Networking business cards

Everyone knows that networking is the way to get your next job quickly. It is about both what you know and who you know, equally. One great networking tool that is fairly inexpensive to produce is a networking business card. This looks just like a regular business card, but instead of having a company name and your job title on it, it lists your name, your career objective and all of your contact information. You might even consider listing 2 or 3 very brief highlights that are important to your credibility. The business card is small, so consider this carefully. You have to make sure you have room for your phone numbers, mailing address, email address and website address.
Here are some things to do once you get your cards printed.

1. Carry them everywhere. Always. There is no reason not to always have some on your person. You never know when you might meet a contact or even a potential employer.

2. Keep your cards in perfect condition. There is no sense in spending money on making your cards look great if you let them get worn and dirty. Immediately get a card holder to keep them in and keep them fresh looking.

3. If you receive a business card in exchange, do not put it into your pocket with looking at it. It is polite to show enough interest to read it before you put it away.

4. Ask if you can give someone your card. It is a good idea to ask “Can I give you my card?” or “Can I give you my contact information?” before getting out your cards. If you are hoping for this person to help you get a job, you want to demonstrate that you don’t want to assume or impose. Use appropriate humility and manners.

5. Include them in correspondence. If you are mailing out any materials to potential employers or contacts, attach a business card to your materials. This is a quick and easy way for the individual receiving the package to get and save your contact information for a response or for future reference.

6. Don’t be afraid to update them. With the relatively inexpensive means to get them printed, don’t feel like you have to use up every single card you have left before printing more, if they can be improved or need to be updated. You can even print cards on your home printer and computer that look great. Don’t hesitate to make your cards presentable and effective. It is worth the additional expense.

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Becky Papp has been a professional writer for 20 years, working for newspapers, magazines and corporate communications. She currently contracts for clients all over the world, writing online and print articles, newsletters, blogs, and e-books. She resides in Phoenix, Arizona.