A few weeks ago I was invited to a fund raising event for a non-profit arts organization. This was the perfect networking opportunity especially since I have been thinking about returning to the non-profit arts world. As I was doing my hair and makeup I did a quick run-through in my head of the essential networking guidelines.
- Be friendly and approachable
- Have a good, strong handshake
- Do research on the hosting company and key people
- Business Cards
I was only missing one thing: business cards.
Business cards are like little souvenirs you get after meeting someone interesting. Of course I have business cards from my job, but my current job has nothing to do with the arts or the non-profit world. After all, you wouldn’t wear your workout shoes to a cocktail party (unless you are Mariah Carey and you exercise in stilettos). Different outfits call for different shoes and the same goes for business.
Unless I was trying to start a business deal on behalf of my company, handing out those business cards at the event would not have made sense. My work business cards would have also steered away the attention from myself as a potential non-profit arts leader in the making. I did not want to introduce myself as a member of that company; I would rather introduce myself as someone who likes the theater, volunteers at museums and is eager to return to the non-profit world. I also would not want to receive follow-up emails from people I networked with on my work email because they would not relate to my 9 to 5 job. I faced the same predicament when I recently attended a meeting for an organization called Emerging Arts Leaders. I showed up eager to meet young, hip, artsy soul-searches like myself but found myself empty-handed.
So to all you career girls, who have a 9 to 5 job that is not aligned with your career goals or are looking to make a career switch, or have a passion project outside of your 9 to 5, I suggest you have a set of personal business cards that represent who you are and not what the source of your paycheck is (if these two do not go hand-in-hand).
You may love your 9 to 5 job but as a Generation Y career girl you probably have other talents that you want to highlight. For example, Nicole has a background in banking but she might also have a set of personal business cards that represent her as the founder of Ms. Career Girl. You may also want to have a set of personal business cards if you were laid off and you are looking for employment. Your business card can say your name and the degree you have if that degree is relevant to what you want your next job to be. If you have a blog you might want to have a set of business cards that say your name, email, and your blog url.
Get creative and have memorable souvenirs that will contribute to your personal brand.
Note from Nicole: The picture here shows 3 different business cards I use. The two green business cards are by Tiny Prints. I couldn’t agree more with Aimee’s post!
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If anyone can relate to where you're at in your career, it's Nicole Crimaldi: Nicole spent 5 years in corporate America, switched career paths, worked at a start-up, survived a layoff and is now self-employed. Nicole believes that career satisfaction is a huge part of overall happiness. Therefore, she started Ms. Career Girl to help other women get off the treadmill and onto a more fulfilling path.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I can relate to this 100%. Having just launched a blog a passion project http://www.copingwithjane.com, it makes sense to get an additional set in addition to my 9-5 job cards. On the subject of handing business cards out, I often find myself wondering if I should hand my cards out to business colleagues who already have all my contact details including email address and number. Sure I might be meeting them for the first time, but is it really worthwhile giving them information they already have? Another issue I’ve thought about is whether to include my twitter name on work business cards. I decided against doing that for obvious reasons. Okay then thanks for the post… off to the printers…
Jane,
It is always worthwhile handing out your business card. Remember that personal business cards are like personal souvenirs. Sure that person might have your information but they probably got it from your email signature right? A business card will always be more memorable than an email signature and gives a visual of who you are. One goal that the personal business card accomplishes is communicating your contact information. That is obvious. The more important goal it accomplishes is establishing and communicating your personal brand. So get to it girl.
PS I just checked out your blog and I’m a fan already.
Aimee- I love that you call it a personal souvenier. I totally agree. When I look at a pile of business cards from an event, I’m most likely to ignore boring ones. It makes people very excited when I hand them my hot pink custom Ms. Career Girl card. They always compliment it and I’m sure that helps them remember me as well.
NC
Nicole,
I can definitely see how your Ms. Career Girl business cards stand out amidst a sea of boring, corporate business cards. Now I just need to practice what I preach and get a set of my own!
-aimee
Giving out business cards is extremely important for your business. Used it to build up your contacts and it also forms a first impression about you as well as your company. I would always advise my business associates to have their business cards customized and to make it as unique as possible.
When I migrated my blog to my own website in May, I created personal business cards with my logo and color scheme. They’ve already come in handy a few times, for various reasons. My parents are utterly baffled as to why I have them but other than that, the reception has been great so far!
Separately, I’ve been doing communications and marketing work on the side (for free, or bartered) to work towards a goal of freelancing. I’ve considered getting separate cards for that work, and after reading this I’m set on it. Thanks!
Hey Jane,
Glad to see you back here!
Yes, I have several projects going on all the time and I have different cards for each. Sometiems I get TOO caught up in this because I LOVE business cards and customizing them- as you can tell from the pic above!
One question- why are you doing comm/marketing work for free if you are hoping to work towards becoming a full time freelancer? Why not paid work?
By some of the comments ont his post, it looks like I need to talk about freelancing soon since all of us are doing it!
Nicole
Aimee, you are absolutely right. I really need to get some personal business cards.
I’m a huge fan of specialized business cards. I’ve been creating them for years now. I used to have a 9-5, but always had lots of creative projects on the side. A cookbook, jewelry company, and coaching businesses. My creative juices flow when I can create a unique business card that is memorable. And…it’s great when people say “I love this card!” I say: get with it when it comes to color and design. It’s a part of you, so WORK IT and HAVE FUN!!
Laura,
Do you make your own business cards? Where do you typically buy them? Congrats on going full force with freelancing! I’m sure all of us would love to hear more about how you made that transition.
Nicole
How do you make business cards when you are broke? I don’t have the luxury like many Generation Y girls with the 9 to 5 jobs.
Christina,
You bring up a good point. Business cards might not be as expensive as you think. Shop around to see if there are any print shops that have business cards within your budget. If you have a passion project you are working on or you are doing freelance I strongly suggest you get a set of business cards even if it is only a few.
However, it is difficult to start any type of project or business when you do not have a steady 9 to 5 job. In this case I recommend going virtual. You can start a blog at wordpress.com, and create accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc. Everyone is online and best of all, these accounts are free. If you attend an event where you meet a potential client, employer, etc. make sure you ask for their business card. Email them afterward and let them know it was great meeting them. Include links to your various online profiles in your email signature. This will give the person the opportunity to take a look at who you are and what you are trying to accomplish.
Start by creating a virtual profile for yourself. This will give you time to decide if personal business cards are within your budget and what the content of your business cards will be.
goodluck,
aimee
Great article Aimee!
I’ve seen a few folks with business cards like these, describing their artistic talents and they help a lot! Christina, there are some sites that do it VERY affordable, like $20.00, sure they might not be the fanciest, but its a start. When I get business cards, I go home and enter their information and if its an Artist, I add them on facebook.
Another great place to get cheep and professional business cards is overnightprint.com. You can also get a coupon code by typing overnight prints coupons into google.
Great article as always, I got some really great and cheap business cards from http://www.vistaprint.com they have a lot of really great things to offer and most of the time you only have to pay for shipping.
Business cards are a great way to get your name out there, you can give them to anyone and get more business.