picked up new concepts. His contribution to the internal dashboard improved reporting efficiency for the team. Aman’s curiosity and work ethic make him a strong candidate for entry-level roles.

LinkedIn Recommendation Sample for Team Members

I worked closely with Priya on multiple projects at ABC Corp. She consistently delivered high-quality work under tight deadlines and communicated clearly with stakeholders. Priya is dependable, proactive, and a great team player.

LinkedIn Recommendation Sample for Managers

I reported to Rakesh for over two years at XYZ Ltd. His leadership style encouraged ownership and collaboration. He guided the team through multiple high-pressure releases while maintaining morale and productivity.

LinkedIn Recommendation Sample for Clients or Freelancers

I worked with Suman as a freelance designer for our brand revamp project. She understood our requirements clearly and delivered designs that exceeded expectations. Her professionalism and turnaround time were excellent.

A strong LinkedIn recommendation works best when it aligns with your resume and interview answers. Avoid common pitfalls with our resume and interview preparation guides.

LinkedIn Recommendation Examples That Get Noticed

Here are LinkedIn recommendation examples recruiters trust, along with why they work.

Example with Metrics

Led a migration project that improved application performance by 35%.

Example with Leadership Focus

Mentored junior team members and improved overall team delivery consistency.

Example with Technical Skills

Built scalable APIs and optimized database queries for high-traffic systems.

Example with Soft Skills

Communicated effectively across teams and handled stakeholder expectations smoothly.

How to Ask for a Recommendation on LinkedIn Professionally

To ask for a recommendation on LinkedIn professionally:

Send a polite, personalized message to someone who knows your work, mention the skills or project you’d like highlighted, and thank them for their time.

Who to Ask

Manager or team lead
Mentor or professor
A colleague you worked closely with
Client or project stakeholder

When to Ask

After completing a project
During a job switch
After an appraisal or promotion
At the end of an internship or contract

What Information to Share Before Requesting

Your role and responsibilities
Specific projects you worked on
Skills you’d like highlighted

This makes it easier for them to write a strong recommendation.

LinkedIn Recommendation Request Message Templates

Template 1: Request to a Manager

Hi [Name],

I hope you’re doing well. I really valued working under your guidance at [Company].

If you’re comfortable, I’d appreciate a LinkedIn recommendation highlighting my work on [project/skill].

Thank you for your time.

Template 2: Request to a Colleague

Hi [Name],

I enjoyed collaborating with you on [project].

If possible, could you write me a LinkedIn recommendation? I’d be happy to return the favor.

Thanks!

Template 3: Request to a Client

Hi [Name],

I really enjoyed working on [project] with you.

If you’re open to it, I’d greatly appreciate a LinkedIn recommendation reflecting our collaboration.

Thank you!

Template 4: Polite Follow-Up Message

Hi [Name],

Just a gentle follow-up in case you missed my earlier message.

No worries at all if you’re busy. Thank you for your time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Sending copy-paste requests
Asking people who don’t know your work
Writing vague recommendations
Making it all about personality
Forgetting to recommend them back

Pro Tips to Make Your LinkedIn Recommendation Stand Out

Use keywords aligned with job roles naturally
Keep sentences short and skimmable
Personalize every recommendation
Offer bullet points if they’re busy
Always say thank you afterward

Your LinkedIn profile gets attention. Your resume closes the opportunity.

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FAQs

1. How long should a LinkedIn recommendation be?

A LinkedIn recommendation should ideally be 80 to 150 words. This length is long enough to provide context, mention key skills, and include real impact without becoming overwhelming to read.

2. Can freshers get LinkedIn recommendations?

Yes, freshers can absolutely get LinkedIn recommendations even without full-time work experience.

Freshers can request recommendations from Internship mentors, College professors or project guides, Team leads from academic or live projects, and Hackathon mentors or startup founders

For freshers, recommendations often focus on learning ability, attitude, consistency, and problem-solving, which recruiters value just as much as experience.

3. Should LinkedIn recommendations be skill-specific or general?

Skill-specific recommendations align better with recruiter searches and improve keyword relevance for your profile.

A stronger approach is:

“They consistently delivered clean, well-documented code and resolved production issues quickly.”

4. Can I write a LinkedIn recommendation for myself?

No, LinkedIn does not allow users to write recommendations for themselves.

However, you can:

Share bullet points with the recommender
Suggest skills or projects to highlight
Offer to draft a rough version for their review

This is common practice and helps ensure accuracy.

5. Is it professional to ask someone to write a recommendation for me?

Yes, it is professional as long as you ask politely and respectfully.

Most professionals understand that LinkedIn recommendations help with:

Career growth
Job changes
Profile credibility

The key is to ask the right person at the right time and make the process easy for them.

6. How do I politely follow up if someone hasn’t written the recommendation?

A polite follow-up is acceptable if at least 7–10 days have passed.

Keep the message short and understanding:

Acknowledge they may be busy
Avoid sounding demanding
Give them an easy exit

A gentle reminder often works better than repeated messages.

7. Do LinkedIn recommendations help with job searches?

Yes, LinkedIn recommendations can significantly help with job searches.

They:

Build trust before interviews
Support resume claim
Increase profile credibility
Improve recruiter confidence

Many recruiters read recommendations when deciding between candidates with similar skills.

8. Can LinkedIn recommendations improve profile visibility in search results?

Yes. LinkedIn recommendations often contain role-related keywords and skill terms, which can indirectly improve your profile’s visibility in LinkedIn and Google search results.

Hashmithaa S

Hi, I’m Hashmithaa. I believe in the power of words to connect and guide. As a content writer, I craft stories and insights that are relatable, practical, and designed to help readers learn, evolve, and navigate the online world.