5 Ways To Write a LinkedIn Recommendation

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If you have such great and reliable colleagues, employees, or bosses, and they want you to recommend them via LinkedIn for new job opportunities, you’d be more than willing to oblige. A LinkedIn recommendation can go a long way…

Today, LinkedIn has become so much more than a platform where freelancers look for potential clients. It’s also a channel where you can recommend your contacts and help them get a new, promising job. 

The thing is, writing a convincing LinkedIn recommendation is so much more than just giving a five-star rating to someone you know as a nice fellow. 

Writing it with too much excitement can make it sound insincere. Meanwhile, writing it too blandly can make it sound like you’re forced to write a LinkedIn recommendation for your contacts. The key has always been looking for the right words to help your contact stand out without sounding contrived.

In this article, we’ll break down what it takes to write an intriguing and professional LinkedIn recommendation for whoever you follow who needs it from you.

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What Is a LinkedIn Recommendation: An Overview

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details of the steps, let’s make sure that we’re all on the same page about the definition and purpose of a LinkedIn recommendation per se.

What Is a LinkedIn Recommendation?

So, what is a LinkedIn recommendation? Basically, it’s a written account of how you worked with a certain person and what you learned from the experience. If you think that this sounds a lot like writing a letter of recommendation, you’re not wrong.

A LinkedIn recommendation is like a letter of recommendation, but it’s in an online format. As a result, collecting recommendations is simpler and faster for the person who requires them. 

At the same time, it also allows the person who wrote the recommendation to post the same LinkedIn recommendation for different people, as long as the context is still relevant.

Why Do You Need to Write One?

For starters, if you have a LinkedIn account, it is a good opportunity for you to showcase your writing skills. 

If you manage to write an interesting and convincing LinkedIn recommendation, people who see it will automatically think that you know how to communicate well. This is a good way to build your personal brand as a professional.

Aside from that, writing a LinkedIn recommendation also allows you to give back to the people who have helped you in your career. By writing a glowing testimony about their expertise, you’re essentially giving them a new opportunity to find a great job or a business opportunity.

Last but not least, writing a LinkedIn recommendation is also a good way to network. If you write a great LinkedIn recommendation for someone, that person is likely to write one back for you in the future. 

How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation?

It doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to create a presentation or animated videos to be convincing. 

All it takes is your genuineness and your ability to come up with appealing words. It’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of how to write a LinkedIn recommendation.

#1. Start with a packed-a-punch line

When you start writing a LinkedIn recommendation, it is important to remember that you only have a few seconds to grab the attention of the reader. This is why you need to start with a bang—a punchy opening line that will immediately spark the interest of the reader.

Think about it this way: when you’re scrolling through your LinkedIn feed and you see a LinkedIn recommendation, what is the first thing that you look at? If you’re like most people, you probably look at the opening line first. 

This is why the opening line of your LinkedIn recommendation is so important. You need to make sure that it is interesting, intriguing, and relevant to the person you’re writing the recommendation for.

Here are a few examples of punchy opening lines that you can use as inspiration:

• If you’re looking for a [job title] who is [keyword], you’ve found it in [name].
• [Name] is one of the most [adjective] [professionals] I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.
• In my [time period] working with [name], I have never seen someone so [adjective] at [skill].

#2. Tell a brief story about the working relationship with the contact

After the punch-filled opening line, the next thing you need to do is tell a brief story about your working relationship with the contact. This is where you need to be creative. 

You need to come up with a story that is both relevant and interesting. It should be something that will pique the interest of the reader and make them want to read more. 

Here are a few examples of brief stories that you can use as inspiration:

• I first met [name] when we were both working on the [project].
• I had the pleasure of working with [name] when I was [job title] at [company].
• I’ve been working with [name] for [length of time] now, and in that time, we’ve worked on [project].

#3. Elaborate on the contact’s one-of-a-kind traits and strengths

After you’ve told a brief story about your working relationship with the contact, it’s time to start talking about their key skills and strengths. This is where you need to be detailed. 

You need to provide examples and evidence of the contact’s skills and strengths. This is what will make your LinkedIn recommendation more convincing and credible. 

Here are a few examples of key skills and strengths that you can use as inspiration:

• [Name] is an expert in [skill].
• [Name] has a keen eye for detail.
• [Name] is a natural leader.
• [Name] has excellent communication skills.
• [Name] thinks in a creative way.

#4. Sprinkle some humanity

Sounding like a robot who is only capable of spewing out praise is not going to do you any good. This is why it is important to sprinkle some humanity into your LinkedIn recommendation. 

You need to show that you’re writing this recommendation as a person, not a machine. This is what will make your LinkedIn recommendation more relatable and authentic.

Here are a few examples of how you can sprinkle some humanity into your LinkedIn recommendation:

• I’m not the only one who has noticed [name]’s [strength].
• I’ve seen [name] in action, and I can attest to the fact that [they are/she is/he is] [adjective].
• I’m not the only one who has benefited from [name]’s [skill].

#5. End with you-can’t-miss-them-out statements

This is where you need to be detailed. The closing line should be much more than “Thank you for your time, [name].” That sounds so bland and uninspired. 

Instead, you need to come up with a closing line that will leave a lasting impression on the reader. You need to come up with a line that will make them want to work with the contact. 

• I would hire [name] in a heartbeat if I ever had the chance.
• I believe [name] can be a valuable asset to your company or even any organization.
• I highly recommend [name] for any [type of opportunity]. [Name] has the [key skills and strengths] that would be a perfect fit for the [type of opportunity].

Wrapping Up

All of the best practices mentioned above help you avoid the pain and guilt of disappointing people with your meek and feeble responses. The key to writing a great LinkedIn recommendation is to remember that you only have a few seconds to grab the attention of the reader or employer. 

This is why you need to start with a catchy opening line that will immediately spark the interest of the reader and close it with you-can’t-miss-them-out statements.

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