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Personal Networking Card, a Business Card for ‘out of business’ Reasons

Posted: 31 May 2012 11:12 PM PDT

People in the business world are constantly arranging business meetings, having conferences with clients and making further commitments. Before leaving a gathering, they leave a business card with you so that you remember them for long. However, consider a scenario when need to print business cards for yourself, but you don't have a business. Or you have recently got laid off but don't want to use your ex-company's card for networking purposes. What can actually keep you connected and remembered in the minds of all you meet, other than a personal networking card!

A personal networking card is an absolutely effective substitute for a business card when you are 'not in business' mode. It may happen that you lose your job or business but still want to connect with other professionals. For that purpose and all others (which I'm going to mention below) you would want to have a personal networking card.

Who Should Carry A Personal Networking Card?

Networking is very important for anyone who is part of this rat race. People who are employed, un-employed or are simply new in the business world should give importance to networking in order to grow. However, people who are employed will have a business card but someone who is un-employed or is new in the job hunting will not have a proper business card. If you are un-employed or just started looking for work, it does not mean that you cannot carry or own a business card. Here is what kind of card you should be carrying.

If you are unemployed, carry a networking card instead of carrying a business card. There is not much of a difference in the layout of both the cards. The only difference will be its components. Since you do not have any job designation to mention, you cans imply mention your field or area of expertise in your networking card. While you are at a job hunt, networking card can work in many positive ways for you. Anyone who is viewing your networking card will learn about your area of expertise, shares information about you and above all gives an employer a way to contact you via contact information.

Networking card is a good way to stay in the mind of people you've met regarding your job hunt and they can easily get in touch with you once they have any relevant opportunity for you because they have your contact information and knowledge about your expertise via networking card.

Importance of Designing Your Networking Card

Designing your networking card is not at all difficult. In fact it should not take you any longer than 5-10 minutes. Always keep in mind that networking card should be to the point and should only highlight importance aspect of yours. Importance of networking card can be further explained by the components it carries.

Following are a few components that your networking card should definitely carry.

1. Link to Your Online Resume

Gone are the days when Head hunters had to dig into piles of paper resumes to look for a perfect candidate. Nowadays, most of the hiring is done via online so having an online resume is very important and more importantly, you should mention that link in your networking card. By having an online resume, you are giving an employer a convenient way to get in touch with you after reading your details. Also, mention the website on the top of your networking card.

2. Name

This is something way too obvious. Having your complete name on your networking card is obviously important.

3. Area of Expertise

If you are unemployed or just started searching for a job, you should definitely mention your area of expertise. This will help your network in referring you to relevant jobs.

4. Professional Summary

It should not be more than one line and it should basically describe the best side of you.

5. Contact Information

Last but not the least, providing your contact information is the most important thing if you want people to get in touch with you.

Design and print a networking card with all the details mentioned above and once you start floating it, you will understand why carrying a person networking card is important.

Reasons to Use a Personal Networking Card

1. Stay Disguised

Well, in personal networking cards, you do not have to mention your company information and a good tip during job hunting would be stay disguised. Well this is obviously not for everyone but for some people it is good to keep the company name or their job title confidential.

2. Freedom of Highlighting Desired Stuff

In a business card, you can do nothing but accept it the way company has made it. However, with a personal networking card, you can always highlight the stuff you think is important in your personality. Highlighting your personality traits in networking cards is a great tip as they help you in standing out of the crowd.

3. Other Advantages

A personal networking card can obviously provide you with a lot of personal benefits and advantages. You can always pass it on if a relative needs your contact information and you do not want to give away your work details. Also, Your kids, family can carry these cards with them in case of an emergency or if someone requires your contact information. A personal networking card can help you deal with a lot of situations in a good way.

Tips to Use Your Personal Networking Cards

1. Always Carry Them With Yourself

It does not matter what kind of a gathering you are going to attend, make sure you carry your personal networking card with you. You never know when you can come across someone interesting enough to handover your personal networking card to them so that they can get in touch with you. Exchanging personal networking card is a good way to stay in the memory of other person.

2. Give People A Good Reason To Keep Your Networking Card

It is quite common that people do exchange networking and business cards but they do throw it as soon as the meeting is over. You need to design your business card in an interesting way so that people keep it with them instead of throwing it away. You can have something interesting printed on the card for instance, a calendar. This way you are giving them your contact information and a reason to keep it.

3. Distribute Your Personal Networking Cards

If you are looking for a job then you should definitely start distributing your personal networking cards. You can even handover bundle of your cards to your friends and family and tell them to spread it. This is a great tip to reach out to a large number of people and you can benefit from this advantage as well. This is a great way to promote yourself with less effort.

Conclusion

Personal networking card is as important as carrying or owning a business card. There are various ways to use personal networking cards for your own benefit. But, you need to keep in mind that using these cards at the right moment is very important so as mentioned earlier, always keep them with you. Do not come across as desperate or too pushy and use it wisely. The advantages of personal networking card can take you a long way and help you personally and professionally. So, get on with the designing of your personal networking card and make sure it contains all of the important components.