How to Get LinkedIn Recommendations (Templates and Strategy)

LinkedIn recommendations are one of the most underused profile features — and one of the most powerful. While everyone obsesses over their headline and summary, a handful of well-written recommendations quietly does the heavy lifting: they signal credibility to recruiters, validate your skills to potential clients, and build trust before anyone even speaks to you.

The problem isn't that people don't know recommendations matter. The problem is they don't know how to ask for them, who to ask, or what to say when they do. This guide covers all of it — with templates you can use today.

Why LinkedIn Recommendations Actually Matter

A recommendation is social proof in the most literal sense. Anyone can say they're a "results-driven leader" or "strategic communicator" in their own summary. It means almost nothing. But when a former manager, client, or colleague says it about you? That lands differently.

Here's what recommendations do for your profile:

Build trust with hiring managers and clients before the first conversation
Reinforce the claims you make in your headline and summary with third-party validation
Differentiate you from other candidates who have similar experience but zero endorsements
Signal relationship depth — people who know you well enough to write a detailed recommendation are a different category of reference than a LinkedIn connection

Three to five strong recommendations is enough to make a meaningful impression. You don't need twenty. You need the right ones.

Who to Ask for a LinkedIn Recommendation

Before you draft a request, think strategically about who you ask. The best recommendations come from people who:

Worked closely with you — managers, direct reports, teammates on a key project, clients you delivered real results for
Can speak to specifics — they need to remember actual examples, not just a vague sense that you were nice to work with
Have credibility themselves — a recommendation from a respected industry figure carries more weight than one from a junior contact
Are reasonably active on LinkedIn — their profile and role lend context to the recommendation

Aim for a mix of recommendation types across your profile:

At least one from a manager or senior leader
At least one from a peer or cross-functional collaborator
At least one from a client or external stakeholder (if applicable)

Avoid asking people you barely worked with. A vague "great to work with!" recommendation adds noise, not signal.

How to Ask for a LinkedIn Recommendation

The single biggest reason people don't get recommendations: they ask badly. Either they send a cold, generic LinkedIn request with no context, or they don't ask at all.

Here's the framework that works:

1. Warm the conversation first

Don't cold-send a recommendation request out of nowhere — especially to someone you haven't spoken to in months. Drop them a short message first. Comment on something they posted. Ask how a project they mentioned is going. Spend thirty seconds reconnecting before you make the ask.

2. Make the ask personal and specific

When you do ask, be clear about:

Why you're asking them specifically — what did you work on together?
What you'd love them to highlight — give them a prompt or angle
Why it matters now — job search, consulting launch, career pivot, etc.
How long it will take — reassure them it's a short task

3. Make it easy for them

The harder it is to write, the less likely they are to do it. Give them a bullet-point brief of what you worked on together, key outcomes, and skills you'd love highlighted. Some people will use your brief almost verbatim — that's fine. Others will riff on it. Either way, you've given them a starting point.

4. Give them an out

Always end with "No worries at all if you're too busy" — genuinely mean it. Pressure-coerced recommendations feel hollow. You want people who want to support you.

LinkedIn Recommendation Request Templates

Use these as starting points. Personalise every one.

Template 1: Asking a former manager

Hi [Name],

Hope you're well! I've been thinking about our time at [Company] — particularly [specific project or outcome you worked on together].

I'm currently [reason: exploring new opportunities / launching a consulting practice / building out my profile] and would love a LinkedIn recommendation from you if you're open to it. Even a few sentences about [specific skill or outcome] would mean a lot.

To make it easy, here are a few things you might want to reference: — [Project/result 1] — [Skill or quality you demonstrated] — [Impact or outcome]

Totally understand if you're too busy — no pressure at all. But if you can, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks so much, [Your name]

Template 2: Asking a client

Hi [Name],

It was great working with you on [project or engagement]. I hope [outcome you delivered] is still paying off!

I'm building out my LinkedIn profile and would love a recommendation from you if you'd be willing. A few words about [specific value you delivered] would be incredibly helpful.

Here's a quick brief in case it helps: — We worked together on [project description] — Key outcomes: [specific results, e.g., "increased conversion by 18%"] — I focused on [your specific contribution]

No worries if the timing isn't right — just thought I'd ask!

Best, [Your name]

Template 3: Asking a peer or collaborator

Hey [Name],

Quick ask — I'm updating my LinkedIn profile and would really value a recommendation from you given how closely we worked on [specific project or initiative].

