LinkedIn Recommendation Examples for a Colleague Who Is Leaving
Your colleague is heading out. Time for a solid LinkedIn recommendation to help them land on their feet. I've been in HR for 14 years. Seen plenty of these. They matter more than you think. Here are 13 examples spread across five categories. Grab what fits. Tweak it your way. You'll find a structure to follow. Dos and don'ts. Industry tweaks. Templates too. Let's get you set.
1
Project Collaborators
You teamed up on key work. These spotlight results and partnership.
collegial
medium
01
58 words
Close project partner in tech.
Sarah and I tackled the Q3 product launch at TechCorp. She owned the UX redesign. Cut user drop-off by 25%. Her eye for detail kept us on track. Even under tight deadlines. Sarah delivers. Any team would gain from her.
cut user drop-off by 25%
eye for detail
Why this works
Names project, quantifies impact, notes reliability.
02
47 words
Tech migration project.
Worked side-by-side with Mike on the client migration to AWS. He scripted the automation. Saved 200 hours. Calm in chaos. Picked up loose ends without prompt. Mike's the guy you want on tough jobs.
saved 200 hours
calm in chaos
Why this works
Specific tool, time saved, proactive trait.
03
38 words
Analytics project.
Partnered with Lisa on the annual report overhaul. She crunched the data visuals. Made complex numbers clear. Client loved it. Her questions sharpened our angle. Left stronger.
made complex numbers clear
Why this works
Clear outcome, collaborative input.
2
Team Contributors
They lifted the group. Examples here praise reliability and support.
supportive
short
01
24 words
Agile dev team.
Jamal stepped up every sprint at DevHub. Fixed bugs fast. Mentored juniors too. Steady hand. He'll thrive anywhere.
stepped up every sprint
Why this works
Concise, covers multiple roles.
02
22 words
Sales support.
With Priya on sales ops. She streamlined workflows. Team hit quotas early. Positive vibe always. Pure pro.
hit quotas early
Why this works
Result + attitude.
03
20 words
Customer service.
Alex handled escalations at SupportCo. Turned frustrated clients happy. Shared tricks with team. Made us better.
turned frustrated clients happy
Why this works
Problem-solving + knowledge share.
04
21 words
Operations.
Teamed with Raj for two years in ops. Forecast accuracy up 15%. Covered shifts seamlessly. Rock solid.
forecast accuracy up 15%
Why this works
Metric + dependability.
3
Skill Specialists
Deep expertise shone. These call out technical or niche strengths.
admiring
medium
01
35 words
Data role in finance.
Elena brought data science magic to FinMark. Built models predicting churn. 18% lift in retention. Explained tech simply to non-tech folks. Her skill set is gold.
18% lift in retention
Why this works
Quant result, communication bridge.
02
25 words
Security consultant.
Consulted with Tom on cybersecurity audits. Spotted gaps others missed. Policies now tighter. Methodical approach. Trusted advisor.
spotted gaps others missed
Why this works
Unique value, trust.
4
Leaders and Mentors
Guided others. Shaped culture. Recs here reflect that influence.
respectful
detailed
01
52 words
Marketing manager.
Over three years with Nina at GrowthLab. She led our marketing pod. Campaigns ROI doubled. Pushed us to test bold ideas. Coached me through my first pitch. Nina builds winners. Next org gets a leader.
campaigns ROI doubled
Why this works
Leadership metrics, personal growth story.
02
28 words
Senior engineer.
Mentored by Kevin in engineering. Code reviews sharp. Team velocity up 30%. Encouraged questions. Grew under him. Kevin shapes strong teams.
team velocity up 30%
Why this works
Mentorship impact, team metric.
03
30 words
Product lead.
Chris ran product at InnovateX. Aligned stakeholders. Launched three features on time. Inspired ownership. Culture booster. Miss his drive.
launched three features on time
Why this works
Alignment, inspiration.
5
All-Around Impacts
Big picture contributors. Wrap up with broad praise.
warm
medium
01
40 words
Long-term ops colleague.
Spent four years beside Dana at RetailMax. From inventory to strategy. She optimized supply chain. Saved 10% costs. Always learning. Adaptable force. Best wishes ahead.
saved 10% costs
Why this works
Career arc, continuous improv.
02
22 words
Creative role.
Omar rounded out our creative team. Design flair. Tight on deadlines. Fun to brainstorm with. Versatile talent.
tight on deadlines
Why this works
Soft + hard skills blend.
03
23 words
Analyst.
Two projects with Wei. Excelled in analysis. Communicated insights crisp. Drove decisions. Reliable partner through changes.
drove decisions
Why this works
Communication, stability.
Tips for Recommending A Colleague Who Is Leaving
1
Keep it real
Share what you actually saw. Skip fluff. Recruiters spot fakes fast.
2
Name projects
Mention that big win or tough deadline you crushed together. Specifics stick.
3
Balance skills and character
Mix hard results with how they showed up daily. People hire both.
4
Future focus
Wish them well ahead. Shows class. Helps their next move.
5
Quick check
Read aloud. Does it sound like you? Good. If not, rewrite. Pro tip: Use reangle.it for fresh angles on your experiences.
6
Timing
Hit send soon after they announce. Fresh in mind. More impact.
Helpful Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a recommendation be?
Aim for 4-7 sentences. Short enough to read quick. Long enough to convince.
Can I mention why they're leaving?
No. Keep it positive. Focus on their work. Not the exit story.
What if we weren't super close?
Still works. Highlight shared tasks. Observable strengths. Genuine beats gushy.
Do I need their permission?
LinkedIn asks them to approve before posting. Safe there.
How to ask for one back?
Private message. 'Hey, writing yours. Reciprocate?' Casual. Clear.
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