Why You Need Business Cards

Business cards are a great little marketing tool

Whenever I speak to a group of jobseekers the first question I ask is “How many of you have a resume?” Almost every hand goes up. Great. The second question is “How many of you have a business card?” Only a few hands go up. Not so great.

Unfortunately, many jobseekers, don’t realize that business cards can be important marketing tools.

Not long ago, I attended a networking event sponsored by my local SHRM. Most of the attendees were in human resources. Not surprisingly, there were many jobseekers there as well.  Smart move. There’s no better place to meet people working in HR than at an HR event.

When I arrived, I spent quite awhile chatting with a woman who had been laid off and was looking for a new position in HR. As we parted I asked her for her business card. She said she didn’t have a “business card” since she was out of work. Instead, she apologetically handed me a card with information on a small jewelry business she was working on the side. Obviously, it had nothing to do with her job-search objectives.

Big mistake.

If you’re unemployed, or even if you’re not, you need to have business cards. When you meet people, you need to have something to give them with your contact information. If you’re currently employed you need to give people a way to contact you outside of your office

A simple business card with your name, contact information and a blurb about what you do is sufficient. Including a line about what you do or what you’re looking for – marketing professional, social media expert, savvy salesperson, etc. –  will help them remember you.  To make your business card an even better marketing piece you can use the back to highlight your skills or areas of expertise. The key is to create a business card that will help people remember you.

So the next time you head to a networking event or job fair make sure to have plenty of business cards. But, don’t stop there. Bring a few everywhere you go. Having a business card can be the difference between making a connection and a missed opportunity.

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