Great things can start in small packages. It can be as petite as your wallet or the pockets in your pants. What I’m talking about are business cards.
To many, business cards are meant only for those who are trying to promote their enterprise to strangers and possible partners. What they don’t know is that business cards can also be a very powerful job hunting tool.
Business Cards can Build your Connections
Not all jobs are found in the Internet or even in job posts inside newspapers or on bulletin boards. Some job vacancies can come from your friends, family members, and random strangers. That is why if you have such a huge desire to land a job immediately, you should also try to increase your network connection.
A business card is one of the best materials you can use for establishing connection for a lot of reasons.
• First, it is considered traditional and formal. No one is going to raise his or her eyebrows should he or she get one from you.
• Second, it is easier to carry. Potential employers can keep your cards in their wallets or pockets with a reduced possibility of losing them (unless they deliberately throw them away).
Get All Your Contact Details in One Location
Don’t you think it would be easy for your potential employer to get all your contact details in one go? The company’s HR manager does not have to open your resume just to have your phone number or email address. Instead, he or she may just look at your business card. A business card can contain as many contact details as you wish: home phone number, mobile number, fax number, e-mail address, and even your website.
Tell Them What You Know
When you think of business cards, you will probably just consider contact information when it comes to content. However, these are not the only types of information you can print there. You can also put down your list of services or excellent skills, perhaps in abbreviated or bulleted form. You can place this list on a two-fold business card. You can also utilize the back portion of the cards for these kinds of information. Make your business card the briefest and the most precise resume.
Share Your Portfolio
You really don’t know who you are going to bump into, so you better make sure you bring along your portfolio as often as possible. Nevertheless, that would be cumbersome. What you can do instead is set up a website, publish your complete resume there, upload your best samples, and add a website link to your business card. Ensure that you indicate that it is a portfolio link.
You have to remember, though, business cards can only get you this far. You will never get the job you like if you cannot prove to your potential employer that you deserve it. You may want to improve your skills, relevant knowledge, and level of education to further increase your chances of getting that dream job.
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Concisely written and valuable advice to which I would add the following tips.
First, with hundreds of job seekers for every posting, the portfolio referred to in this article is extremely important to have. Almost does not matter what kind of job you want; figure out a way to create a portfolio to represent your best work. Most applicants will not have this on hand at the interview. Additional tip re the portfolio: when you get the call inviting you to the interview, ask with whom you will be meeting. If they say there will be only one person, think again. The likelihood is that you will meet with a panel. I doubt if many companies allow a single individual to conduct the initial interview any longer. That being the case – and this was the case with my last and most recent position – anticipate multiple interviewers. Instead of one portfolio, create three copies and plan on leaving them behind. I was told I’d be meeting with one person, and it wound up being a panel of three. When the moment came to present my portfolio of work samples, I was able to give each one their own copy to keep. Each binder cost a few bucks, but it was a priceless moment and went a long way in landing the job. Same thing happened at the last interview. Told I would be meeting only with the director, I made up two more portfolios. Guess what: there were two interviewers at the final interview.
One more tip that I would give to anyone in any field. Join Toastmasters. Again, you are selling yourself at the interview. Employers want people who are articulate, composed, and confident. The Toastmasters is a very inexpensive way to enhance your verbal presentation skills. As you do so, your confidence level will rise. Low cost with a very high return on investment.
Concomitant with this, join an industry association or professional society and get involved. Volunteer for committees or even run for office. Just being a member does not cut it. Being an officer will give you credible, usable experience to add to your resume. In addition, you will be networking with movers and shakers in your field.
Good luck to all.
Good Advice. I have used them and have helped jobless friends to make and use cards. With today’s technology you don’t even have to go to the printer and spend a lot of money. Just make them on your home computer and only print a few at a time (25-35). That way you can make changes if you desire before printing again.
I’ve also discovered that using some tasteful creativity can help get you noticed more than a generic looking card. A friend with a long OTR Truck Driving history needed help. I made him a card with a tractor-trailer outline that had his name on the box – making it look very professional and adding his CDL lic. # along with his highest level credentials. He was working 2 weeks after he began using the cards.
Another friend didn’t have such good luck and after awhile I asked what he was doing or how he was using the cards only to find out that he’d never handed any out. He wasn’t comfortable with the approach. So your statement about making connections is very important.
Anytime the situation would make it awkward for you to use a resume, have a card ready and don’t be afraid to use it.
Good move. Most have a resume, few have a business card. Important if you do use a business card is what it projects in term of current employment, consultancy or a full-time job seeker. Also important is how the business card is presented. If our business card has value, it is because you projected that value to someone. Your private phone number, used specifically for job search and respond to rapidly if there is a VM left should be on the card along with your web content links. If you want to record an top-notch interview, of you and your occupational accomplishments and have that linked to your business, check out http://www.LinkedInterviews.com.
Good article, thanks!
Pete.