Fact You need a personal business card (+ heres what it should have on it)

Fact You need a personal geschftsleben card (+ heres what it should have on it)Fact You need a personal business card (+ heres what it should have on it)Youve probably had a company business card at one job or another, but do you carry a personal one?Because the thing is, if youre currently job searching, hoping to start a side hustle or land some freelance, or youd just like to keep your options open, your regular company card isnt going to cut it. That tiny,unassuming personal business card just might be what stands between you and your next big career opportunity.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhy you need a personal business cardSmart women make their own luck (and business cards). When I decided I wanted to leave my last job, I knewit was time to start putting myself out there (and networking any chance I got). I had business cards through my company. They were like most c ompany cards white, square, and bland. I didnt want to be seen with them.One night, after a motivating happy hour dialogue, I came home feeling like I needed to do something. I wanted proof that I was ready to start a new chapter. A requisite Google search for personal business card design led me toMOO, an zugreifbar service that letsyoucreate and print cards online (courtesy of plenty of well-designed templates). Im sure there are other companies out there that will do the same, but so farMOO is the best one Ive found.I spent the nexthour designing my ideal layout. It was a card on my own terms, according to my own rules based onmy career transition goals. A week later, the package arrived, andmy career hasnt looked the same since. Heres how a personal business card changes the game1. It helps you control your own storyIn a few simple words, I summarized who I wasprofessionally, but alsowho I wanted tobecome.Each cardgave all the information people needed to find meonline, includin g a link to myportfolio but also my Instagram, which I knew demonstrated my aesthetic and voice.2. It makes it easy for people to remember- and hire- youIn simple terms, those cards made it easier for people to hire me. They didnt have to just remember my last name the next day or go digging through search results to find my portfolio. And so they did hire me. Just like that, I hit a new level of legitimacy- and I started getting calls.3. It gives you confidence (seriously)Personal business cards serve a specific need they help yousummarize who you are to a potential contact. But they also make your professional lifefeelreal,even ifyoure currently faking it untilyou make it. And thats the heart of it even though I felt like my career had hit a dead end, ordering those cards made me feel like Id done something about it, and thatI was gonna be OK.What to include on a personal business card1. Your name- The one you want them to GoogleYour full name or, more specifically, the one you us e professionally. Kit isnt my given name (Ill leave you the fun of guessing what it is), but itisthe name Ive published writing under since I was 15. And its the name I want people to search for on Google when theyre looking into my experience because thats where all the good stuff is.2. What you do or want to doMaybe youre slaving away as an administrative assistant but your ultimate goal is to become a graphic designer. Your personal business card shouldnot read administrative assistant. That isnt who you are Thats just what youre doingright now. Think about what youd like to call yourself. konzeptioner? UX Design + Web Design? If youre not sure,look up people you admire on LinkedIn and do some research on the ways they describe their work and themselves.3. Your personal portfolio siteIf you dont have one and youre trying to make a career transition or start freelancing, take a break from designing your card and do that now. We have an entire downloadable guide dedicated tosetting up your personal websiteas well as various articles aboutwhy you need a personal siteandwhat to include in an online portfolio(even if youre not a creative).4. Phone number (preferably your cell phone) and/or personal email addressYou want people to be able to reach you quickly and easily, so a personal business card shouldinclude at least two options for contacting you. And make sure that whatever email address you include, youre checking it regularly and often. If yourethinking about freelancing, you need to get used to quick replies. I always answer within 24 hours. You can choose to skip the phone number, but honestly, whenever Ive seen people doing that, they wind up having to jot their phone numbers down inpen on the card anyway. My recommendation is to skip the hassle and include it.5. Social handles as applicableUnless your industry skews toward keeping these things private, youremay want to include your LinkedIn, Twitter, and/or Instagram depending on what youd like to sho w off. If youre a wordsmith, Twitter makes sense. If youre trying to show that you have a particular style and eye for design, you might include Instagram. It varies because personal business cards are just that- personal. Think about your end goal and decide what makes the most sense.6. (Optional) A personal logoIf your personal brand is on lock, you might have a logo on your personal website, that you can include on your business card as well. If so, great. A consistent brand is great. If not, dont sweat it. Simple is always best anyway.What not to include on a personal business cardJust a few pointers here because sometimes people overdo itToo much design- the goal is for them to focus on your information, not on the graphicsYour mailing address- danger zone. Do you really want that floating around in the world? It also takes up too much space so its a lose-lose.Typos- On multiple occasions, Ive encountered a personal business card that has a typo, even in the email address. That s a big problem if you want people to contact you. So ersatzdarsteller- and triple-check before hitting PurchaseA QR code- No one uses these anymore, but somehow they still crop up. Just dont. People are savvy enough to type in your personal website URL on their own.The simplest personal business card templateIf youre not sure where to start, this layout is a no-fail option. Simple, right?Kit WarcholWriting + Editing Digital + Brand Strategykitwarchol.com IGkitwarcholPhone Number25 ways to use your personal business cardJust to drive the point home, here are some other times carryingcards can actually work out for youAtany networking event ever.When youve got a side hustle going and youre your own marketing department.Or youve gotseveralside hustles going, and you dont have cards for each of them.Youre at a Girls Night Out and you meet a woman youd like to know better.Time to mail a package from your Etsy store? Drop it in the kasten with your Thank You note.You hate your current job, and youre trying to find a new one.Or maybe your current job title doesnt match what you want to do. Like, at all.You want people to visit your personal site because it looks so good.Youre at an interview, meet yet another person, and- realize youve run out of copies of your resume.Youre like This dudes cute, but youre afraid he might not be interested, or youre just afraid to ask him to coffee. Keep it pseudo-profesh.You know no one spells your last name correctlyever. Just hand it to them.At a dinner party when youre trying to explain to the person next to you WTF you actually do.Youre hesitating on when to launch your entrepreneurial venture. Youll never be completely ready. Business cards make it official.Are you a designer or branding professional? Your business card is a tangibleexample of your aesthetic and skills.If your company name or website address is hard to remember.To drop into the fishbowl at your neighborhood Thai restaurant for a free lunch entry.Theres someth ing in your teeth, but you dont have floss. Card corners work wonders.When youre somewhere loud and the person you meet cant hear what your name is.When someone else gives you theirs. Its weird to not respond in kind.When youre traveling. Slip it into your baggage tag.When youdontwant to give someone your number. A card with just an email address is a stealth cop out.When your coworker isnt at her desk and you want her to know youve stopped by. Calling card.When youre looking at a chair at a yard sale, and they wont go as low as you want. Ask them to email you if they change their mind.AtSephora, when the clerk asks for the email address on your account.When you just need something to write on.This article originally appeared on Career Contessa.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityT he worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people