Home football games and winter break are fast approaching and many people will be traveling home to visit classmates, family and friends in the coming months. If you are looking for a job, these people are a source of referrals for job opportunities. You’ll want to have a contact card ready to share. This is not the time to write your information down on a piece of paper and expect it to be saved. A contact card is very similar to a business card. Show that you are a professional and that you are serious about promotion. Listed below are the key items you’ll want to make sure are on your card.
Key elements of your contact card:
Name – Use your full name or the name you use on LinkedIn. Hiring managers will search for you online by name. Be sure to be consistent with how you use your name online, and keep it professional.
Title(s) conferred – Immediately after your name, list your degrees awarded, such as MD, JD, PhD, BS, AA, etc.
Linkedin URLs – This will let people know that they can learn more about you and your skills online. Put your LinkedIn URL on the line below your name. LinkedIn is a key tool for the job search.
Phone number – Do not use a work phone number. You want your card to be relevant after you leave the military or your current place of employment. I recommend that you use your cell phone and not a home phone number. Your cell phone always with you.
Physical address: Placing your physical address is optional.
Email address: You must have a professional email address. Do not use a work email or a school email. You want an address that you will have access to when you are no longer employed or attending college. Keep your email address professional-sounding and don’t use addresses like “hotchickatyahoo.com” or “[email protected]. Use an adult email provider. Don’t use Yahoo, Hotmail, or AOL. Upgrade your email to Gmail or use a custom email that you can get when you buy a domain name for a website or blog.
Leave the back of your contact card blank. Do not include your job title or your skills. You don’t want to limit your marketability by having a limited list of skills or job titles. There is not space to list everything.
Military affiliation is an optional item. I recommend having one card that shows you are a veteran and one that shows you are not. If you are networking with military-friendly companies, then you would use the card that shows your military affiliation. Don’t put your rank on your business card. This can cause someone to stereotype or discriminate against you based on your rank and disregard your current education or skills.
Make sure your contact card is made from quality cardstock. Do not try to print them on your home computer. Use a font that is professional and large enough to be read. I do not recommend putting a photo on your card. Again, you don’t want to be discriminated against because you’re not the ideal weight, or have a hair color or hair style that doesn’t resonate with the hiring manager.
When you attend alumni football events, holiday parties, and work functions, don’t force your card on anyone. If the person asks if you have a card, you’re good to go. Also, when people ask what you’re doing, you can say you’re looking for a job and ask them to tell anyone they know who may be hiring that you’re looking. After you leave the event, you can follow up with that person by sending a handwritten note and including a contact card or two.
The contact card is just one tool to have in your job search toolbox. It only takes a person a few seconds to see you and your contact card and form an opinion. Make sure it represents you in a positive light.