LinkedIn recommendations can be a useful tool for boosting your professional profile and credibility. However, not all recommendations are created equal. The quality and relevance of the recommendations you receive can make a big difference in how much they actually help your career. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating the value of LinkedIn recommendations.
Who is providing the recommendation?
Ideally, recommendations should come from people who have directly worked with you in a professional capacity and can speak in detail about your skills, accomplishments, work ethic, etc. Recommendations from former managers, colleagues, or clients carry more weight than more casual connections. The job titles and companies of your recommenders also matter – a recommendation from an executive at a well-known company may influence readers more than one from an entry-level employee at a small organization. Avoid recommendations from family, friends, or acquaintances who don’t have first-hand work experience with you.
How well does the recommender know you?
LinkedIn allows users to request recommendations from connections. While it’s fine to ask for recommendations, the best ones come organically from people who are eager to endorse your work. Recommendations from long-time colleagues or mentors who know you well and have seen the progression of your career over many years are ideal. Generic recommendations from people you’ve only worked with briefly are less meaningful. The recommendation should include specific details and examples that could only come from someone familiar with your work.
Is the recommendation recent?
Because careers progress over time, the most relevant recommendations reflect your current skills and experience levels. While recommendations from early in your career have some value, profiles with more recent recommendations appear more active. Professional connections viewing your profile may wonder why all your recommendations are 5-10 years old.Aim to get new recommendations periodically as you take on new roles and projects. Avoid recommendations that are overly generic and could apply to anyone just starting out.
What skills or traits are highlighted?
The most convincing LinkedIn recommendations highlight tangible skills, qualities, and results. For example, “Michelle consistently met her sales quotas and was our top revenue generator” is more compelling than “Michelle was a great salesperson.” Specificity is key – the examples provided should demonstrate real business impact. Recommendations that rave about your “amazing leadership skills” or other intangible traits without concrete examples to back them up are fluff.
Does the style seem genuine?
While most LinkedIn recommendations are positive, the best ones come across as authentic and sincere, not hyperbolic. Does the language sound natural, honest, and specific? Or does it sound vaguely worded, impersonal, and too good to be true? Recommendations full of cliches, overly formal language, or exaggerations will not be very convincing to readers. Aim for a reasonable length that includes enough detail and personalization to be credible.
Is the recommendation well-written?
Proper spelling and grammar make a difference. Recommendations with typos and other errors come across as sloppy and hastily written. The recommender’s professionalism and attention to detail are also brought into question. Well-constructed recommendations with no major writing errors look more polished and credible. Consider nicely editing recommendations from non-native English speakers before approving them.
Does it highlight niche expertise?
For roles requiring specialized knowledge and skills, recommendations that speak directly to that niche expertise are valuable. For example, someone applying for a medical writing position would benefit from recommendations focusing specifically on their clinical knowledge and ability to translate complex information into accessible copy. Niche skills may not be obvious just from job titles, so recommendations can fill in important details.
Is there variety among topics/roles?
A healthy mix of recommendations related to different jobs, skills, industries, etc. shows versatility, especially for those with multifaceted careers. For example, a marketing leader who has also spearheaded diversity initiatives could ask for recommendations specifically focused on marketing campaigns and leadership strategies in addition to their advocacy work. Avoid focusing solely on one area.
Do the recommendations reinforce your brand?
Your personal brand is the unique, differentiating value you bring professionally. Strong recommendations reinforce and add credibility to your brand by highlighting relevant skills, achievements, and cultural add. For example, someone portraying a brand as a transformative sales leader would benefit from recommendations focused on exceeding targets, mentoring team members, and driving innovation.
Table 1: Key Factors for Evaluating LinkedIn Recommendations
Factor | Why It Matters |
---|---|
Recommender’s seniority and relevance | Higher-level, directly relevant recommenders are ideal |
Depth of relationship | Recommendations from those who know your work very well come across as more genuine |
Recency | More current recommendations show you are still actively building your skills and connections |
Specificity | Concrete examples and details are more convincing than general praise |
Sincerity | Recommendations that seem overly exaggerated lack credibility |
Quality of writing | Proper spelling/grammar give a more professional impression |
Relevance to niche skills | Directly highlights specialized expertise and knowledge |
Variety of topics | Mix of recommendations showcases well-rounded abilities |
Brand reinforcement | Aligns with and provides credibility to your professional brand |
Quality vs. quantity
One or two generic recommendations from weak connections do little to enhance your LinkedIn presence. On the flip side, an exhaustive list of recommendations may end up diluting the impact of the most meaningful ones.Aim for a robust but curated selection of your best recommendations. Too few makes you seem disconnected, while an overabundance may overwhelm readers. Quality trumps quantity when it comes to LinkedIn recommendations.
Who benefits most from LinkedIn recommendations?
For job seekers and career changers: Getting great recommendations can help counteract employment gaps or lack of experience in your desired field. They provide credibility if you are trying to transition into something new.
