Danielle M. McFadden provides tips for personal branding, networking, and using social media for job hunting. She recommends reflecting on how you want others to perceive you and developing your unique skills. When networking, make eye contact, listen actively, and follow up afterwards in a timely manner. Using LinkedIn and other social media allows employers to search for candidates that match their needs.

1. Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1
NetworkingWhile on the Job Hunt

2. You Are a Brand
Personal branding is the way you market yourself to the world. This includes what other people and
businesses think of you. Although some of this may be outside of your control, Social Media sites
like LinkedIn and how you conduct yourself in person allow you to have some influence over it.
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Isn’t that an empowering thought? Ask yourself:
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✤ What do you want people to say about you?
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✤ What makes you unique?
✤ Travel
✤ Languages you speak
✤ Hobbies or skills
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✤ What skill set(s) are you looking to develop and master?
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✤ Why should they hire YOU?
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When you’re not around, what do people say about you?
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

3. Networking - A Dirty 10 LetterWord
Networking can be very intimidating! Here are a few tips to make it a little easier:
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✤ If you won’t know anyone at the event, call the organization ahead of time to let them
know that you are coming. Ask them if they have anyone that would be willing to
introduce you around.
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✤ Offer to help with the check-in or volunteer that night.
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✤ Show up early so you don’t have to walk into a huge crowd.
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✤ Approach groups of 3 or more so you’re not interrupting a potentially intimate
conversation or find someone standing alone and talk to them.
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✤ When you approach a group have a conversation starter prepared in advance. You could
reference the location (“This is a great room. Have you ever been here before?”) or the
group (“This is my first Greater Lowell Chamber event. Do you attend a lot of their
functions?).
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

4. Stand Out from the Sea of Networkers
✤ Establish yourself as warm, interesting and approachable:
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✤ Make eye contact, have a firm handshake and don’t look over the person’s shoulder.
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✤ Say the person’s name throughout the conversation.
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✤ Listen and ask questions: Spend the majority of the time listening and try to find a
way to help the person you are talking to.
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✤ Thank each person you meet for a great conversation. A little gratitude can carry you
far.
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✤ Build a reputation as the go-to person or as an expert in a particular field or topic.
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✤ Be a connector.
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✤ Follow up in a timely manner.
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

5. Follow Up BeforeYou Fizzle Out
✤ Follow up within a day or so while the contact is still fresh in your mind. Reference
something about your conversation and, if applicable, give them a name or a resource that
may be of interest to them (this will help you become a connector).
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✤ The method of contact depends on your style:
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✤ Connect on LinkedIn and Twitter ASAP because once you are connected you will be
able to see each other’s updates and stay top of mind.
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✤ Invite the person to coffee or lunch if you think you could develop a strong
professional network.
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✤ A personal note definitely sets you apart. Try using a system like SendOutCards.
(www.cardsbydot.com)
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✤ Social Media is great way to stay top of mind with people – you can simply comment on
their posts and reach out via phone, message, email when necessary.
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

6. The Do’s of Networking
✤ Wear a Name Tag. (Get a name tag made so you don’t have to wear a temporary name tag supplied by the event
organizer.)
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✤ Dress appropriately and professionally. Keep in mind that this means different things for different professions.
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✤ Have an elevator speech that includes a little bit about yourself.
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✤ Bring plenty of business cards.
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✤ Body language: Firm handshake, eye contact, don’t look over the person’s shoulder,
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✤ Listen more than you speak.
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✤ Approach/sit with people you don’t know.
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✤ Have an exit strategy: It could be as simple as excusing yourself to go to the bathroom.
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✤ Write on the back of business cards so you can remember a fact or two about the conversations you had at the event.
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✤ Introduce yourself to the event organizer.
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✤ Follow Up!
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

