One of the members of FENG (Financial Executives Networking Group) asked a great question in last night’s newsletter around what to put on a business card when you’re unemployed. I think it’s a question that is bigger than just a business card.
We live in a society where we are defined by what we do (job title), so when we don’t have that title it can sometimes also cause us to lose our identity. Your job title might be CFO, but that is your [temporary] job title. When you lose that title, you are still a talented finance executive with a record of accomplishments and potential value to a target audience.
Still, what should you put on your business card? It’s one of the many reasons I love branding. Once you understand your brand, you can pull together a power statement that encapsulates your “value” to a prospective company, irrespective of the lack of a title, ahem, being unemployed.
That brand power statement can follow you wherever you go, from one company to another. The words might change slightly over the course of your career, but the essence of who you are remains the same and forms the foundation of your digital footprint and reputation. It shows up on your business card, under your name on your Linked In profile, and in your email signature line.
That said, the more obvious things to include on your business card – and in your email signature line – are your name, phone number, email address, and Linked In profile URL.
You ARE more than just your job title!
Cindy
I attended a networking event last night that also got me thinking about business cards. I spoke with a few people that handed me their work business cards and let me know they were open for opportunities. I’m of the belief that a personal business card is a must have, whether you are in career transition or not. (Blog – CFOs: Don’t leave home without… http://bit.ly/ad3aYO)
The question you ask “What should you put on your business card?” is a great question and I like how you answered it.
One thing that I would like your readers to consider is to get their personal business card professionally designed. A non-professionally designed cards stand out, and not in a good way. It is not only important to have the power statement on your card, but for your card to look good professional as well.
Samuel Dergel
Senior Partner & Practice Leader, CFO Search
CFO2Grow
Web: http://www.cfo2grow.com
Blog: http://www.thefinancialstatement.com
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/samueldergel
Twitter: @cfo2grow and @cfo2dergel
Excellent point, Samuel … and if they’re free, they’re probably really not the quality a CFO wants. I’ve been procrastinating on another post related to that professional first image. Guess I’ll finish that one tomorrow!