Creating a Job Search Business Card

After reading the article How to Work a Room by Donna Messer, I was reminded of how effective having a job search business card can be. One of Messer’s tips was to have a method for giving and receiving business cards while at a networking event. Her solution is perfectly simple:

[Having a] jacket with two pockets is crucial, the right one for [your] business cards the left for those [you] collect.

But that’s great for the seasoned professional, but what about new grads who may not have business cards to exchange? Here’s how you can get around that problem:

1. Create a budget. There are many options and price points to consider when designing and printing business cards. Once you have an idea of what it costs, you can find the one that best suits your price point.
2. Determine the contact information that will appear on the front of the card. Be sure to include your Name, Street Address, City, State/Province, Zip/Postal Code, and Contact Information.
3. Create a mini-resume for the back of the card. It will help you stand out when you don’t have the same experience as the other people in the room.

If you are not familiar with the mini-resume, it is essentially a list of key achievements and skills in bullet form. Here is an example:

• Bachelor of Kinesiology Candidate – California State University
• Certified personal trainer and basketball referee
• Expertise in the hospitality and fitness industries

Remember to always proofread your card content several times before you go ahead with printing. Save the final version to hard drive and copy it to a flash drive for safe keeping.

So try it out. It may help you get noticed.