The Wallet Resume

Christy Rose

It is not practical to carry resumes with you at all times, so when you are in a casual environment, how do you share with a potential employer that you want to be considered for an opportunity within their organization?

This is the perfect time to pass out your wallet resume! A wallet resume is a self-promoting business card that has information about you, not the organizations which have employed you.

The front of the card should have your name, your occupation or desired occupation, your email address and your phone number. It may be wise to create a separate email account dedicated to your job search. Remember, this is a professional document so a cutesy email address just won’t cut it!

The back of the card should have no more than five “brag-lines” which are short but impressive. For example, if you are looking for a position as a Career Services Director, you may use descriptions such as: Senior-Level Management Experience; Employer Recruitment Expert; Career Coaching Specialist, etc. It is best to have these listed in a bullet format, one after the other. Stringing too many words together on a small card will appear too cluttered and hard to read.

If you are currently unemployed, money might be a little tight. There are sites such as Vistaprint.com that offer free business cards! You need only pay for the shipping and your cards will arrive relatively quickly. The downside of these bargain cards is that the vendor will use a corner of the back-side of the card for their own advertisement.

The wallet resume can be such an asset to your job search; it might be a good idea to cut out something frivolous from your budget and splurge on a high quality business card. After all, this is an investment in your future!

If you decide to go with a design on your business card, KEEP IT SIMPLE! Adding too much abstract busyness can appear that you are “hiding” behind it and may make your information seem less creditable.

Lastly, this job search aid will do nothing for you in the box. Put some in your wallet/purse and keep the rest in your car, allowing you to refill as necessary. Remember, you are your own career-builder; the more tools you have, the sooner you will be back in the world of the gainfully employed!

Christy Rose is currently the owner of Rose HR Solutions, a human resources consulting firm. Ms. Rose has worked as a professor at her Alma Mater, California State University, Los Angeles and as a Vice President of Client Services at Right Management, a global out-placement and executive search firm. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Ms. Rose has also studied Business and Psychology and is currently completing her first book, Know Your Corporate Crazy™. She can be reached at: