How to write a testimonial
Is it just me, or are we seeing a hike in reviews? I put it down to everyone being stuck inside and having more time to get on with those backburner jobs. It got me thinking that it’s just as hard to write a testimonial as it is to write anything else, so here’s a point by point example to use as a template next time you need to write one:
Q: Who are they?
A: ‘Susan is a career coach who specialises in law and finance.’
Q: How did you meet?
A: ‘Susan was recommended to me by a friend. We had an initial Zoom chat’
Q: What did you need?
A: ‘I was at a crossroads in my career as a partner in a small family law firm. I wanted to go higher but didn’t know how or where.’
Q: First impressions?
A: ‘She was a brilliant listener with a wealth of knowledge, and she instantly saw how and where I was stuck.’
Q: How did she help in a practical way?
A: ‘Susan suggested several strategies for how I might progress, using examples and helping me draw up a how-to plan for making that career change.’
Q: How did she help in a mindset way?
A: ‘Susan has a calm, confident approach, so just talking to her was helpful in itself, but her encouragement, past knowledge and practical solutions gave me the strength and know-how to make that change in direction.’
Q: What happened next?
A: ‘Within weeks I had negotiated a new job description, allowing me to take on preferred cases, and encouraging me to make several new business suggestions – already implemented. These were exactly the challenges I craved and have added new depth to my resume.’
Q: Can you sum her up in a sentence?
A: ‘Susan is a calm, confident coach with such deep experience, and her upbeat, helpful methods will help anyone who’s feeling stuck in a rut.’
EDITED RESULT:
Susan was recommended to me by a friend when I was at a crossroads in my career as a partner in a small family law firm. I wanted to go higher but didn’t know how or where. Susan was a brilliant listener and quickly saw where I was stuck. She came up with strategies for how I might progress and helped me work out a solid plan for change.
Susan has a calm, confident approach: her encouragement, knowledge and practical solutions gave me the strength to make significant changes. Within weeks I had negotiated a new job description, allowing me to take on specific and preferred cases, and buoying me up to make several suggestions that have already been implemented within the company. Susan is a calm, confident coach and her upbeat attitude will help anyone who is feeling stuck. I highly recommend her.’
Too long? Take out:
’I wanted to go higher but didn’t know how or where;
and
’…her encouragement, knowledge and practical solutions gave me the strength to make significant changes’
3 more tips:
1 Avoid starting with:
‘There is so much to say about Susan’
That’s speech-writing.
2 Avoid screamers
That’s these things: !!!!!
It’s great to be enthusiastic, but a full-stop will usually do (okay, you can have just one but that’s all).
3 Don’t force the applause
If you feel strong-armed into writing a review, we will usually be able to tell.
If you DO want to write it but you still don’t know where to start, please do get in touch for a quote.