April 28, 2009
Always be ready with your 'pocket resume' card
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NWjobs
The days of handing out paper résumés at job fairs are slowly going the way of the dinosaur. But that doesn't mean printed materials are becoming obsolete, they're just being updated for a more sophisticated, 24/7 networking environment. Witness the rise in popularity of the "pocket résumé."
Today's savvy networker knows that the next hot job lead can come from anywhere--a conference, a party, a checkout line--so it's best to be prepared with materials about your employability and work history wherever you go. But instead of lugging around impractical stacks of paper résumés or sending out countless digital CVs down the e-mail rabbit hole, an increasing number of job seekers are printing mini résumés that look like business cards but contain a brief summary of their skills, experience and career goals.
"After you've had a conversation with someone, it's a lot easier to hand out a card than a paper résumé," says employment consultant Rod Mattson, founder of Mattson Communication Training in Des Moines, Wash. "A card is easy to carry and something [prospective employers] can hold onto longer."
One of the sleeker versions of these pocket résumés is the "epitoME," made by Nova Graphics. The company, based in New York City, offers a line of customized, 2-inch by 3 1/2-inch standard business cards with graphics that can fold out to reveal information about previous work history, job skills, major achievements, career goals and other résumé mainstays.
The epitoME is attractive, but it does come at a cost: about $75 to $300 for a pack of 100 cards, depending on the amount of graphics ordered. But there are several lower-cost options, such as Panorama Resume Cards that produces a line of two-sided, black-and-white ResumeCards that run about $100 to $110 per 500-card order. Also, paper products giant Avery has an online template that shows you, step by step, how to print your own two-sided cards from your home-office printer.
"It doesn't have to be fancy," Mattson says. "Just something between a business-card size and a 4-by-6-inch index card that shows the most important bullet points about you. I recommend it to all my clients."
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
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Karen Burns is the author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl, a career guide based on her 59 jobs over 40 years in 22 cities.
Lisa Quast is a certified career coach, mentor, business consultant, former corporate executive and author based in the Seattle area.
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
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Great article- very informative and chalked full of new approaches to getting your name out there.
Thanks for the tips.
I've always thought this was a great idea. I've always used something similar for my day-to-day networking(ie even when employed), too. Always thought it was a waste of opportunity to make connections and then to leave the entire backside of the business card blank.
IMO, the prices of the providers you listed are WAY too high. There are a number of websites that let you design your own cards online(eg vistaprint, psprint) and include some nice templates for those not graphically inclined -- for much better prices.
The harder part isn't getting the cards made, though, it's crafting the right message. It's hard enough for some people to develop an effective resume and to fit it on two pages. Imagine trying to write something effective in the space of a business card! It's the written form of the classic "elevator speech".
THAT is what we could all use help with fora project like this. Do you do a 3-bullet summary of skills and experience? a few bullets of "teasing" results? Drop the names of a few big name companies/people you've worked with/at? Maybe communication specialists like Rod can help craft something succinct, concise but powerful.
RH
Seattle, WA
zomackadindin@yahoo.com
RH, you are right about being succinct. That is a major problem with resumes--people use like 9 point type, move out margins, and cram as much information as possible. Succinct is best.
Bullet points are good too. White space is king! People are more apt to read when there is lots of white space, "Oh, I have time to read that real quick." is a common thought.
Communication is situational and relational too. So, you could put a few words on a napkin or send in a 5 page CV and get the job either way. It all depends. And how do you know what someone is looking for? You ask!
Back to the cards, the message must be carefully crafted for the audience. What does a prospective hiring manager really want to know about you?
S/he will want to know the following: Do you have the ability to do the job, can you get along with the team, can you show up everyday on time, and how can s/he contact you?
The answers to these questions with evidence and/or results is all you need. Oh, and don't forget the white space--even on a 4x6 or smaller card.
Rod Mattson
www.MattsonCommunication.com
Boffo idea! Bullet points, eye catching font (but not too obtrusive),professional design..Also, include a URL where your online presence can be assessed later (i.e, full resume, LinkedIn profile, relevant links to work samples, etc).
Checkout this company, they specialize in Resume Cards only and have an assortment of card types, paper stocks, etc. There is a pricing link at the top and you can get a 1-sided card for about $40.
www.thumbnailresume.com
RH, I think something that you didn't take into account was that Nova is also helping with writing your new resume. This accounts for part of the total price. I think it's unfair to just say that their price is "WAY too high" when you are not taking into account all of the services that they are offering.
If you'd like to see a more thorough Pocket Resume concept, you can check out the 30-second, one-slide PowerPoint presentation on mine, at the top of my page under What's New:
http://sites.google.com/site/dougjroach/
They print two-sided, two to a sheet. I have to trim them myself, but I've included a slot and tab to hold it closed, also the size of a standard business card.
The entire 'card' is used, with the back representing a condensed, one-page career history.