How to Write a LinkedIn Recommendation for a Colleague

If you're like me, a LinkedIn user, chances are you have been asked at least a couple of times to write a recommendation for one of your colleagues. If you know the person well, it may not be difficult to write a brief and glowing recommendation; however, the task becomes more difficult when you have to take into consideration other factors and when you don't know the person well enough in a professional setting.

Primarily, when writing a LinkedIn recommendation, you need to keep in mind that different people may be looking at your profile on LinkedIn not just your friends or immediate co-workers. You always need to make sure that the people you recommend and that the things you write about them will reflect well upon you, your experience and status. In this respect, you should make sure that your recommendations, however brief, are well written, eloquent and of course, spell checked. Even though you're writing about someone else, your writing, thought process and the people you recommend (meaning those you choose to associate with) can say a lot about you to a potential client or employer. Ask yourself these questions before you submit the recommendation: Would I be ok with this recommendation if an employer read it? Would I be ok with this recommendation if an existing or potential client read it? If your answer is yes, go ahead and submit.

Additionally, remember that the person asking you for a LinkedIn recommendation is asking because he or she believes you will write a glowing report that will help him or her in the future when seeking employment, building a professional network or reaching out to a new client. This simple rule applies here: if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

In fact, it is better to politely decline this request than to write a recommendation that will be of disservice to the person being recommended. You can chose to simply ignore the request or to indirectly and sensitively explain to the person why you feel that you would not be able to write a helpful recommendation. When you proofread, ask yourself: If I were an employer, would I consider hiring this person based on this recommendation? If the answer is no, go back and write something more positive!

Although your goal is to write a positive LinkedIn recommendation, it should not sound so over the top that it loses credibility. It is best to start out by saying something like: "I have worked with Sara for 5 years as her manager..." Immediately, this sentence lets the reader know that you have known Sara for a long time. If you follow up with some key words that show the person's key qualities while avoiding extremes or hyperbolic adjectives, your recommendation will sound truthful and credible.

Getting Started:

When you receive a LinkedIn recommendation request, a message will show up in your LinkedIn Inbox from the person requesting the recommendation. The subject line will read: "Can You Endorse Me?" and it will be accompanied by a message from the person. Below the message box, you will see a bright yellow box that asks you to "Write Recommendation." Upon clicking this box, you'll be prompted to select how you know this person: are they a colleague, a service provider or a business partner? Once you make your selection and click continue you will be able to complete the recommendation and submit.

LinkedIn instructions ask for a brief recommendation and if you look at other examples of people who have written LinkedIn recommendations in your network, these recommendations tend to be 3-4 sentences in length. Almost all start with a sentence on how long and in what capacity the recommender has known the person being recommended. I would advise that you keep your recommendation concise and focused on just 2-3 key traits that make the person you are recommending really stand out. It's best to write the recommendation in the present tense. There is a tendency, when writing about a former colleague, to write things like: "Sara was very organized..." Hopefully, Sara still is very organized; therefore, your statements will be more effective if you write about this person's qualities in the present tense. If you are recounting a specific example that took place in the past, you can adjust your tense accordingly.

The written example LinkedIn gives in the recommendation field is: "Sara is a detail-oriented manager who watches the balance sheet like a hawk without losing sight of the strategic objective." This example demonstrates the tone and writing style that tends to be most prevalent on LinkedIn recommendations. These recommendations should be concise and written in a fairly informal, though professional, tone of voice.

It's also a good idea to check in with the person who is requesting the LinkedIn recommendation before you submit something. Ask whether he or she needs the recommendation for something specific. If they are looking for a job, ask what type of job they are looking for in order to determine which of their qualities you should emphasize in the recommendation. For example, if you learn that this person will be applying to project management positions, it would be beneficial to write about his or her superior organizational skills and attention to details and budgets.

Remember, when you write a recommendation, chances are the favor will be returned so its best to put in the effort it deserves to show your appreciation and respect for your colleagues and friends.