How to Ask for a LinkedIn Recommendation (With Examples)

Knowing how to ask for a LinkedIn recommendation can help you collect specific, credible feedback instead of generic praise. The best request is personal, easy to answer and sent to someone who has directly observed your work.

This guide covers who to ask, when to ask, what to include and how to adapt message examples for managers, colleagues, clients, graduates and career changers.

What Is a LinkedIn Recommendation?

A LinkedIn recommendation is written feedback displayed in the Recommendations section of a member’s profile after the recipient accepts it. Unlike a skill endorsement, a recommendation can describe the working relationship, responsibilities, strengths and results in context.

LinkedIn generally allows members to request recommendations from first-degree connections. The other person can choose whether to respond, and you can accept, dismiss or request a revision to a recommendation you receive. Check LinkedIn Help for current product details.

Who Should You Ask for a Recommendation?

Ask someone who can describe relevant work accurately. Strong choices include:

• A current or former manager
• A colleague who worked closely with you
• A client or customer contact
• A project lead or cross-functional partner
• A professor, internship supervisor or volunteer coordinator
• A direct report who can discuss your leadership

Seniority alone does not make a recommendation useful. A detailed note from a colleague who observed your contribution is usually more credible than vague praise from a senior person who barely knows your work.

When Is the Best Time to Ask?

Ask while the work is still fresh and the relationship is positive. Useful moments include:

• After completing a successful project
• At the end of an internship or contract
• After receiving positive performance feedback
• When leaving a team on good terms
• After a client confirms satisfaction with the work
• Before beginning a job search, if the timing is appropriate

Avoid sending a request during a crisis, immediately after an unresolved disagreement or when the person has not had enough contact with your work.

What to Include in Your Request

A good LinkedIn recommendation request contains five elements:

1. Personal context: remind the person of the project or working relationship.
2. A clear request: ask directly but without pressure.
3. Relevant focus: suggest one or two skills or contributions they observed.
4. An easy way to decline: show that you understand if they are busy or uncomfortable.
5. Appreciation: thank them for considering it.

Do not write a complete recommendation and demand that the person paste it. You can provide helpful reminders, but their words should remain their own.

A Simple LinkedIn Recommendation Request Formula

Hi [Name], I enjoyed working with you on [project/context]. I’m updating my LinkedIn profile for [career direction], and I wondered whether you would feel comfortable writing a short recommendation about [specific skill or contribution you directly observed]. A few details that may be useful are [brief reminder]. No pressure if the timing is not convenient. Thank you for considering it.

Adapt the wording to the relationship. A former manager request can be more formal; a close colleague request can sound natural and conversational.

LinkedIn Recommendation Request Examples

1. Asking a former manager

Hi Maria, I appreciated the opportunity to work with you on the customer onboarding program. I’m updating my LinkedIn profile for customer success roles and wondered whether you would be comfortable writing a short recommendation about my project coordination and client communication. The launch timeline and the training materials I prepared may be useful context. I completely understand if you do not have time. Thank you for considering it.

2. Asking a current manager

Hi Daniel, I’m refreshing my professional profile and would value a LinkedIn recommendation from you if company policy allows it. Would you feel comfortable commenting on my work coordinating the reporting process and collaborating with the sales team? There is no urgency, and I understand if you would prefer not to. Thank you.

Consider workplace culture and whether your request could be interpreted as a sign that you are leaving.

3. Asking a colleague

Hi Aisha, I really enjoyed working with you on the website migration. Would you be comfortable writing a brief LinkedIn recommendation about our collaboration, particularly the testing and issue-tracking work? I would be happy to write an honest recommendation for you as well, based on what I observed. No pressure if now is not a good time.

4. Asking a client

Hi Thomas, thank you again for trusting me with the product-launch copy. I’m updating my LinkedIn profile and wondered whether you would be willing to write a short recommendation about the collaboration, communication and final deliverables. Please include only details you are comfortable making public. I understand if your organization’s policy prevents it.

5. Asking after an internship

Hi Sofia, thank you for your guidance during my marketing internship. I’m preparing my profile for entry-level marketing roles and wondered whether you would feel comfortable recommending me based on my campaign reporting and editorial-calendar work. I can send a short reminder of the projects if useful. I understand if your schedule does not allow it.

6. Asking a professor or academic supervisor

Hello Professor Lee, I’m updating my LinkedIn profile as I apply for junior research roles. Would you be comfortable writing a brief recommendation about my final-year research project, particularly my data collection, analysis and written presentation? I understand if you only provide recommendations through the university’s formal process. Thank you for considering my request.

7. Asking a volunteer coordinator

Hi Noor, I valued my experience coordinating volunteers for the community event. Would you be willing to write a short LinkedIn recommendation about my organization, communication and reliability during the project? No problem at all if you are unable to.

