Guest Author - Gwendolyn Thompson
If you have been job searching for quite some time and are not landing a substantial amount of job interviews then consider adding another tool to your job search. Creating a networking business card to carry with you at all times can open doors to new contacts and job opportunities.
Networking business cards can allow you to expand your social contact list with people that you meet in social and professional situations such as job fairs, meetings, social gatherings, parties, weddings etc. You will meet people that you can network and market yourself to by leaving your card with them.
If you are serious about landing a job then you already know the importance of networking and marketing yourself. A networking business card is not a replacement for your resume but merely an added tool to get you noticed by providing a place on line to be viewed by your contacts.
This can easily be done by providing your history and sample success on a website or an online portfolio. It doesn’t matter how you do it as long as you make it look professional and accessible for interested parties to find you. Your card will probably change hands which will increase your social contacts.
Having a professional email address is very important when you are marketing yourself. You should consider creating an email using your name to draw attention to interested parties. It is more likely that you will be contacted via email rather than phone in today’s job market.
Your networking business cards should contain your job objective not a job title. Your unique selling proposition is what you want your contacts to see. Your cards should contain all pertinent contact information including name, phone numbers, email address, mailing address and website address.
Your networking business cards could be your first impression in landing a job so be sure that they are created to look professional and express your unique talents. Always leave room on the back for your contacts to write notes on them and be sure that the back is not of a glossy nature.
You can use your networking business cards to ask contacts for their card and ask for referrals that would be interested in your services. You never know who’s hand your card could end up in just by giving it to one person. It could lead to an opportunity of a life time or just a great job.
