“A Series of Fortunate Events”
Things I learned as a Graduate Assistant
Lesson Three: Creating Business Cards
By: Christina Theodos
As the academic calendar winds down to graduation, I have spent countless hours job searching on the internet. Job researching on the internet is a great way to get started; however it is not the only way to search. This past weekend, I went to an event in which I ran into a lot of my parents’ friends. They eagerly asked about what I’ve been up to, and I instantly grabbed the opportunity to network. I learned that many of my parent’s friends had connections in the field I am interested in pursuing. By the end of the night, my handbag was full of e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers, all of which I plan to follow up with.
Being prepared for such an event takes practice. You should rehearse a 30 second speech that you can deliver when people inquire about where you are in your job search process. Another great idea is to create business cards for yourself. I recently visited a website called vistaprint.com where you can design business cards for free. I got the idea while reading a book called Getting from College to Career by Generation Y and Career expert Lindsey Pollack (A must read for all you graduates out there.) Pollack suggests using a website like vistaprint.com to design your own business cards, advertising your contact information, educational degree and areas of interest. It is much more personal and professional to hand someone a business card rather than writing your information down on a cocktail napkin.
Take it from me; these business cards have come in handy. I have taken them to family parties, social events, and classes and even handed some to my bosses, Nick and Sarah to distribute as they see fit. Any social outing or occasion can be an opportunity to network, so make sure you keep some cards on you at all times. Market yourself as you would a small business. Practice a small speech about your education and experience, and then make sure to leave the person with a business card!
As the academic calendar winds down to graduation, I have spent countless hours job searching on the internet. Job researching on the internet is a great way to get started; however it is not the only way to search. This past weekend, I went to an event in which I ran into a lot of my parents’ friends. They eagerly asked about what I’ve been up to, and I instantly grabbed the opportunity to network. I learned that many of my parent’s friends had connections in the field I am interested in pursuing. By the end of the night, my handbag was full of e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers, all of which I plan to follow up with.
Being prepared for such an event takes practice. You should rehearse a 30 second speech that you can deliver when people inquire about where you are in your job search process. Another great idea is to create business cards for yourself. I recently visited a website called vistaprint.com where you can design business cards for free. I got the idea while reading a book called Getting from College to Career by Generation Y and Career expert Lindsey Pollack (A must read for all you graduates out there.) Pollack suggests using a website like vistaprint.com to design your own business cards, advertising your contact information, educational degree and areas of interest. It is much more personal and professional to hand someone a business card rather than writing your information down on a cocktail napkin.
Take it from me; these business cards have come in handy. I have taken them to family parties, social events, and classes and even handed some to my bosses, Nick and Sarah to distribute as they see fit. Any social outing or occasion can be an opportunity to network, so make sure you keep some cards on you at all times. Market yourself as you would a small business. Practice a small speech about your education and experience, and then make sure to leave the person with a business card!
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