A Resume is not enough. You need Business Cards!
- Lauren Carey
- Jul 12, 2020
- 2 min read
Why do you need a business card as a student?
Every HR specialist and Campus recruiter I have talked to has said they are always looking for the candidate that differentiates themselves from other candidates. They said anyone can have a strong GPA, leadership experience, and work experience. While you should prioritize all of those things, recruiters are looking for people that go beyond just checking those boxes. One way to differentiate yourself from other candidates is to be nonconforming. At most job fairs students walk around with 20+ copies of their resume in their padfolio and give the recruiter a copy after they finish their elevator pitch. It is important to have resumes at hand, but what if you brought business cards? At the end of the campus job fair when a recruiter is reviewing the documents they received and you are one of few people who gave them a business card, you will undoubtedly stand out from the rest of the candidates. In Corporate America, it is customary to hand someone a business card when you meet them. Your business card gives them a way to follow up with you. Why wait until you matriculate and join the workforce to get business cards? The time is now.
What to put on your business card?
If you’re a college student you should put the following information on a business card:
Name (First, Middle Initial, Last)
School Name
Major/Minor
Graduation Year
Phone Number
Email Address
Where can you design and print them?
There are many places you can design and print business cards but my favorite places are:
You also can print business cards at the UPS Store, FedEx, and Office Depot.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your business card design, I highly recommend checking out Pinterest.
There are many components to your professional brand such as: the way you dress, how you communicate, your social media, your professional network, your elevator pitch, and your resume. In my opinion, the business card is a great way to demonstrate your professionalism. As a young professional, many people struggle with learning business acumen and applying business best practices. It is a best practice to give someone and take someone's business card when you meet them. It is also a best practice to follow up with them within 48 hours to establish your professional connection and build rapport.
I recommend sending a follow-up email and also inviting them to connect with you on LinkedIn. The job market is highly competitive for Fortune 500 internships and entry level jobs so it is imperative that you leverage your professional brand and identify ways you can set yourself apart from other candidates and challenge the status quo through innovation and creativity.
* If you are just beginning to develop your professional brand or you are looking to fine tune it, schedule a FREE 20-Minute Prospect screening so we can get one step closer to achieving your professional goals*
Stay Creative,
Lauren
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