Resume distribution for the technologically unsophisticated

August 20, 2008 1:28 PM

I'm going to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Legislative Conference next month and want to know the latest, greatest (and cheapest) gadgets available for handing out my resume.

So in my former career as a journalist, you'd go to these conferences loaded down with a ton of resumes and a nice package of clips that said, "Yeah, I'm going to be a superstar." But that was many moons ago, before the advent of all types of little ... gadgety things.

My questions are: What's the best way to distribute the resumes at something like this event? Paper? And if it's a gadgety thing, which one (Please keep in mind that you are making recommendations to someone who calls them "gadgety things." Won't my prospective employer just lose the gadget and forget about me? Thanks.

posted by notjustfoxybrown to Work & Money (3 answers total)

My ex-girlfriend was with CBCF and she can give you some very constructive advice. Mefi Mail me with your e-mail address and I will send her an e-mail that I am 99% certain she will respond.
posted by parmanparman at 1:53 PM on August 20, 2008

Best answer: Forget gadgets or clips. Print the your top three or four relevant accomplishments or job experiences on the back of your business card and pass it out relentlessly. Target the members themselves first, then the communications directors and press secretaries; they're most likely to be interested in you.
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy at 2:05 PM on August 20, 2008

Since you're not aiming for a techy or creative job, I don't think slick gadgets will endear you to legislative types. In my (admittedly limited) experience with journalists, policy wonks and lawyers, they're not the most gadget-savvy groups. (I mean, you freely admit that you're not, why do you expect them to be?) Therefore I agree with RandlePatrickMcMurphy.
posted by desjardins at 10:33 AM on August 21, 2008