If you're up for it, I'd love for you to speak to [specific angle — e.g., "how I approached the stakeholder communication side" or "the speed we moved on the product launch"].

Here's a few points to work from if helpful: — [Context on what you did together] — [Outcome or skill demonstrated] — [Anything specific you want highlighted]

Honestly, even three or four sentences would be fantastic. And happy to return the favour any time!

Thanks, [Your name]

Template 4: Short ask (for closer contacts)

Hey [Name],

Any chance you'd be up for writing me a quick LinkedIn recommendation? We worked so well together on [project] and I'd love for that to be visible on my profile.

I'd suggest focusing on [specific skill or outcome] — happy to send a brief if that'd help.

And happy to write one for you in return — just say the word.

Cheers, [Your name]

How to Write a Recommendation for Someone Else

If you want great recommendations, the fastest way to get them is to give them. Most people will reciprocate when you take the lead — and it costs you twenty minutes.

Here's what makes a recommendation actually good:

Do:

Open with a clear statement of your working relationship
Include at least one specific example or achievement
Name a quality that's distinctive to them, not generic
End with a forward-looking endorsement

Don't:

Use phrases like "pleasure to work with" or "highly recommended" without context
Make it so long it reads like a performance review
Be vague — "great communicator" means nothing without a story

Example of a weak recommendation:

"John is a talented marketing professional. He always delivered great work and was a pleasure to have on the team. I highly recommend him."

Example of a strong recommendation:

"I worked with Sarah for two years at [Company], where she led our content marketing function. She rebuilt our SEO strategy from scratch, tripling organic traffic in twelve months. What stood out was her ability to connect content to commercial outcomes — she wasn't just creating content, she was building pipeline. Any team would be lucky to have her."

The difference is specificity. One tells you nothing. The other shows you.

Tips for Managing Your Recommendations

Timing matters

Don't wait until you're job hunting to ask. The best time to request a recommendation is right after a successful project, a promotion, or a strong performance review — when the work is fresh in everyone's minds.

Ask for permission before listing someone as a reference

A recommendation on LinkedIn is public-facing. Make sure your recommenders know that and are comfortable with it. Don't surprise people.

Keep your recommendations current

A page full of recommendations from 2017 looks stale. Aim to add one or two per year so your social proof stays fresh and relevant.

Respond to recommendations publicly

When someone writes you a recommendation, thank them publicly on LinkedIn. It surfaces the recommendation to your network, strengthens your relationship, and signals that you value the gesture.

Building Your Recommendation Strategy

Here's a simple four-week plan if you're starting from scratch:

Week 1: Identify 6-8 people to ask. Prioritise quality over quantity.

Week 2: Reconnect with each person — a genuine message, no ask yet.

Week 3: Send your recommendation requests (using templates above). Offer to reciprocate.

Week 4: Follow up once with anyone who hasn't responded. Write recommendations for anyone who said yes.

Six to eight requests typically yields three to five recommendations. That's enough.

How LinkedIn Recommendations Fit Into Your Broader Profile Strategy

Recommendations are one piece. But they work best when your full profile is pulling in the same direction.

Your headline should communicate clearly what you do and for whom — Hooked AI's LinkedIn Headline Generator can help you craft one that's specific and compelling. Your summary should tell your story in a human, direct way — use the LinkedIn Summary Generator if you're stuck on how to frame it.

Once those are in place, recommendations land better. A recruiter reads your headline, skims your summary, and then hits three specific, well-written recommendations? That's a profile that converts.

And if you're posting content to stay visible to your network while you build those relationships — which you should be — the LinkedIn Post Generator makes it faster to stay consistent without spending an hour on every post.

Final Thoughts

Getting LinkedIn recommendations isn't complicated. It's mostly about timing, personalisation, and making the ask easy for the other person. Most people are happy to write one — they just need a reason to prioritise it.

Start with three people you've done genuinely good work with. Send a personalised request, give them a brief, and offer to reciprocate. That's the whole strategy.

Do it once, maintain it annually, and it becomes one of the quietest but most effective parts of your LinkedIn presence.

Ready to strengthen the rest of your profile while you're at it? Try the LinkedIn Headline Generator or the LinkedIn Summary Generator — both free, both built for people who want a profile that actually works.