Business Cards For U-grads

By Rick Dressler, Campus Representative, Syracuse University

When you graduate from college, you will inevitably become a number, or a single white sheet of paper in a list of resumes. There are ways to make yourself stand out from that stack and one of the most effective methods is creating a brand image for yourself.

One of the earliest signs that you've "made it" in the real world is your first business card. It opens up innumerable possibilities to you and makes networking a breeze, being able to show people in under four square inches what you do and for whom. However, Jessica Hernandez points out on MNHeadHunter.com, there is no reason to wait for your first job.

Having a business card does not have to be something that occurs only after you get a job. Why not take your own style and adapt it to a business card, letterhead, or even your resume. Brand all of your correspondence with a potential employer to scream YOU. It is incredibly important to differentiate yourself. Some people were presidents of clubs, others scored well on tests, but everyone can have their own distinct personal identity that is clearly depicted on any and all materials you hand a potential employer.

Everyone, no matter what their position in life, notices the small stuff. Your first impression in a face to face interview may be as important as the first impression of reading your resume, or calling or emailing you from a business card. By branding yourself effectively, you are given an automatic edge on every other grad who wrote their email address on the back of a piece of paper and handed it to a recruiter. You become an individual with a memorable identity. And if your business card gets you a job offer after your first interview, you've got all the supplies needed to become a professional free lunch winner!