Think of a LinkedIn recommendation as a digital letter of reference – public, permanent, and incredibly powerful.
Whether you’re writing one for a colleague, receiving one from a mentor, or asking a client for one, a great recommendation can dramatically elevate your profile.
It adds credibility, trust, and human proof that goes beyond job titles and endorsements.
But most LinkedIn recommendations?
They’re… forgettable.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- Why LinkedIn recommendations still matter
- What makes a great one stand out
- The biggest mistakes people make
- Do’s and Don’ts for writing and requesting
- Real examples you can model yours on
Table of Contents
Why LinkedIn Recommendations Matter More Than Ever
In a world of AI-written resumes, keyword-stuffed profiles, and endless “open to work” banners, human credibility wins.
That’s where recommendations come in.
A strong recommendation can:
✅ Reinforce your skills with personal proof
✅ Humanize your achievements
✅ Impress recruiters and decision-makers
✅ Strengthen your personal brand
✅ Increase your chances of getting contacted, hired, or trusted
Think of it as social proof for your professional identity.
What Makes a LinkedIn Recommendation Stand Out?
Let’s be honest. You’ve read recommendations that sound like this:
“John is a great team player. He works hard and gets the job done.”
Zzzzz.
That’s not a recommendation. That’s filler.
Now compare that with:
When we lost two team members unexpectedly, John restructured our sprint backlog, onboarded two freelancers in 48 hours, and still delivered on time. He didn’t just ‘get the job done’ – he kept us from falling apart.
See the difference?
Here’s what great recommendations have in common:
✅ 1. Specific Stories or Examples
Don’t just say “they’re amazing” show how.
Include a project, challenge, or win that proves your praise.
❌ “Emily is a great marketer.”
✅ “Emily led our rebrand in just 6 weeks – coordinating between 3 designers, a branding agency, and 4 C-level execs. The launch post got 120K+ views and led to a 22% spike in demo requests.”
✅ 2. Highlight a Unique Trait
What makes them different from someone else in the same role?
- Are they insanely reliable under pressure?
- Do they mentor juniors even when they don’t have to?
- Are they the best communicator on cross-functional teams?
Make it personal.
✅ 3. Keep it Human
Formal language kills emotion.
❌ “Mr. Terry was a pleasure to work alongside during the fiscal year.”
✅ “Working with Terry felt like having a co-founder in the trenches – always one step ahead, always brutally honest, and always calm.”
Tone matters.
✅ 4. End with a Punch
Wrap with something memorable.
“If I had to build another startup tomorrow, he’d be the first person I’d call.”
“Hire her before someone else does.”
“Working with her raised my own standards.”
This gives the recommendation energy and punch.
The Biggest Mistakes in LinkedIn Recommendations
Let’s talk about what not to do because these will make even the best-intentioned rec fall flat.
❌ 1. Writing in Generic Buzzwords
“Synergistic, results-driven professional with a track record of innovation.”
No. Just no.
Speak like a human. If ChatGPT could write it by accident, don’t include it.
❌ 2. Copy-Pasting Resume Points
Your recommendation isn’t a summary of their job. It’s your experience of them in that job.
❌ 3. Making It All About You
You’re writing for them, not about your own role.
❌ “During the project, I was in charge of engineering and design…”
✅ “What impressed me most was how she translated my engineering jargon into customer-ready copy that landed us our first big client.”
❌ 4. Writing a Novel
You don’t need to write a 1,000-word essay.
Keep it tight, focused, and readable. 5–7 sentences is plenty.
✅ Do’s & ❌ Don’ts: Writing a Recommendation
| ✅ Do | ❌ Don’t |
|---|---|
| Start with how you know them | Start with generic role definitions |
| Share 1 specific moment | List vague traits or buzzwords |
| Use warm, natural tone | Sound robotic or overly formal |
| Add emotion or admiration | Keep it dry and factual |
| End with impact | End with “Best of luck” or “Regards” |
✅ Do’s & ❌ Don’ts: Asking for a Recommendation
| ✅ Do | ❌ Don’t |
|---|---|
| Personalize your request | Send a blank, default message |
| Remind them of your shared project | Expect them to remember all the details |
| Offer to write a rough draft | Say, “Can you write something for me?” |
| Be specific about what you’d love them to highlight | Leave it vague and open-ended |
| Thank them publicly after | Ghost them after they help you out |
💡 Pro tip: Always write them one first. It increases your chance of getting one back by 10x—and shows you’re not just taking, but giving too.
LinkedIn Recommendation Examples
Here’s a sample of my LinkedIn Recommendations:
Here are a few excerpts that follow the formula:
✍️ Example #1 (For a Product Manager)
“I worked with Alex for 8 months at a fast-paced B2B SaaS company. He has a rare ability to balance deep technical knowledge with true customer empathy. During a chaotic product pivot, he rewrote half our roadmap in 3 days – while aligning 4 teams and keeping engineering on track. If you need someone to bring clarity to complexity, he’s it.”
✍️ Example #2 (For a Designer)
“Greg was our secret weapon. In 2 weeks, he redesigned our onboarding flow, cutting drop-offs by 35%. But more than that, he always made the product feel better, cleaner, calmer, and more usable. He’s the kind of designer who doesn’t just push pixels, but asks the ‘why’ every time.”
✍️ Example #3 (For a Co-Founder)
“I wouldn’t have survived year one without Ryan. He handled product, tech, fundraising even emotional support – like it was all in a day’s work. We didn’t always agree, but we always moved forward. That’s what makes him a dream co-founder.”
Final Thoughts: Write It Like You Mean It
LinkedIn recommendations aren’t just professional niceties – they’re digital assets. Tiny reputation builders that work for you long after they’re written.
So next time someone asks you for one, or you want to give one that truly lands:
- Be personal
- Be specific
- Be real
And if you’re ever stuck, tools like SuperPen can even help you draft a thoughtful recommendation with AI, especially when you know what you want to say but don’t have the words for it.
TL;DR – How to Make Your LinkedIn Recommendation Stand Out
✅ Use specific stories, not vague praise
✅ Make it emotional and human
✅ Avoid formal jargon and resume talk
✅ Highlight what makes them uniquely valuable
✅ End strong with a memorable close
Want to write a killer recommendation but stuck on how to start?
Use SuperPen to explore real examples of high-performing LinkedIn posts and recommendation-style content.
Get inspiration from how top professionals highlight others and repurpose those styles into your voice.
You’ll never stare at a blank screen again.
