Why Students Need Business Cards (And How to Use Them)
Posted on Tuesday, August 8th, 2017
Business cards seem like such an old-fashioned thing to have. With the advent of cellphones and LinkedIn, isn’t the humble business card now obsolete?
Surprisingly, the answer is no: business cards are still a key part of networking in many fields. And therefore, it’s important that you have one—even as a student.
How to Use Business Cards
We’ll go into detail about what to include on your business cards below, but first things first: how do you even use the things?
Start by carrying yours around with you no matter where you are. You never know when a networking opportunity will present yourself, and you don’t want to get stuck without a card if you meet someone who asks you for one.
If you receive a business card from someone, be sure to thank them! You’ve made a connection. Take a look at the card while you’re with them and then put it somewhere safe—it’s a valuable piece of information.
If this person is a connection that you want to foster, send them an email the next day. Let them know how nice it was to meet them, and maybe offer to take them out to coffee. It may turn into a really good opportunity for you.
What To Include
So now you know what business cards are important. But how do you build one? As a student, it’s likely that you don’t have a permanent job title in your field, so it’s a little trickier to make a reputable card. But don’t worry—it can be done.
Contact Information
The obvious place to start is with your contact information. You will need to include your full name, phone number, and email address. For your email address, be sure to use a professional one—the Hotmail account you’ve had since grade 8 isn’t appropriate anymore.
Remember to be sure that this information is typed out correctly. Also be sure that the information on your card isn’t subject to change soon—for example, don’t put a landline phone number if you’re planning on moving in the near future.
Field of Study
It is also important to include your field of study on your card. This reminds your contacts of what you’re studying and therefore, what industry you’ll be entering. Include your school as well.
Social Media
This field will require a judgement call on your part. Your LinkedIn should definitely be included, since you have an awesome profile, right?
Your Facebook probably shouldn’t be there. Same for your Instagram. If you run a professional Twitter account, you could choose to include that. If you have a blog that you’re proud of, that’s professional, and that’s updated regularly, it may be worth including too.
Including social media is a decision you’ll have to make for yourself, but remember that employers will google you. If you have something to hide, it may be time to give your online presence a good cleaning.
Get Them Printed
So now you have all the information to include on your business card. It’s time to get them printed!
If you’re an Algonquin College student, you’re in luck! The Print Shop will print cards for you, and it’s super easy. You can even order online. You don’t need to worry about design or anything.
Otherwise, there are lots of options for getting your cards printed. A quick search will bring up dozens of companies that make it super easy for you to design, fill in, and print your cards. And they’re very affordable, too.
Now you have business cards ready to go! Get out there and network away.
If you would like to learn more about the Algonquin College co-op program, please visit our website at https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop/, connect with us at coop@algonquincollege.com or call us at 613-727-4723 Ext.7623. You can also follow us on Twitter @AlgonquinCoop.