Business Cards

[profoundquiet]

Hey all,

So my friend gave me her "business card" today, even though she's an undergraduate. I thought about it, and I think that it'd be very useful, especially if you're attending a lot of conferences and exchanging contact information with other students often.

That said, what should I put on mine?

I'm about to go to grad school, so am planning to put the grad school info and the school logo. But should I also include my undergrad school info/logo? I know that might seem a bit excessive, but I thought that it might be good since I am right about to finish undergrad.

I'm only affiliated with universities, so right now I just have:

Name, School, Major, Degree/Date, Research Interests, Phone, Email

Any thoughts?

[newms]

I'm headed to grad school as well. There has been similar threads about business cards on here before and some grad students have suggested contacting your department and requesting business cards from them. So that may be a possibility when you get to your grad school.

I wouldn't have my undergrad school on it though, I'd have my grad school, school logo, contact info: phone, email, address, website as well as the research group I'm affiliated with.

Edited May 7, 2011 by newms

[Gaijin Punch]

Make sure it's ok to use the school logo as it is a copyrighted image I would assume?

I personally wouldn't put research interests on the card, I think the program you are in would be better. Best tip for a card is not to clog it with too much information, keep it simple and clean.

If i was creating one for myself I would put school logo at top left, then below (around the middle of the card) my name followed by any current designations. Then below the name I would put the program or school I was currently in (example: Master of Planning or School of Planning). The on the right I would put address, then phone, email and finally a website/blog if you have one.

But in the end you can do it how you would like, which is why all business cards have their own personal touch

[profoundquiet]

Thanks for your replies!

Turns out that my grad school has business card printing services, so I'll just stick with that to avoid copyright infringement.

Although I'm a bit worried cause I'm only doing the M.S. (at this point) and I don't know if I'll be able to use up 250 cards in 2 years. haha.

Edited May 7, 2011 by profoundquiet

[Strangefox]

I wonder, in what disciplines are business cards appropriate? I guess in humanities they would look strange. Or not? And what about social sciences?

[hejduk]

I wonder, in what disciplines are business cards appropriate? I guess in humanities they would look strange. Or not? And what about social sciences?

I think they're applicable in any discipline. I"m in COMM too, and I see them all the time.

[Strangefox]

I think they're applicable in any discipline. I"m in COMM too, and I see them all the time.

Very interesting! Thanks!

[pomodoro]

Business cards can be quite useful in the Social Sciences. They're not just for conferences and professional contacts, but also for research participants. Although I didn't have a business card at the time, participants in my MA research did do their own background checks to see if I was legit (e.g. contacting the ethics board as outlined on my consent form, googling me and so on). It adds another level of rapport and gives participants a touchstone through which they can contact you. Mind you, YMMV- my research involved a process of "studying up," and many of the people I encountered most certainly traded business cards themselves quite often and freely.

I wonder, in what disciplines are business cards appropriate? I guess in humanities they would look strange. Or not? And what about social sciences?

[studentaffairsgrad]

I was at a school for assistantship interview weekend (for a higher education program), and this chick is running around like crazy giving her business card out to everybody, and demanding we all friend her on Facebook. She even put her own picture on her business card. Just as long as you don't do that, you should be fine

[aginath]

Check to see if your college or department has a template for graduate students. We do and it has been approved by the department. The student organization for the department provides a Word template and access to a color printer (free). All we have to do is buy the Avery business cards.

[brooksamanda89]

I think it's a great idea to have a business card as a grad student. It would be really useful for networking. If your school doesn't have a business card printing service you could easily print your own using an online print company.

[Golden Monkey]

I put my home page URL, phone #, and email address on mine, and that was it.

[far_to_go]

I got some done really cheap by VistaPrint - I liked being able to pick the colors/design myself. My school offers free business cards for grad students, but I'm not a big fan of our school logo and colors. Just personal preference.

I put my name, school name, discipline (anthropology), cell number, and e-mail address on the cards. I thought about putting my blog URL on there as well, but since the blog tends to be more personal/whimsical than professional/academic, I decided against it. Less is more.

It is nice and handy to have the cards to give people you meet at conferences. I'm also going overseas this summer to do preliminary field research, so I expect I'll give out my card to contacts I meet.

[hejduk]

I got some done really cheap by VistaPrint...

The only issue I have with Vista Print is that the company logo is on the back, which as my former graphic designer identity is coming out, says that it's tacky. But free is free, so can't complain!

[far_to_go]

The only issue I have with Vista Print is that the company logo is on the back, which as my former graphic designer identity is coming out, says that it's tacky. But free is free, so can't complain!

Huh. Mine don't have the logo on the back. Maybe because I paid a little bit and got more than just the free offer. I got them back in November.

[hejduk]

Huh. Mine don't have the logo on the back. Maybe because I paid a little bit and got more than just the free offer. I got them back in November.

Yep, sounds right. I believe it's the free offer where they place their logo on the back.

[RNadine21]

Hmmm, I just used a free offer from VistaPrint and it doesn't have the logo.

I just found a nice relevent design and put my name, program and school, school address (I have a mailbox there), cell and email. They're my gift to myself for passing my oral exam, and I'm so excited to start passing them out!

[far_to_go]

Congrats on passing your oral exam, Robin N! I must say, though, business cards are a bit of a nerdy gift to oneself ;-) I hope you also bought yourself a nice bottle of whiskey or box of chocolates or something!

[GardeningGrad]

You can also use Office business card templates (like these - http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT010104309.aspx - or google search) with some nice cardstock and a paper cutter... almost completely free!

[GardeningGrad]

Saw this and thought of this forum conversations: until June 18th, Staples is offering 100 free business cards... http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/coupons/13166_cpc_offer/offer.html

happy saving money!

[Just me]

I majored in graphic design and I simply included my name, my chosen title of "designer/illustrator", my website and my email. I would never personally include my undergrad school because it's a diploma mill and I know some people will specifically toss out an application based solely on the fact that an applicant attended my school. I was always taught to keep info short and sweet on a business card to keep it from getting too cluttered. Just the basics - who I am, what I do, where my work is and how to contact me. The End. And of course some kind of obligatory artwork.