Your Business Card: don’t leave home without it

One of the very first things that I recommend to the job seekers that I meet with is to get business cards- and to take them everywhere.  So often, job seekers say they are in one of a few predicaments:

1. “I’m between jobs, so I don’t have business cards.”
2. “I’m in college / graduate school, so I don’t need business cards.”
3. “I’m changing careers, so my current business card from work isn’t relevant.”

I have to tell you, none of these excuses are anything more than excuses.  At the end of the day, when you’re looking for a job, potential employers need to know how to contact you.  You never know when or where you might meet someone who may end up being your next boss, or your next great networking contact (who will introduce you to your next big job).

If you don’t have business cards, it’s time to get them.  And the good news is, it’s easy.  It only takes a few minutes to order them online, and then they arrive to your house a few days later.

Before you start, you’ll want to think about what to include on your business card.  At a bare minimum, you need to include:

1. Your name
2. Your phone number – I recommend your cell phone, so that you can receive calls anytime
3. Your e-mail address – Refer back to my previous post about which e-mail address to use and not use

Other elements you can also add:

1. Your personal website URL, if you have one
2. Your personal logo, if you have one
3. A title that describes your desired line of work – Think of something along the lines of “Project Manager” or “Digital Marketing Consultant”
4. Your address

If you’re the kind of person that has multiple types of jobs, or qualifications in multiple areas, you may want to consider a card that does not have your title.  This will allow you to give the same card to different people, in different industries, and for different types of roles.

If you’re not a graphic artist, or experienced with PhotoShop, don’t try to design a logo on your own.  If you have a friend who’s an artist, ask them for their help – or leave off the logo altogether.  A simple business card is much better than a messy one.