The short answer: a testimonial on a resume is a short quote from someone who has seen your work, such as a manager, client or supervisor. It can help when space allows and the quote proves something specific the job needs, especially for freelancers, consultants, sales roles, teachers and healthcare students with strong evaluations. For most resumes, one page is precious, so one or two short quotes at most, or none: put fuller recommendations on LinkedIn or your portfolio instead. Below is when to use them, where to put them, examples, and how to ask for one.
Should you add testimonials to your resume?
Career advisers differ. Augustana University’s career center lists “Share testimonials” as one way to showcase your experience, suggesting candidates “include quotes from your letters of recommendation, internship evaluations, preceptor/cooperating teacher comments, or annual appraisals.” UConn’s Center for Career Readiness points out that a resume must tell your story “in far fewer words (ideally one page),” while LinkedIn lets you add “recommendations from former colleagues,” which isn’t possible on a resume.
A practical rule: add a testimonial only if it proves something your bullet points can’t, it’s short, and it doesn’t push out more important content.
When a testimonial helps
- Freelancers and consultants, where client satisfaction is the product.
- Sales, account management and customer service, where a client’s words show results.
- Student teachers, nursing and therapy students, with strong supervisor or preceptor evaluations.
- Career changers, when a respected voice confirms a transferable skill.
When to leave it out
- Your resume is already full.
- The quote is generic (“a pleasure to work with”).
- You can’t name the source or the source wouldn’t want to be named.
- The employer uses applicant tracking systems that strip formatting and the quote would look odd as plain text.
Where to put it
- Under the relevant job, as the last line of that role, so it supports specific achievements.
- In a short summary section at the top, for one powerful quote.
- Never as a separate page of testimonials attached to the resume, unless asked.
How to format it
Keep it to one or two lines, in quotation marks, with the person’s name, title and organization:
“Maya cut our onboarding time in half and our clients noticed within a month.” — Jordan Lee, Director of Customer Success, Acme Software
Examples are illustrations, not real testimonials. Only use real quotes, with permission.
More examples
- Teacher: “Sam’s classroom management was the strongest of any student teacher I’ve supervised.” — Cooperating teacher, Lincoln Middle School
- Nurse: “Calm under pressure and exceptional at patient education.” — Preceptor evaluation, cardiac step-down unit
- Freelance designer: “Delivered our rebrand two weeks early and under budget.” — Founder, a client bakery chain
How to ask for a testimonial
- Ask people who know your work well and soon after a success.
- Be specific: “Would you be willing to write one or two sentences about the onboarding project, for my resume and LinkedIn?”
- Make it easy: offer to draft a sentence they can edit, but use their final words.
- Get permission to use their name and title.
- Say thank you, and offer to return the favor.
Better places for longer recommendations
- LinkedIn recommendations, where there’s room for full paragraphs.
- A portfolio or personal website, with a testimonials section.
- Your cover letter, where a short quote can support a key point.
- References, provided separately when the employer asks.
Testimonials help, but your bullet points still do most of the work: lead with results and numbers. And in the interview, the same stories need to come across in your own words. See our STAR method guide and AI resume builder.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put testimonials on my resume?
Where do testimonials go on a resume?
How do I format a testimonial on a resume?
Who should I ask for a testimonial?
Are LinkedIn recommendations better than resume testimonials?
Sources
- Augustana University, 20 Ways to Showcase Your Experience on Your Resume. Read on 1 October 2026.
- UConn Center for Career Readiness, 6 Ways Your Résumé Should Differ from Your LinkedIn Profile, Eran Peterson, 11 March 2019. Read on 1 October 2026.