8. Asking a direct report

Hi Luis, I’m updating my profile and would value your perspective on how I supported the team. If you feel comfortable, would you write a short recommendation about my communication, coaching and approach to project priorities? Please be candid and include only what you directly experienced.

9. Asking after a career change project

Hi Priya, I enjoyed collaborating with you on the nonprofit data project. I’m moving toward data analyst roles and wondered whether you would recommend me based on the SQL analysis, dashboard and documentation I produced. Because this was a volunteer project, please label the context clearly. I understand if the timing is not convenient.

10. Short request for a close contact

Hi Sam, would you feel comfortable writing me a brief LinkedIn recommendation about our work on the operations dashboard? A note about my data accuracy and communication would be especially relevant to the roles I’m targeting. No pressure, and thank you for considering it.

How to Make the Request Easier to Answer

Provide a short factual reminder, especially if the project happened months ago. You might mention:

• The project name and approximate period
• Your responsibility
• One or two relevant skills
• A verified outcome or deliverable
• The target role that makes this feedback useful

Keep the reminder short. Sending a page of achievements creates work and can make the message feel scripted.

Should You Offer to Write One in Return?

You can offer, but do not turn recommendations into a compulsory exchange. Only recommend someone when you can describe their work honestly. Avoid coordinated, exaggerated praise designed only to improve appearances.

If you write first, include specific observations rather than expecting the other person to copy the structure back to you.

How to Follow Up Politely

If the person does not respond, wait at least a week before sending one brief follow-up. For example:

Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up once on my LinkedIn recommendation request in case it was buried. I completely understand if you are too busy or would prefer not to write one. Thank you either way.

If there is still no response, stop. Repeated reminders can damage the relationship.

What Makes a Strong Recommendation?

A useful recommendation often includes:

• How the writer knows you
• The work or problem involved
• A specific strength demonstrated
• An example or verified result
• The type of work for which they would recommend you

Avoid asking for exact keyword repetition. Natural, specific language is more credible than a paragraph packed with job titles.

How Many LinkedIn Recommendations Do You Need?

There is no universal target. A few relevant, detailed recommendations from different relationships can be more valuable than many generic ones. Prioritize quality, recency and relevance to your current direction.

If you are changing roles, seek feedback that supports transferable skills and the new target. If you are a recent graduate, an internship supervisor, professor or project partner may provide the most credible context.

How to Request a Recommendation on LinkedIn

1. Open the profile of a first-degree connection.
2. Use the More menu or the recommendation option available in LinkedIn’s current interface.
3. Select your working relationship and position when prompted.
4. Replace the generic request with a personal message.
5. Review the details and send.

LinkedIn’s interface changes. If you cannot locate the option, use the current LinkedIn Help instructions.

What to Do When You Receive a Recommendation

Read it carefully before displaying it. LinkedIn may let you accept, dismiss or ask for a revision. Request a change only when there is a factual error, confidential information, an unclear phrase or a meaningful omission.

A respectful revision request might say:

Thank you for writing this—I appreciate it. Would you be comfortable changing [specific detail] to [accurate wording]? I want to make sure the public description is correct. Everything else is very helpful.

Never edit someone’s meaning without their agreement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending LinkedIn’s default request without context
• Asking someone who did not observe your work
• Requesting exaggerated or false claims
• Giving the writer a long script to copy
• Pressuring the person or following up repeatedly
• Asking for confidential client or employer information
• Collecting generic recommendations unrelated to your target role
• Forgetting to thank the writer

Recommendation Request Checklist

• The person directly observed relevant work.
• The timing is appropriate.
• Your message names the shared context.
• You suggest only skills they can verify.
• You make declining easy.
• You remove pressure and urgency.
• You check the final recommendation for accuracy and privacy.
• You thank the writer personally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to ask for a LinkedIn recommendation?

Yes. A polite request is normal when the person has directly observed your work. Make it specific and give them a comfortable way to decline.

Can I ask my boss for a recommendation while employed?

You can, but consider the relationship, workplace culture and whether the request could reveal a confidential job search. A request tied to general professional development may still raise questions.

Should I ask by email or LinkedIn message?

Use the channel that fits your relationship. A personal conversation or email may be better for context, followed by LinkedIn’s formal request.

Can I ask someone to revise a recommendation?

LinkedIn may offer a revision request. Use it for factual accuracy, privacy or clarity—not to pressure the writer into stronger praise.

Do recommendations help recruiters find my profile?

Recommendations mainly provide social proof to people evaluating your profile. Search visibility also depends on clear target language across your headline, About, Experience and Skills.

Ask for Specific, Honest Evidence

A strong recommendation request respects the relationship and helps the writer recall relevant work. Ask the right person, provide brief context and prioritize truthful examples over generic praise.

Strengthen the rest of your profile with our LinkedIn guide for job seekers, profile checklist and practical LinkedIn Blueprint.