Over the years, most of us have worked with fantastic colleagues, supervisors, and workers that we'd gladly recommend on LinkedIn (or anywhere else, for that matter) if asked.
The problem is that sitting down and writing that suggestion always takes longer than you anticipate. What should you say to make your contact stand out while remaining authentic? Should you go into detail about every outstanding skill this individual possesses, or should you keep it short and sweet?
Don't be concerned. We’ve turned that daunting task into a five-step (and five-minute) process. Use this template the next time you're asked to recommend someone.
1. Start With A Catchy Line
You want to start with a statement that grabs your audience's attention and makes them want to read more. (After all, what good is a glowing recommendation if no one reads it from beginning to end?)
This line should, ideally, demonstrate straight away what a fantastic person your recommendee is. Avoid statements like 'one of the best' or 'one of my favourite employees'—while not everyone will be the ultimate superlative, there are plenty of words and phrases that sound just as powerful but aren't as qualified.
'It’s rare that you come across standout talent like ABC.'
'Few people have the opportunity to report to a manager who is also a coach and mentor—but I did when I worked for ABC.'
'‘Ridiculously efficient’ is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about ABC.'
2. Relationship Context
Next, offer the reader some background on how you know the person, such as your reporting relationship, projects you've worked on together, and how long you've known each other. While you don't have to provide all of the information (LinkedIn will display the company name and both of your work titles on your recommendation), it's crucial to explain why you're qualified to make the suggestion. (Of course, make sure to mention that you had a good working relationship!)
'I had the pleasure of working with ABC for two years at the XYZ Company, collaborating on several project teams.'
'I hired ABC as a freelance designer in 2011 after seeing her online portfolio, and she’s completed six flawless projects for me since then.'
'ABC expertly filled the role of social media coordinator for my company’s marketing team for just over a year.'
3. Highlight A Standout Trait
If you're suggesting someone, chances are you think he or she is intelligent, competent, organised, pleasant to work with, and so on. As a result, there's no need to utilise your recommendation's limited characters to explain the obvious.
Instead, focus your recommendation on one or two things this individual does better than anybody else—or that really stand out to you above others. You might also inquire if there is anything specific the person would like to discuss: If she was your executive assistant but is now applying for her first management position, she will most likely want you to emphasise her experience managing volunteers rather than her organisational skills.
'I was particularly impressed by ABC’s ability to handle even the toughest clients—effortlessly. That skill often takes years to develop among customer service professionals, but it seemed to come perfectly naturally to her.'
'I was always in awe of ABC’s ability to command a room and get people on board with ideas—even people who were initially on completely different pages.'
'ABC’s ability to juggle multiple projects was unlike any I’ve seen before and made a dramatic difference in the productivity level of our team.'
4. Add Some Personality
Let's face it: Everyone wants to hire someone who is not just capable, but also pleasant to work with. So, if you have any insight into what it's like to work with this person or a nugget about his or her personality, please do so! (Just, you know, know your audience. 'Sophie prepared the best office happy hours ever!' may not sit well with her future bosses.)
'Oh, and she made sure our Monday morning staff meetings were never without bagels and coffee. Talk about motivating a team!'
'And we still miss her on the office softball league!'
'No matter how tense a meeting, ABC made sure everyone left with a smile.'
5. Conclude With A Solid Recommendation
Finally, it's always a good idea to end your recommendation with a phrase that clearly states that you offer your contact a thumbs up. You don't have to do much here—just keep it short, sweet, and to-the-point.
'ABC would be an asset to any team.'
'As a team member or a leader, ABC earns my highest recommendation.'
'Any employee would be lucky to have ABC as a manager.'
Sample Recommendation
While we advocate creating a fresh recommendation for each contact using the methods above, here's a fast example of how to put them all together (including a template to use if you're short on time!).
'[Descriptive phrase] is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about [name]. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing [name] for [length of time], during which [description of your working relationship]. Above all, I was impressed with [name]’s ability to [description of what makes person really stand out]. And, of course, his/her [personality trait]. [Name] would be a true asset for any positions requiring [1-2 skills needed for position] and comes with my heartfelt recommendation.'
Conclusion
That's it—five simple steps, five lines, and five minutes later, you'll have a suggestion that will make your contact stand out.
FAQs
Q. How long should a LinkedIn recommendation be?
A. A LinkedIn recommendation should be short and crisp, and should take less than five minutes to read through.
Q. What all points should be highlighted in a LinkedIn recommendation?
A. Talk about the person's qualities, your professional relationship with them, and a standout trait. You should also add some personality and end it with a solid recommendation.