I covered the benefits of endorsing trusted teammate skills and writing recommendations for close professional associates as a tools to build goodwill, drive engagement with your LinkedIn profile and also boost its SEO relevance for recruiters using search engines to scout for candidates in your field of work. Make sure to also read my post on ways to boost your profile as a passive job seeker.
Writing a LinkedIn recommendation for a co-worker involves highlighting their key skills, achievements, and your personal experience working with them.
Here is a list of topics to touch on for inspiration as you write your recommendation, at the end I am including an example of a recommendation, the key elements to include:
1. Professional Relationship:
- Begin with Context: Start by explaining how you know the person and your professional relationship.
2. Key Skills & Strengths:
- Highlight Skills: Focus on 2-3 key skills or strengths that make your co-worker stand out.
- Provide Examples: Use specific examples to demonstrate their skills and expertise.
3. Achievements:
- Mention Accomplishments: Outline any significant accomplishments, contributions, or projects they’ve led or contributed to.
- Results and Impacts: If possible, quantify the impacts and results of their work within your project, organization or internal to your team’s culture.
4. Personal Qualities:
- Interpersonal Skills: Touch on their teamwork, mentorship, leadership, and communication skills.
- Character Attributes: Discuss attributes like dependability, creativity, or problem-solving abilities.
5. Endorsement:
- Personal Endorsement: End with a strong statement of recommendation, indicating your confidence in their abilities and contributions to future employers.
- Would you work with them again?
- Would you recommend them for leadership positions and as mentors or sponsors?
- Would you trust them to lead large projects in your organization?
Sample Recommendation:
I had the pleasure of working with [Co-worker’s Name] for [X years] at [Company Name], where we were both [Your Roles]. [Co-worker’s Name] is not only adept at [Key Skill 1] and [Key Skill 2], but also is a natural leader and team player.
One of [Co-worker’s Name]’s standout qualities is their ability to [Specific Skill or Achievement, e.g., “turn complex problems into actionable, manageable tasks”]. In our time working together, they spearheaded a project that [Explain the Project, Result, and Impact, e.g., “led to a 30% increase in customer satisfaction”].
On a personal level, [Co-worker’s Name]’s ability to build and maintain relationships is unparalleled. They are [Include Personal Qualities, e.g., “dependable, creative, and solution-oriented”], making them a favorite among clients and colleagues alike.
I wholeheartedly recommend [Co-worker’s Name] for any team looking to add a dedicated and innovative professional. They would no doubt be a valuable asset to any organization.
Modify this template according to the specific skills, achievements, and personal qualities of your co-worker to make your recommendation personal and impactful.