Is it professional...
 

Ok this might sound like a stupid question but it was suggested to me by a friend...


I'll be going in for an interview later this week and after the interview I was told to give my current business card to the interviewer and request one from them.

Now, this seems a little weird and not professional at all. It's been a while since I went to an interview so I am not sure what has changed, if anything.

My friends argument was, in addition to the resume, the business card is "proof" that I am a legit employee.

Anyways - what are your thoughts?!? Is it only me who thinks this is a little unprofessional?

Personally I think it's a little redundant as you already know where that person is working and how to get in contact with them and likewise with your resume. I personally would find it awkward.

Berz out.

Wouldn't the interviewer already have your contact info from your resume?

I would request a business card from the interviewers

yah, i wouldnt give my business card because youre looking for a job and not dealing with business per se

I don't see any advantage of handing them your business card..

You are obviously unemployed, why would you have a business card? Your friend isn't making sense. What could the employer possibly want from you that isn't on your resume. People always throw business cards out, let alone resumes.

Just don't be nervous and prepare, that's what you should focus on. Plus, you don't want to be sitting there during the interview thinking about how to pitch them the card, you should be thinking about the interview.

Good luck. Benefits or quit :P

It's not just you - your friend is retarded. No one hands out business cards in an interview.

i wouldnt hand them a business card, but it's definately OK to ask them for their card.

i always ask for a card to do follow up

I don't see what the big deal is. It's just a card.

It's not mandatory. But if someone asked for one, and I happen to have one, sure.

Don't do it. You are the begger in this situation. If he wants one, he will ask for one. Go in there, be humble, rock it, and walk out with a firm handshake.
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I dont really understand this thread... I have been interviewing lately and every interview has started with them giving me their card and asking for mine. Maybe if you are applying at McDonalds then they dont want your card, but for a reasonably senior position, it is common and expected to exchange cards, just as you would if you were in a meeting for any other reason. Often HR will take care of your resume but if you are meeting senior management, etc they will just have your card as a way to get ahold of you if they have questions or want to follow up.

Also, the consensus in this thread seems to be that if you are interviewing for a job, you are unemployed and a beggar... lol. The OP may or may not be, but that is hardly a generality that can be applied to everybody. If you are one of one hundred idiots applying at McDonalds then maybe this is the case, but if you are applying for a decent job and are a top candidate, then they will work to get you as they know you have other options.

Do yourself a favour, and NEVER think of yourself as a beggar in any area of life, whether it be trying to get a date, applying for a job, selling something... people can sense desperation and it is NEVER attractive.

Mark

Week old thread but some terrible misconception here. Card exchanging is the standard procedure in any networking events or any formal interview for any position that pay more than minimum wage.

It could be done at the beginning or at the end of the interview. Why do you want their cards? Because their infos are on it. And you ALWAYS do multiple follow up on an interview. You don't interview and then go home and hope for the best. The people who follow up always have much higher chance of getting hired. Ask me how I know.

And you give them your cards because that increase your chance of them remembering you, which is a GOOD thing. Also you might not initially get hired but you never know. Stories of sudden phone call hiring aren't rare, especially in business. Sure your contact info is on the resume but who the hell go look for the resume. They don't. If you got rejected initially, your resume and CVs may have already in the garbage bin. They whip out your business card and call you.

Somebody mentioned that you're unemployed, you shouldn't have a business card. WRONG. Even you're a fresh out of school graduate, you should have a business card. Sure it's nice to have a baller job listed on your card but that's not the purpose of the card. It's not a pissing contest. Again, the card the easiest way for people to know how to contact you.

Make a habit of carrying at least 5-10 business cards in your wallet AT ALL TIMES. You never know when opportunity would strike. If you don't have a card, design one and have it printed professionally.

But the question is, these are not some "student business cards" offered by a school. They are actual business cards from the current employer with the office email / office phone / office address. It does not have any of my personal info (ie. cell #). The only "personal" it gets is the greeting on my voice mail.

So if they have my CV which has all my personal info - what good is my current employers business card to them? There is no "business to business" benefit for the interviewer(i work in a unique sector ;) ) , only a human capital benefit which can be realized through the CV.

You could always make your own customized card. A lot of people actually do that. Your past company info does not have to be on the card.

Say I have your CVs but I don't hang on to the thing. I leave it with 100, 1000 other CVs that I have. Say you gave me your card, I can leave it on my desk or something easily accessible.

Besides, it makes you look professional. There's no harm. You know these days, we all fight so hard to stand out, right?

^ i see your point. do you have any examples of "self made" business cards

Tiger_Handheld
Experience Automechanic (not my professions)

604-123-4567
604-456-7890
www.tigerh.ca
tiger@tiger.ca

i assume that would be the basic info on the card? How does that stand out =\ ..
sorry for the noob questions - the thread has taken on a different route now :)

Google my friend, here's one:
18 Smokin' Hot Business Card Designs

You can also put in what do you do or what field you're in. You dont need a bunch of info on the card for it to look good.

Remember though, business cards is a nice touch to people's impression towards you, by no mean a guarantee for jobs :D

The only way I could see it as a bit odd, is if you only have your current work's contact info on it. IE: no personal cell phone. Do you really want a potential employer calling you at your current place of work? Sounds like a great way to get fired. When I was looking at other options a few years ago from one job to another in the same industry, NO ONE in at my current place of employment knew I was looking elsewhere.

What if you're a designer like myself? I've been handing it out like candy. They all loved it and gave me compliments.

Still weird?

Don't mean to hi jack the thread but just a quick question about interviews. I'm wondering what are your thoughts on asking to change the interview date. Would that cause a bad image?

So what happened was I got an interview for co op but I have finals that day so I won't be able to make it and asked if it was possible to change the interview day.

Uh, if you have finals... that's a pretty legit excuse. Especially for a co-op job....

eh oh well looks like i lost my interview chance

^ probably not a good place to work if they can't accommodate a legit excuse like finals.

Rescheduling happens all the time. Having exams is a legit excuse. Are you in UBC? Normally Co-op employees are pretty cool to work with, they're pre-screened to accommodate students.

Probably too late but you should go to career center next time and ask for assistance.

nah i go to sfu. trying to get a job so i can take a break next semester