How to Get LinkedIn Recommendations That Strengthen Your Profile

Your LinkedIn profile tells people what you do, what you have achieved, and where your professional interests lie. But there is one section that can make your profile feel more personal and trustworthy: LinkedIn Recommendations.

Think about it. Anyone can list their skills, responsibilities, and achievements on a profile. When a former manager, colleague, client, or mentor shares their experience of working with you, it adds another perspective to your professional story.

Whether you are a fresher looking for your first opportunity or an experienced professional planning your next career move, recommendations can help you build credibility and make a stronger impression.

So, how do you get meaningful recommendations without feeling awkward about asking for them?

Let's explore.

1. Understand Why LinkedIn Recommendations Matter

LinkedIn Recommendations are written testimonials from people who have worked with you or know your professional abilities.

They can highlight qualities that may not be obvious from your resume alone, such as your communication skills, teamwork, reliability, problem-solving abilities, and approach to handling responsibilities.

For example, writing "Good at project management" on your profile tells people what you claim to do.

A recommendation from a project manager explaining how you coordinated a team, handled deadlines, and helped deliver a project gives that statement more context.

The goal is not to collect as many recommendations as possible. It is to receive recommendations that reflect your real strengths.

2. Choose the Right People to Ask

The person writing your recommendation matters just as much as the recommendation itself.

Instead of asking everyone in your network, think about the people who have seen your work firsthand.

You could approach:

• Managers and team leaders: To highlight your performance, ownership, and professional growth.

• Colleagues and teammates: To describe your collaboration, communication, and teamwork.

• Clients: To share their experience working with you and the value you delivered.

• Professors and project mentors: To discuss your academic projects, initiative, and learning abilities.

• Internship supervisors: To highlight your contribution, adaptability, and willingness to learn.

If you are a fresher without much work experience, do not worry. A professor, internship mentor, or project guide can provide valuable insight into your abilities.

Choose someone who can share a genuine example of your work rather than someone who simply has an impressive job title.

3. Ask at the Right Time

Timing can make your request feel more natural.

Consider asking for a recommendation after successfully completing a project, finishing an internship, receiving positive feedback, or wrapping up a meaningful collaboration.

At that point, the other person is more likely to remember your contribution and provide specific details.

You do not need to wait until you are actively searching for a job. Building your LinkedIn profile gradually makes it easier to present your experience when a new opportunity comes along.

A simple, personal message is usually enough to start the conversation.

4. Make Your Request Personal

One common mistake is sending the same generic recommendation request to everyone.

Instead, remind the person of the work you did together and explain what you would appreciate them highlighting.

Here is an example you can adapt.

LinkedIn recommendation request message

Hi [Name],

I really enjoyed working with you on [project or experience]. I learned a lot from our collaboration, especially when it came to [specific skill or responsibility].

I'm working on strengthening my LinkedIn profile and wanted to ask if you would be comfortable writing a short recommendation about our experience working together.

If possible, it would be great to highlight my contribution to [specific task or achievement].

No worries if you're busy. I appreciate your time and support!

Thank you.

A thoughtful request shows that you value the person's time and helps them understand what kind of feedback would be most useful.

5. Help Them Remember Your Contributions

Sometimes, people are willing to recommend you but are unsure what to write.

You can make the process easier by reminding them of a few specific details, such as:

• A project you completed together.

• A challenge you helped solve.

• A responsibility you handled independently.

• A measurable result you contributed to.

• A skill they observed in action.

For example, instead of asking someone to mention that you are hardworking, remind them of a time you coordinated a project, resolved an issue, or helped your team meet an important deadline.

These details can help turn a generic testimonial into a meaningful professional recommendation.

You can provide context, but let the other person express their genuine experience in their own words.

6. Give Recommendations to Others, Too

Professional relationships work both ways.

If a former colleague, manager, or teammate made a meaningful contribution to your work, consider writing an honest recommendation for them.

Describe what you appreciated about working with them and, where possible, include a real example.

This is not about exchanging recommendations just to improve your profiles. It is about recognizing the value people bring to their professional relationships.

When you appreciate others' contributions, you also help build a stronger and more supportive network.

7. Make Your Recommendations Work With the Rest of Your Profile

Recommendations are most useful when they support the professional story told by the rest of your LinkedIn profile.

For example:

• If your headline highlights digital marketing, recommendations can describe your campaign planning, communication, or client management.

• If your profile focuses on software development, recommendations can discuss your technical contribution, debugging skills, or collaboration on projects.

• If you are a fresher, recommendations can highlight your learning ability, project involvement, and initiative.

Your headline, About section, experience, skills, and recommendations should work together to give visitors a clear understanding of what you bring to the table.

Remember, recommendations support your profile; they do not replace the need to demonstrate your experience and achievements.

8. How to Request a Recommendation on LinkedIn

If you are ready to get started, the process is straightforward:

1. Open the LinkedIn profile of the person you want to request a recommendation from.

2. Look for the More button on their profile.

3. Select Request a recommendation, if available.

4. Choose your relationship and the position relevant to your experience.

5. Personalize the message and send your request.

LinkedIn's interface may change, and the option's availability can depend on your relationship and profile settings.

Once you receive a recommendation, review it and decide whether to display it on your profile.

Final Thoughts

A strong LinkedIn profile is not built by adding more information. It is built by presenting the right information in a way that helps people understand your professional value.

LinkedIn Recommendations give others an opportunity to share what it is like to work with you. When they are genuine, specific, and relevant, they can add depth to your profile and help build professional trust.

Start small. Reach out to two or three people who know your work well, send a thoughtful request, and give them enough context to reflect on your contributions.

You do not need dozens of recommendations to make your profile meaningful. Start with a few that genuinely represent who you are and how you work.

Your skills tell people what you can do. Your professional relationships can help show them how you do it.

Want to build a stronger career profile?

Want to improve more than just your recommendations? Read our guide on How to optimize your Linkedin profile for your job search to learn how to present your professional experience more effectively.

At DangoCV, we believe your professional story deserves to be presented clearly and confidently. From resume creation to career branding, the right presentation can help you take the next step in your career.

Start building your next opportunity.