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The day you decide to retire or separate is the day you should order business cards. When you transition from a military to civilian career, you will build a career strategy, network, create your messaging, and prepare your marketing tools. A business card is a vital tool in your transition, which you should have on Day One of your transition.
A business card shares an important first impression of you: What you stand for, how you represent yourself, and the audience you are seeking to connect with. When you consider that you won’t carry copies of your resume with you at all times, a business card serves to link your background, skills, and talents to a future opportunity in a very portable way.
WHAT DOES A BUSINESS CARD GIVE YOU?
A business card is more than a small piece of paper with your phone number on it. Your card gives you:
An important marketing tool that reflects your professionalism, interests, and goals, and shares your pertinent contact information.
The ability to network with confidence, exchanging business cards with people you meet.
A link to your online profiles, providing more information about your background, experience, skills and goals once you leave the military.
WHAT MAKES AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS CARD?
To make your business card serve you and your job search in a strategic way, it should be:
Comprehensive. Be sure to include your full name (with your nickname in “quotes” – for example, John “Jack” Smith, if you go by Jack), cell phone number, email address. You can choose to include your home address, if you want, but it’s not necessary. If you have a personal website, include the URL.
Easy to read. Use fonts that are clear and professional. Avoid quirky fonts, script and use ALL CAPS sparingly. Remember that using all capital letters can appear rigid and overly formal. If that is your brand strategy, then do it. Otherwise, upper and lower capital letters works well.
Uncluttered. Your business card is not your resume or brochure. Keep text to a minimum – including only what is most important to you and relevant to the recipient.
Professional. A professional looking business card is traditionally white or ivory with black, charcoal, navy, or burgundy lettering. Avoid using bright colored paper or lettering unless you are pursuing work in a creative industry (advertising, marketing, graphic design, etc.) where it makes sense to show off your creative side.
Simple. If you have a mark, symbol, or logo that goes with your name, and you’ve been using it for a long time, then include it subtly on your card. If not, consider eliminating design elements that are cartoonish or could detract from the professional tone of the card, and send a mixed message.
Complete. Consider using the back of your business card for important information that might clutter up the front of your card. You might put a link to your online profiles, a short description of what you’re looking for, or a tagline of your value proposition on the back of the card.
A reflection of you. You should feel proud to hand over your business card. Therefore, your card should reflect you. If you prefer to have your card in a minimalist style, because that reflects your style and approach, then go simple. Your card should reinforce the physical first impression someone gets of you when they meet you.
Once you announce that you are leaving your military career, you will find yourself in many situations where business cards will be exchanged. Presenting a card that you are proud of and that represents your goals and brand can be a powerful form of marketing!
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see), TSgt Hunter Logan Capt Seid Waddell SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. @po1 william "chip" PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell
A business card shares an important first impression of you: What you stand for, how you represent yourself, and the audience you are seeking to connect with. When you consider that you won’t carry copies of your resume with you at all times, a business card serves to link your background, skills, and talents to a future opportunity in a very portable way.
WHAT DOES A BUSINESS CARD GIVE YOU?
A business card is more than a small piece of paper with your phone number on it. Your card gives you:
An important marketing tool that reflects your professionalism, interests, and goals, and shares your pertinent contact information.
The ability to network with confidence, exchanging business cards with people you meet.
A link to your online profiles, providing more information about your background, experience, skills and goals once you leave the military.
WHAT MAKES AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS CARD?
To make your business card serve you and your job search in a strategic way, it should be:
Comprehensive. Be sure to include your full name (with your nickname in “quotes” – for example, John “Jack” Smith, if you go by Jack), cell phone number, email address. You can choose to include your home address, if you want, but it’s not necessary. If you have a personal website, include the URL.
Easy to read. Use fonts that are clear and professional. Avoid quirky fonts, script and use ALL CAPS sparingly. Remember that using all capital letters can appear rigid and overly formal. If that is your brand strategy, then do it. Otherwise, upper and lower capital letters works well.