For fields that rely heavily on reputation: Certain client-focused and creative occupations depend heavily on word-of-mouth. Strong recommendations help establish trust and showcase abilities.
For recent graduates: Helps demonstrate real-world skills and fill in work history when starting out.
For leadership roles: Reviews and recommendations from peers/direct reports can emphasize management abilities and collaborative spirit.
For technical/scientific roles: Recommendations can showcase complex problem-solving skills, research/analytical capabilities.
For freelancers/consultants: Helps sell your personal brand and services if clients vouch for your work.
Who may not benefit as much?
Employees at large corporations: Already have an established brand affiliation and structured promotion paths.
Very experienced professionals: Extensive work histories and networks may speak for themselves.
Public figures: Already have established thought leadership/personal brands based on work volume and publicity.
People new to LinkedIn: Until you build connections, will not have many potential recommenders.
Tips for getting great LinkedIn recommendations
– Do great work! A track record of success makes colleagues happy to recommend you.
– Build strong professional relationships. The best recommenders are people who respect you both personally and professionally.
– Recommend others when deserved. Reciprocation encourages people to return the favor.
– Thank recommenders for endorsing you. Expressing gratitude builds goodwill.
– Provide recommenders with key details and talking points but allow flexibility. Do not dictate the recommendations.
– Request recommendations upon job changes or completion of big projects.
– Know when to nudge potential recommenders. People get busy, so polite reminders help.
– Keep recommendations updated by periodically requesting new ones.
– Carefully review recommendations before approving them. It’s OK to ask for edits or revisions if needed.
– Monitor the quality of incoming recommendations and redirect casual acquaintances. Seek endorsements from those most familiar with your best work.
Putting It All Together
Here are some key takeaways on maximizing the impact of LinkedIn recommendations:
- The best recommendations come from professionals who have directly worked with you and can provide detailed, relevant examples of your abilities.
- Strive for quality over quantity – a few thoughtful, recent recommendations make a stronger statement than dozens of generic ones.
- Certain professionals such as career changers, freelancers, and recent grads benefit most from robust LinkedIn recommendations.
- Ask recommenders to highlight specific skills, accomplishments, and strengths that align with your professional brand.
- Curate and periodically update your recommendations to accurately reflect your current skills and experience.
- Politely guide casual connections toward providing more relevant recommendations focused on your niche expertise.
- Thank recommenders and reciprocate endorsements when possible to build your professional network.
While LinkedIn recommendations can certainly enhance your profile, they need to be credible, sincere and strategically crafted. Putting thought into curating recommendations from respected professionals who know your work intimately can go a long way in making them meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many LinkedIn recommendations should you have?
Aim for 5-15 quality recommendations focused on your current skills and experience. Just 1-2 thoughtful recommendations are better than dozens of meaningless generic ones.
Who should you NOT ask for a LinkedIn recommendation?
Avoid asking family, friends, acquaintances, peers who don’t know your work well, and previous supervisors from jobs where you did not excel. Recommendations are most credible from recent managers, colleagues, and clients familiar with your skills.
Can you reject a LinkedIn recommendation?
Yes, you can choose not to approve recommendations submitted to you. This allows you to curate and maintain control over which recommendations actually appear on your profile. Do not reject for petty reasons, but it is reasonable to reject recommendations that seem insincere, irrelevant, or poorly written.
Should you recommend LinkedIn connections back?
When possible, yes. Reciprocating with endorsements for those who have recommended you builds goodwill and grows your professional network. However, only recommend people you can sincerely endorse based on direct experience with their work.
Can you remove a LinkedIn recommendation later?
Yes, you can withdraw a recommendation that has already been published by clicking “Remove” next to the endorsement on your profile. The original recommender will be notified. Reasons to remove may include the connection no longer being relevant or the recommendation not aging well as your career progresses.
Should LinkedIn recommendations be short or long?
Two to three thoughtful sentences can be very powerful, but recommendations with at least 3-5 detailed sentences providing specific examples tend to be most convincing. Giant paragraphs are not necessary, but more than a few cursory lines is best.
How do you ask someone to recommend you on LinkedIn?
Politely reach out over email or LinkedIn messaging to request a recommendation highlighting certain skills, strengths, or projects you worked on together. Provide key details but don’t dictate content. Follow up by expressing thanks and offering to provide a recommendation in return.
Can you recommend yourself on LinkedIn?
No. LinkedIn specifically prohibits users from creating recommendations for themselves or requesting recommendations from fake accounts. All recommendations must come independently from real connections in your network.
Conclusion
LinkedIn recommendations can validate skills, provide credibility, and enhance your professional brand when done right. But not all recommendations offer equal benefits. The best endorsements come from respected professionals closely familiar with your work and ability to contribute value in current roles. By being selective and purposeful in curating your recommendations, you can use them to advance your career rather than simply padding your profile. Focus on quality over quantity, and keep recommendations updated over time.