While attending a Women in Business Conference, I sat next to Aubri Robinson. A smart, sparkling co-ed with all sorts of hope and excitement for the future. She asked for my card and I asked for hers in return. Aubri sheepishly told me that she didn’t have one.
Wha-what?! You’re at a 2 day networking event and NO business cards?! My career coach alarm bells were ringing loudly in my head, so of course I had to talk to her about this mega networking faux pas. By the end of the conversation she was converted to the idea of having personal business cards.
About 3 months later, she asked me to be a guest speaker for an on-campus event. I told her that I’d only speak if she got business cards. In fact, I told her that if she didn’t have business cards on her the night of the event, I would walk out and leave her to explain to the room of college students why the key note speaker left.
Aubri listened to my advice. This is what she reported back:
“A couple weeks and $30 later, I have my own business cards! Honestly, I don’t think I would have done it without your help, so thank you for pushing me to be better. I went to a Career Fair on Wednesday (my cards came the day before) and I had an edge with my business cards. I didn’t see one other student with a business card… You’re fantastic!“
Wow. She was the ONLY student passing out business cards at a job fair? That’s great for Aubri and projecting herself as a professional, someone to be taken seriously by the recruiters.
Nice work, Aubri!
It was fun speaking to the BYU Women In Business student group. And the best part was when I walked into the room, Aubri handed me her business card… with a big knowing smile on her face.
The topic I spoke about was networking. After which we had a planned speed networking drill. Ironically, no other student had her own business card.
How have personal business cards impacted your career?