7. The Don’ts of Networking
✤ Card Spam: Walk around the room handing out your business card without asking
about the other person.
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✤ Be a wallflower: Go outside of your comfort zone and step outside of your circle of
influence.
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✤ Be overly self-promotional. It’s better to share then to sell when you first meet
someone.
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✤ Focus on working the room and meeting everyone at the event. You’re better off
focusing on quality not quantity.
✤ Getting too personal: Don’t talk about things that may make everyone around you
uncomfortable – politics, rocky relationship stories, bashing your competition, etc.
!! !
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

8. Networking LeadsTo GoodThings
✤ Building a robust and diverse professional network is key while
you’re on the job hunt!!
✤ Attend a lot of events!
✤ Be an active participant on Social Media!
✤ Join a board, committee or local service group (Rotary,
Kiwanis, Lions).!
✤ Use your skills for the betterment of the community and
become the ultimate connector.
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

9. Why Should I Use Social Media for
my Job Search?
Hiring has changed! Organizations are now saving large
sums of money on recruiting costs by using Social Media
as a primary source for hiring. Many businesses use
Facebook, LinkedIn and their personal networks to find
referrals. !
LinkedIn even allows employers to narrow their search
so they can find exactly what they are looking for!!
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

10. Social MediaTips
✤ Go to your Social Media profiles and remove anything that you
wouldn’t want a potential employer to see.!
✤ Tap into your networks on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. to let
them know you are searching for a job.!
✤ Prepare yourself for an interview by researching the company
and the individuals who will be interviewing you.!
✤ Increase your confidence by searching for interview tips on
Google, LinkedIn and YouTube. The more you hear and practice
interview tips and skills, the less stressful the interview will be.
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

11. LinkedIn: One Giant Networking Event
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is dressed for success:!
✤ Profile Picture: Use a headshot (professional is preferred) that is from your shoulders/chest up. Make sure
you look friendly and approachable and don’t be afraid to smile. Dress appropriately, leave the group shots
for Facebook and make sure you don’t have a cocktail in your hand. After all, don’t you want the first
impression of you to be a positive one?!
✤ Summary: Spend time writing your summary and always consider it a work in progress. Rewrite it as
many times as necessary. The summary is prime real estate for you to tell your story. Make sure the way
you tell your story is as interesting and approachable as you are! Be deliberate by using appropriate
keywords, adjectives and industry terms and put your contact information in your summary to make it as
easy as possible for people to contact you.!
✤ Recommendations: Recommendations are like reference letters and testimonials that are posted on your
profile and broadcast to your entire LinkedIn network. The more connections that recommend you, the
more validity you will have. If you want to increase the number of recommendations that you have, but
feel bad asking someone to take the time out of their day to write you one, here’s an idea…. make the
commitment to recommend one person a week. In many cases, people will be so thankful that you
recommended them (unsolicited) that they will recommend you back.
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

12. LinkedIn: One Giant Networking Event
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is dressed for success:!
✤ Specialties: Think about how others may search for you or categorize what you do and ‘tag’
yourself appropriately. Also, consider using the keywords that you’d want to be found under in
search results. These steps will make you more searchable.!
✤ Adding Your Websites to Your Profile: Don’t use the default descriptions (My Company, My
Website, etc.). Make sure you add a custom description to remind people again what it is that you
do.!
✤ Status Updates and Long Form Posts: Show other LinkedIn users that you are a hard worker and
expert in your field. Share interesting articles, motivational quotes, business tips, upcoming events,
etc. as status updates. This will push you into the newsfeed of your connections, promote
conversation and let LinkedIn know that you are an active user and not just someone who sets up a
profile and accepts connection requests every once in a while. Want to take it a step further? Be the
person who writes posts that other people want to read and share. The Long Form post is powerful
way for people to get to know you and view you as someone they want to do business with.
Danielle M. McFadden - @DMcFaddenLowell - dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org - linkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1

13. 01
dmcfadden@greaterlowellchamber.org
@DaniMcFaddenlinkedin.com/in/daniellemcfadden1
@DMcFaddenLowell
Danielle M. McFadden!
President/CEO!
Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce