I know what you’re thinking. Why do I need a business card? Just because you’re a student and don’t have a professional job doesn’t mean you don’t need a business card. You’re a busy college student; you meet lots of people and participate in numerous actives. College is a perfect time to start using a business card. As you start networking you will find yourself exchanging information with your peers and it would be so much easier to hand them a card with all your info right there. This helps you network effectively and make successful connections. Business cards are also a way to establish your personal brand.

Here are some reasons to have a business card as a student:

  • Share your contact information – This is the most common reason to have a business card. Other wise you find yourself jotting down your info on a napkin, scrap piece of paper or anything else that is most handy. It is more likely to get thrown away this way.
  • Networking – After I meet someone new at a society conference or a meeting the first thing I offer up is my business card. Especially when I meet a lot of people, at a national event for example, it’s hard to remember what school they went to. If you have their business card then it’s easy to glance at it and remember.
  • Personal Branding – As a soon to be professional you will need to brand yourself. It could be centered around an area of interest, an industry, or others. If you are going into a more creative field make your business card stand out. Make it artsy. There are many Web sites like 123print.com that offer tons of templates for business cards at very “student affordable” prices.

What to include on your business card:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Cell phone and mailing address (if you feel comfortable enough saying where you live)
  • Your university (be careful when using university logos, a lot of the time they are protected by law and you need permission to use them)
  • Your blog link (if you have one)
  • LinkedIn and Twitter account links (and any other social media sites)
  • You could list any memberships you have, such as a sorority, fraternity or professional organization.

Whether you choose an inexpressive card stock and print your own or buy better quality business cards online, it is important for students to have business cards. The style and font is up to you. Have fun with it, be creative and don’t be afraid to give them out to people you meet; you never know what it may lead to.

Post written by Lindsay Elias, originally posted in the CR Blog.