Saying “can you give me a testimonial?” at work
Why it can fall flat
“can you give me a testimonial?”
“Can you give me a testimonial?” leans on the word “give,” which makes it sound like a favor with no effort from you, and it leaves the person guessing what to write. You want a short, specific endorsement, so explain why you're asking and make it quick.
Say this instead
- 01
Hi Miriam, I'm glad the project went well. Would you be willing to share a few sentences about working with us? I can send a couple of prompts, or draft something for you to edit.
Client · Email
Right after a successful delivery goodwill is high, and offering a draft lowers the effort for them.
- 02
Hi Rory, thanks for your kind words about the order. May I quote them on our website? I'm happy to use just your first name.
Customer · SMS
Because the customer has already praised you, you are only asking permission to use their words.
- 03
Hey Matthew, would you be up for writing a short recommendation about our work together on the migration? Two or three lines is plenty, and no worries if you're busy.
Coworker · Chat
Naming the migration and keeping the scope small makes it easy to agree or to decline politely.
- 04
Hi Ingrid, I'm updating my profile and portfolio. Would you be comfortable writing a short recommendation about my work this year? I can send a few points to make it quick.
Boss · Email
A stated reason and an easy way out suit a manager who is short on time.
- 05
Thanks for the kind feedback, Hassan. Could I share it as a short testimonial on our site? I'll send you the exact wording for approval before it goes anywhere.
Client · Chat
Letting the client approve the final wording removes what often holds people back.
- 06
Hi Laura, thank you for your help with my job search. If you're comfortable, would you add a short recommendation to my profile about how we worked together?
Recruiter / HR · Email
With a recruiter you've worked closely with, opening with thanks makes the request feel earned.
- 07
Hi Kimberly, glad we could sort that out. If you have two minutes, would you answer three short questions about your experience? We'd like to share it as a testimonial.
Customer · Email
After a resolved issue or good support contact, a clear time cost and set questions make replying simple.
Examples
Hi Imani, Thank you for such a smooth project. I'm glad the new booking system is working well for your team. Would you be happy to share two or three sentences about your experience that we could use on our website? I can send a few questions to guide you, and you'd see the final wording before we publish anything. Best wishes, Alex
Hi Naveen, thanks for the great feedback on the redesign. Would you mind if I used it as a short testimonial in my portfolio? I can send you the wording first.
What to avoid
- A one-line message with no context, deadline or sense of how much to write puts all the work on them.
- Writing the whole testimonial and expecting a signature leaves them no chance to edit it.
- Guilt or obligation, such as mentioning how much work you put in, makes the request feel like pressure.
- Waiting until long after the work ended means they may no longer remember the details.
- Quoting or publishing their words before they have agreed breaks trust quickly.