One of my recruiter friends, Samuel Dergel of CFO2Grow in Canada, added an important comment to my blog post yesterday about business cards. It reminded me that this blog post has been sitting on the back burner for months and perhaps now was the time to get it finished and posted.
Samuel addressed the importance of having your business cards “professionally” developed. He’s right. If you’re at a networking event, your business card is the last impression people take with them. Is the Finance Executive they just shook hands with the same professional reflected on the business card they have in their hand? If it’s cheap or if there is advertising on the back (that means they were free) … what message is that sending? And, is it the message you intend to send?
The same can be said should you decide to create a blog or upload your resume to the Web. If you choose a free site, it means you are also choosing a page that is overrun with advertising … ads over which you have no control either! But my point is about the image that landing page (whether blog or resume) sends. Does it exude executive branding (this guy is worth every cent if we can get him) or is it a poster for commodity (average, just one of many)?
I do believe that a credible online and offline presence is key for Chief Financial Officers and other Senior Finance Executives. If you choose to have business cards and a web presence, then choose to create them in a way that furthers your brand rather than detracting from it.
Cindy
Thanks for your kind referral to my blog on business cards: CFOs: Don’t leave home without… http://bit.ly/ad3aYO
Keeping on topic – CFOs should keep in mind that professionalism should come through in everything you do. That doesn’t mean you should dress, speak, and act like everyone else. Be yourself. But be professional.
Samuel Dergel
Senior Partner & Practice Leader, CFO Search
CFO2Grow
Web: http://www.cfo2grow.com
Blog: http://cfo2grow.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/samueldergel
Twitter: @cfo2grow and @cfo2dergel