Business Cards (job hunting, job, good, requires)

[nikitakolata]

For some reason I've received business cards at all of my jobs, but in the last 3 I never had a reason to use them. I may have used one when we were audited. That's it. I don't go to conferences, meet with vendors, speak with clients, etc. So, I understand why the OP would think people don't really use them. I never use the business cards for my day job.

That said, I had business cards made for my side businesses and I use those all the time.

[midtown mile girl]

I do not have a business card, but I do have a card with my name, email and phone number. Comes in handy when you meet someone, especially in public and you don't want everyone to hear your info.

[Hemlock140]

I take a stack of them when I go to a business conference and rarely return with more than a handful. I give them out to candidates I'm interviewing for jobs, and at meetings to contractors/suppliers that I am working with. When people give them to me, if I am interested in contacting them, I add them to my Outlook contacts and toss the card. They are still needed for business at introduction times, but not after that. I wonder if they still sell the Rolodex?

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I handed out about 700 in the last year and have cards in trays at general stores, gun shops and restaurants in rural Maine. A card costs four cents. It will stick in the trim panel over the windshield of a pickup for years.

This thread category is "work-employment". I am self employed and have been for decades. Many of my clients and customers do not use computers. I serve these good people. They appreciate having contact information they can hold in their hands.

[jwiley]

I just ordered my 2nd set of a thousand cards since the beginning of last year, I do a ton of networking and of course every one of my clients has my business card so if they need to contact me they do not have to go through the mess of looking me up on the internet and than calling the office to get my cell phone number if I am not there.

While most people now have the internet there are plenty of people who still prefer the old methods such as business cards and phone calls.

[TheKiwi]

I use business cards often in my line of work. I have custom ones made.

[harlowvart]

I use them, as a giver and receiver.

[Teckeeee]

In outside sales, I give them out about 70% of the time, the rest we just email each other our contact info.

[veuvegirl]

Originally Posted by MPowering1

Veuvegirl, I use them often, but if you don't see clients, outside vendors, attend conferences or other events, I'm not sure why you would need them.

Having said that, it's probably better to have them and not need them than...you know the rest.

True! Interestingly enough I do meet clients, vendors etc. We actually use LinkedIn to connect. But free is free, I just hate wasting paper.

[Jukesgrrl]

I even have cards for personal use. I meet a lot of people in the course of volunteering and doing political work. As I'm concluding a conversation, I often don't want to prolong the encounter by saying, "Now please get out your phone and type my contact information into it while I stand here and tell it to you." I had them my card and say, "If you need to get in touch with me, here's my information." It's far more convenient and elegant than the alternatives.