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Career Networking: Business Card Tips and Etiquette

by Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC, Certified Career Coach

A business card… is it just a little piece of paper, no more important than a scribbled sticky note, or something you typically use as a bookmark?

Wrong. A business card is a representation of the person from whom it came. Consider your own card. You took time, care, and spent your hard earned dollars having your own, one-of-a-kind business card designed and printed. Maybe you even invested in a unique company logo, and included that on your card. You feel proud of your card and want people to notice it, and remember you.

The same goes for others who carry business cards on them. Some good business card rules to follow:

1. Card first, then chat.

If you know ahead of time that you’ll be swapping business cards, then it’s often a good idea to get it out of the way first thing. This way, not only is the exchange taken care of and you don’t have to worry about it later, but you can make a mental note of the person’s name with whom you’re speaking, and their company name as well.

Click here to read the remainder of the business card etiquette article.

Atlanta Career Coach Hallie Crawford