Uncluttered. Your business card is not your resume or brochure. Keep text to a minimum – including only what is most important to you and relevant to the recipient.
Professional. A professional looking business card is traditionally white or ivory with black, charcoal, navy, or burgundy lettering. Avoid using bright colored paper or lettering unless you are pursuing work in a creative industry (advertising, marketing, graphic design, etc.) where it makes sense to show off your creative side.
Simple. If you have a mark, symbol, or logo that goes with your name, and you’ve been using it for a long time, then include it subtly on your card. If not, consider eliminating design elements that are cartoonish or could detract from the professional tone of the card, and send a mixed message.
Complete. Consider using the back of your business card for important information that might clutter up the front of your card. You might put a link to your online profiles, a short description of what you’re looking for, or a tagline of your value proposition on the back of the card.
A reflection of you. You should feel proud to hand over your business card. Therefore, your card should reflect you. If you prefer to have your card in a minimalist style, because that reflects your style and approach, then go simple. Your card should reinforce the physical first impression someone gets of you when they meet you.
Once you announce that you are leaving your military career, you will find yourself in many situations where business cards will be exchanged. Presenting a card that you are proud of and that represents your goals and brand can be a powerful form of marketing!
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see), TSgt Hunter Logan Capt Seid Waddell SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. @po1 william "chip" PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell
Yes, You Need a Business Card
Posted from military.com
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 10
Posted 8 y ago
SP5 Mark Kuzinski
If one is the least bit computer savvy, they can design their own business cards. I did.
If one is the least bit computer savvy, they can design their own business cards. I did.
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MAJ Raúl Rovira
8 y
I agree. That is how I started by making my own design. I gave it to a very good print shop and they did the rest.
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PO1 John Miller
8 y
MAJ Raúl Rovira
Hell, you don't even need that! Just a good printer, business card paper, and Microsoft Office. That's how I did it!
Hell, you don't even need that! Just a good printer, business card paper, and Microsoft Office. That's how I did it!
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MAJ Raúl Rovira
8 y
PO1 John Miller - Sometime the home made cards work. Especially when someone is on a budget it is a great course of action. I had mine made with a special lamination to make them stronger and not flimsy in a way that just by touching them it creates an impression through sensation. I also had the print shop add a coating on the text of my name and on the icons in the back to create a fiscal effect. No different than when you shake hands firmly with confidence wile wearing a suite and tie (depending on the job one is looking for of course)
One my ask why all this work and money. I had a very basic business card during my transition. I later found myself networking with VPs of HR at banks, Sr VPs on companies, project managers and so on. like the saying "Dress for the job you want". I designed and payed a print shop to help me get to those jobs.
No regrets, it was worth the time and money in my situation.
One my ask why all this work and money. I had a very basic business card during my transition. I later found myself networking with VPs of HR at banks, Sr VPs on companies, project managers and so on. like the saying "Dress for the job you want". I designed and payed a print shop to help me get to those jobs.
No regrets, it was worth the time and money in my situation.
(1)
Reply
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PO1 John Miller
8 y
MAJ Raúl Rovira
That's a great plan too! Should I ever decide to "move up" in the world and apply for those kinds of jobs/network with people like you listed, I too would probably get professionally printed business cards!
That's a great plan too! Should I ever decide to "move up" in the world and apply for those kinds of jobs/network with people like you listed, I too would probably get professionally printed business cards!
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Posted 8 y ago
In Alaska we do not go hunting without bullets or fishing without a rod. We need a business card or personal card when going to networking events, interviews, professional and social activities. You never know who asks for your card. Bonus, put your LinkedIn QR code on your card and a little bit of your personality.
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Posted 8 y ago
Thanks for advocating business cards for transitioning service members and veterans SP5 Mark Kuzinski A you like to say "Spot on" my friend.
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