The Business of Business Cards

Remember that last interview when the Hiring Manager asked if you had a business card? Remember how you had to say "no" and kicked yourself for not having one? Remember when your buddy told you two months ago to get one?

Whether you create your business card at home, or hire a printing service, online or offline, there's no need to be without your own business card, ever again, as you explore new career opportunities. (Some people call these cards different things: networking cards, job search cards, job hunting business cards, personal branding cards.) Regardless of what you call it, you either have one, or you don't. Once you have convinced yourself you need one, the next big question becomes: "What should it say?" Consider the information below to decide what's right for you:

1. Name: Make it consistent with other career marketing and branding materials.
2. Designations/Degrees/Certifications: Keep them relevant to your target goal.
3. Address: For privacy purposes, some job seekers choose to reveal only their city/state on their business card and forgo a residential street address. If by chance your friend or relative is letting you use idle business space, or you're renting a professional (commercial) address, you can state a full street address, in addition to the city/state and zip code.
4. Phone Number: State one number, not three. Select the one where you can be contacted the first try!
5. Email/Internet Addresses: Consider the relevancy of each address; select those with brand relevance (LI, Twitter, website, Visual CV, etc.)
6. Language/Wording: Purposefully and intentionally choose words that best capture the essence of you and your brand in as few words as possible. Think: brevity, clarity and avoid clutter.
7. Text/Color/Logo: Carefully select font, color, text, and logo to best support your brand and the message you wish to convey to your target audience.
8. Photo: Some job seekers like to include a professional photo on their business card; others don't.

While there is no perfect way to create a business card, you will want to produce a distinctive one that well represents you and your brand. If you are stumped for ideas, peruse that stack of business cards collected at the last networking event. Create a stand-out card that captures attention -- for all the right reasons! And be sure, most of all, to hand them out! How about it...do you have a job hunting business card? Better yet, do you have any cool tips or ideas to share with others about making one?

Comments

[Sital]

Great post Billie. Here's my 2 cents worth:

For job searchers, a business card is simply another marking tool - just like your resume, cover letter, verbal introduction, LinkedIn profile, Visual CV etc. And like all marketing materials you create them, road test them, adapt and change as you go along based on feedback.

So be sure to:

1. Keep it simple
Remember you're not trying to win a "best business card" competition - you're trying to find a job. So don't waste time and energy being a perfectionist and trying to overcomplicate things and be too clever. Create it, start using, adjust and adapt as you go along

(unless you're a graphic designer and your card effectively becomes part of your portfolio!)

2. Do it quickly
The faster you create it and use it, the faster you'll start getting feedback and seeing what responses you get. So if Billie's post inspired you, get the card sorted out in the next 72 hours of reading this post. Something quick to produce or purchase and inexpensive. Then get out using it and adapt and change as you go along

[Shelley Moore]

The almighty business card is an excellent tool. I feel that it should be unique and of good quality as well. You want your business card to stand out from the rest and like you said, you are branding yourself. Express yourself in the best possible way.

A business card is a great way to leave a lasting impression. Going the extra mile can only help and spicing up a resume doesn't hurt either. As long as you don't go overboard. The key to a successful interview is standing out from other candidates. The attitude should be having a better business card than other candidates, a better resume, dress better, speak better, and present yourself with complete confidence and professionalism.

Great article.

[billiesucher]

Sital -- super tips and as always from you, so very well said! Thank you!

Shelley -- yes, quality is important in a business card, like all other marketing documents. And attitude, as your post states --it's everything. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Ken Sevec]

A quick note to say that I recently ordered "networking cards" from Moo.com and they look great.

[billiesucher]

Thanks for the tip, Ken! Will check it out!