Business Cards (job opening, applying, interview, job)

[PSU_Guy87]

Hi, I'm a recent graduate and I just wanted to get an opinion on what people think about new graduates having business cards. What do you all think of having one to give after an interview? Would this help make me stand out from other candidates? I have an interview coming up soon for a job that I really want and wondered if this would help increase my chances.

[Thursday007]

I applaud your creativity, I once made my resume into a tri-fold brochure complete with graphics and was offered the job because of it. He told me I was his first phone call. It was an iffy call on my part, but doing brochures was part of the job description.

In my head I'm watching the process and reaction (from interviewing candidates myself) and I'm leaning toward a positive - but it could go either way.

What would you put on it besides your name, address and phone number? Would it just look like a regular business card sans title? Something to consider is often the person opening up the resumes of a job, like HR, isn't the person who will actually read them and it will most likely fall out onto the floor. It could be irritating or it could land on the top of the pile. They could also be used at functions if you think you are talking to a potential lead or someone who has a lead. I don't think it would hurt.

[BabyBoomers2]

I have a Business Card w/my name, career titles (Purchasing/Inventory), phone number and e-mail address on the front. I would never include it with a resume.....looks sort of gawdy, but would give it to someone who told me about a job opening in their company. Like if a conversation was struck up with someone at a park, mall, restaurant or somewhere like that.

[Charles]

Business cards went out about 1985. Nobody under 60 uses them.

When was the last time you saved someone's business card? Ninety eight percent of people are connecting electronically with emails, contact lists, and phone lists.

Business cards are 19th century technology.

[tpk-nyc]

You can get them for free or nearly free online. There's no reason not to get "business" cards, even if you don't have a job title. You never know who you're going to meet. It's awkward exchanging phone numbers.

[caldercay]

Originally Posted by Charles

Business cards went out about 1985. Nobody under 60 uses them.

When was the last time you saved someone's business card? Ninety eight percent of people are connecting electronically with emails, contact lists, and phone lists.

Business cards are 19th century technology.

That's hilarious

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by Charles

Business cards went out about 1985. Nobody under 60 uses them.

When was the last time you saved someone's business card? Ninety eight percent of people are connecting electronically with emails, contact lists, and phone lists.

Business cards are 19th century technology.

Where do you get this stuff? Every single top 15 MBA program in the country gives their students business cards for free. When you are at lunch with someone you think is interesting, or meet someone whose job you admire in the grocery store, what do you give them? Your phone number and make them remember it?

Every single high-up, successful person in corporate america has a few business cards with them at all times. I carry two - my business card for my current job, and my personal business card for potential new job leads. Both are valuable on a regular basis.

OP - I don't think it would matter in applying for a job. It wouldn't hurt though...but a business card is nothing more than an easy way to pass on contact info, and they already have that on your resume.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by hnsq

When you are at lunch with someone you think is interesting, or meet someone whose job you admire in the grocery store, what do you give them? Your phone number and make them remember it?

Blackberry, PDA, cell phone, etc.

Business cards end up in the trash.

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by Charles

Blackberry, PDA, cell phone, etc.

Business cards end up in the trash.

Try telling the CEO/VP of a company to manually enter a number into his smartphone instead of grabbing a business card and tell me what he/she says. I could use a good laugh.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by hnsq

Try telling the CEO/VP of a company to manually enter a number into his smartphone instead of grabbing a business card and tell me what he/she says. I could use a good laugh.

Most CEO/VPs under 60 wouldn't ask for a business card - they'd have a smartphone/electronic device.
And if you did hand them a business card, the first thing he or anyone else would do with it is transcribe the information on it into an electronic file and then THROW THE BUSINESS CARD IN THE TRASH.