Writing a strong LinkedIn recommendation is one of the best ways to support a colleague, teammate, or manager—while also strengthening your own professional presence. A well-crafted recommendation highlights someone’s skills, achievements, and personality, helping them stand out to recruiters or potential clients.
If you’re also working on career documents like resumes or cover letters, you may want to explore this complete guide on how to write a cover letter to ensure your entire job application is aligned and professional.
This guide will show you how to write a LinkedIn recommendation, step-by-step, along with real examples and templates you can copy and use instantly.
Why LinkedIn Recommendations Matter
LinkedIn recommendations act as powerful social proof that strengthens your professional reputation across the world’s largest career platform. A strong recommendation can help you:
- Build immediate credibility and trust with recruiters, clients, and hiring managers
- Showcase real accomplishments—not just job titles or responsibilities
- Boost your visibility in job searches, as LinkedIn favors highly engaged profiles
- Strengthen professional relationships and show genuine appreciation
- Highlight leadership, communication, and collaboration skills authentically
Just like a compelling cover letter example, a LinkedIn recommendation validates your expertise through real-world endorsement rather than self-promotion.
How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation: The 5-Step Formula
The most effective LinkedIn recommendations follow a clear, structured approach—similar to how strong cover letters are written using proven frameworks and best practices outlined in these cover letter writing tips.
1. Start With How You Know Them
Begin by explaining your relationship:
- How long you worked together
- Your roles and connection
- The team, company, or project context
This establishes credibility—especially important if the person is applying for roles such as remote or cross-functional positions. (See how context is framed in this cover letter for remote jobs.)
Example:
“I had the pleasure of working with Sarah for two years on the digital marketing team at BrightWave Agency.”
2. Highlight Their Best Qualities
Choose one to three strengths that truly define the person. Focus on qualities relevant to their field, such as:
- Leadership and ownership
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Strategic thinking
- Reliability
This mirrors how hiring managers scan modern cover letter templates—they want clarity, relevance, and impact.
Example:
“Sarah consistently brings creativity, strategic thinking, and positive energy to every campaign.”
3. Mention Specific Achievements
Concrete results make recommendations believable. Whenever possible, use metrics or outcomes—just like in strong role-specific applications such as software engineer cover letter examples or project manager cover letter examples.
Example:
“She led a social media campaign that increased brand engagement by 45% and attracted more than 10,000 new followers.”
4. Show Their Impact on the Team or Company
Explain why their work mattered. This is especially valuable for leadership, customer-facing, or administrative roles—similar to how impact is emphasized in customer service cover letter examples or administrative assistant cover letter examples.
Example:
“Her ability to simplify complex ideas helped our team deliver projects faster and significantly improved cross-department communication.”
5. End With a Clear Endorsement
Close with confidence. This final line often carries the most weight—just like the closing paragraph of a short cover letter template.
Example:
“I highly recommend Sarah for any digital marketing role. She would be an incredible asset to any organization.”
LinkedIn Recommendation Templates
These templates are designed to be concise, professional, and flexible—similar to simple cover letter templates that recruiters prefer.
Template 1: For a Coworker
“I had the pleasure of working alongside [Name] for [X years/time period] on the [team/project], and during that time, they consistently demonstrated exceptional [skill/quality]. Their ability to [specific achievement] made a significant, measurable impact on our results and helped the team operate more efficiently.
[Name] is dependable, collaborative, and always willing to step in and support colleagues when needed. They bring positivity, strong work ethic, and genuine problem-solving skills to every task. I wholeheartedly recommend them for any position that requires [key skill/strength], as they would be a valuable asset to any team.”
Template 2: For a Manager
“I reported directly to [Name] for [time period], and they remain one of the most supportive, empowering, and inspiring leaders I’ve had the privilege to work with. Their leadership style emphasizes trust, clarity, and professional growth, which helped me strengthen my abilities in [specific skill] and take on new responsibilities with confidence.
Under their guidance, our team achieved [measurable result], improved communication workflows, and consistently exceeded performance goals.
I highly recommend [Name] as an exceptional manager, strategic thinker, and mentor who brings out the best in their team.”
Template 3: For a Direct Report
“[Name] was part of my team for [time period], and throughout that time, they demonstrated strong professionalism, resourcefulness, and initiative. They played a key role in major projects such as [project], where they successfully [specific achievement], contributing directly to our team’s success.
Their reliability, attention to detail, and positive attitude make them someone who elevates the entire team. I strongly recommend [Name] for roles that require dedication, adaptability, and a proactive mindset.”
Template 4: For a Client or Freelancer
“I had the opportunity to work with [Name] across multiple projects, and their expertise in [field] was evident from the very first collaboration. They consistently delivered high-quality work, communicated clearly, and met every deadline—even under tight timelines.
One standout moment was when they [specific achievement], which greatly improved the project outcome.
I highly recommend [Name] to anyone seeking a reliable, skilled, and results-driven professional.”
Template 5: Short & Simple Recommendation
“[Name] is a talented and dedicated professional. During our time working together, they impressed me with their ability to [strength] and their meaningful contributions to [project/result]. I highly recommend them for future opportunities.”
Tips to Write an Outstanding LinkedIn Recommendation
To make your recommendation stand out, follow these best practices:
- Be specific — generic praise doesn’t help recruiters understand real strengths
- Use measurable results — numbers bring credibility
- Keep it concise but meaningful — aim for 4–7 sentences
- Match the tone to the person’s industry (creative, corporate, technical)
- Be honest and authentic — sincerity builds trust.
If you want to avoid vague language or weak endorsements, review these common cover letter mistakes—many apply directly to LinkedIn recommendations as well.
Example of a Strong LinkedIn Recommendation
“I worked closely with David on the product design team for three years, and he is one of the most innovative and user-focused designers I’ve worked with. David’s attention to detail and deep understanding of user behavior helped us launch three major product features that increased retention by 32%.
He communicates clearly, collaborates effortlessly across teams, and consistently pushes creative boundaries. I strongly recommend David to any organization looking for a talented, forward-thinking designer who brings both creativity and strategic thinking to the table.”
Build Your Professional Brand With Strong LinkedIn Content
Whether you're writing LinkedIn recommendations, preparing for a career change, or crafting application documents, consistent messaging matters. You may also find these resources helpful:
- Cover letter for career changers
- How to write a 2-week notice
- Complete LinkedIn recommendation guide
Strong writing doesn’t just open doors—it builds long-term professional credibility.
