By Jeff Westover,
myjobsearch.com
Last Christmas, I received a card from a man I stopped doing business with
years ago. Even though I left that location and sold that business, he has
persisted in keeping contact with me over the years. I never visit there,
rarely call and do not anticipate any needs in that area in the future.
In fact, enough water has passed under the bridge that my memory of exactly
what kind of business we did together is a little foggy. But I remember
associating with him in the Chamber of Commerce and the fact the he
frequented my business as a customer often.
Although I live in a different place now, he never fails to track me down
every Christmas to send me his yearly greetings. It recently occurred to me
that he is the only one from those days that I really remember and know how
to contact. The man is clearly a networking genius.
Examples like this are rare. It is not because the sending of greeting cards
is going out of style. In fact, according to the Greeting Card Association,
we purchase more than 6 billion cards a year. The persistent sending of
greeting cards in business is largely left to those that truly value the
relationships made in business. To job seekers or job opportunists, holiday
greeting cards are a simple and effective networking tool.
Appropriate Use Of The Greeting Card
As a business owner or an employee in charge of relationships with vendors,
the use of greeting cards during specific holiday seasons is easy to
justify. But as a job seeker, the sending of a holiday greeting card needs
some judicious consideration.
The holidays are a great time to send greetings and a "thank you" to all
contacts in a personal network. Even if the job seeker has not made contact
for sometime, it is appropriate- and, well advised- to perpetuate the
relationship with the simple sending of a tasteful card.
It would be inappropriate to send a card to a prospective employer while in
the interview process. It may be perceived as presumptuous and may put the
relationship in an awkward position if an employment arrangement does not
work out.
The time spent preparing and sending greeting cards can be well worth the
effort. The chances that a card will arrive when opportunities come up are
rare, but every effort to put forth a positive image gives the sender an
edge over any competition.
Tips For Sending Business Greeting Cards
For as simple as sending a card may sound, there are rules for making the
right impression with a card. Cards sent without much thought can actually
damage a relationship or cause offense. Here are some things to remember:
- Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Be careful to avoid cards with
religious connotations. In fact, common business etiquette dictates that
cards focus more on wishes for a prosperous New Year.
- Cards should include a short handwritten greeting or message for the
recipient. Preprinted cards are fine if a custom handwritten message is
included with the sender's signature. This personalizes the greeting and
shows time was taken to single out the many card receivers on the list.
- Exercise caution when wording personalized messages. Assume that others in
the workplace will see the card. Keep comments within the boundaries of a
professional relationship.
- If it is uncertain whether the receiver of the card will remember you, it
is best NOT to send greeting cards until a better relationship is
established.
- If the card is going to the home of an associate, be sure to include the
spouse as the card is addressed. If the card is being sent to a place of
business, only the recipient's name needs to be on the card.
- When more than one person is listed on the card as the sender, it is
proper that the person signing the card is the last name listed on the card.
- Carefully consider the timing of when the card will be received. With many
offices closed or people off for the week of major holidays, it may prove
wise to send the card a little earlier so that the message of the card will
not be missed. The perception that your card was an after thought is one to
be avoided.
Cards In Place of Gifts
As more and more companies institute policies regarding the giving and
receiving of gifts in the workplace, it is becoming more difficult to know
what is appropriate. A greeting card is always appropriate. Whether given to
employees, customers, or the boss- greeting cards never cause offense unless
thoughtlessly done.
The great thing about greeting cards is that they allow a measure of
personal style and creativity to enter into a business relationship. Good
impressions are made with just about any card. Great impressions can be made
by a card given with some extra thought. If the intent is to amuse, inspire
or provoke a perception of class- nothing provides a better opportunity than
a well chosen card.
-- Jeff Westover is an Internet Content Developer based in Salt Lake City.
He has 15 years of executive level experience in personnel and project
management. Jeff writes for
myjobsearch.com,
publishers of the largest independent directory of online career resources.
