Thank you for visiting. The SfAA Student Committee is pleased to provide you helpful hits to make the most out of being at the Conference.
If there's a question you'd like to have answered please e-mail the Chair, Anne Ballenger and she will include it here!

What's What, Who's Who & Where Is It?

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Getting To Know Other Students

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Getting To Know Other Colleagues

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Business Cards

Even if you're not in business for your University or Company. Business cards are a great way to exchange phone numbers and e-mail address. They are much better than writing it down on a table napkin!

• They look professional and so do you!
• Business cards don't have to be expensive, nor do you need 500 cards.
• A cheap way to do cards is from your home computer.
• Do them on a computer & get copies at 10 cents a sheet.
• Go to an office supply store and order some simple cards for $20.00.
• See if your department has some no name cards & write your info on them.
• If your department doesn't ask to use some. Do this:
  
  • Take a piece of regular 8 x 11 paper, line up the cards on the paper, leave space to cut, see how many fit.
  • Ask for that amount.
  • White-out his/her info.
  • Write or type your info.
  • Do a template. Tape the cards on the paper, leave cutting room.
  • Get some heavy paper or card stock paper.
  • Copy your business card template using the card paper, use a paper cutter to cut your cards.
• Or create your own! Buy some blank business card stock, have your friend with the best penmanship write your cards on one sheet, go to the copy center and copy the rest on the card stock paper.
• Viola! You have cards!

~Business Card Info
I'm sure you know what usual information is on a business card: name, title, address, phone number, fax number, e-mail address and usually with a company name and logo.

But what should yours look like since you are a student?
What to do for the company name? What address should you use - your school's, your home? And the same for your phone numbers.
Here are some helpful tips.

• A guiding principal: "What's the best way to reach you?".

~ If you are more likely to get a message from your home voice mail than the anthropology department's secretary, use your home number.
~ The same thing for your address and most importantly your e-mail address. Don't put your school e-mail address if you never or rarely check it.


• To Fax or Not To Fax.

~ If you have a home fax but you've got to turn it on, enable it from your computer or do anything special to receive faxes, then you have to decide if it's worth it.
~ You could put another fax number (like the department's fax), not put your fax, or put yours.
~ Just be aware, your contact could fax you something out of the blue and you'll never receive it.
~ Remember a fax number is just an extra. If you don't expect a lot of fax stuff consider leaving it out to make room for other important information on your card.
• What's in a Name?

~ Yes, we all know that you put your name down, but how should it be displayed?

1. Prominently! You want them to know who you are. Don't let your logo overwhelm your name.
2. Use your proper name. Don't put your nickname like "Stinky", "Cho-Cho", or "Thrasher", unless you are part of an underground network of students attempting limit your potential career opportunities. Anne M. Ballenger works fine. And no, I'm not going to disclose my childhood nickname, either. It's too darn embarrassing anyway.
3. How many letters do you have behind your name?
• If you are an undergraduate, don't put H.S. behind your name. No degree is best.
• If you have your B.A. and are working on your M.A., put your B.A. or no degree if you like.
• If you are a doctoral student, but not A.B.D., just list your M.A.
• If you are A.B.D., "all but degree" for your Ph.D., then that's acceptable.
• Note, unfortunately, the A.B.D. is only for doctoral students. There is no equivalent for the M.A.


• What's your title?

This is a very interesting subject because many applied anthropology students, like the field itself, are non-traditional. Non-traditional in the sense that there are more older students with a previous or current career, as well as, working while they go to school than ever before.

This is contrary to the "old model" that expects young students directly from undergraduate school without much work experience or even, applied anthropology work experience.

How you label yourself,(a.k.a. your title), is sometimes problematic. Here are some tips:

• You can skip the whole debate and not put a title. However, this may make it more difficult for the person to remember who you are.
• You can skip the title part and make room on your card for listing your interests.
• For undergraduates you could put your study/research interest like:
  

  applied medical anthropology" critical medical anthro political economy & development

  agriculture & fisheries international development U.S. Hispanic Health

  
  
• Or a good blending of the two is:
  

  John Doe Undergraduate Student women's health

  John Doe M.A. Student women's health

  
  
• Or for Dual Careers:
  

  Jane Doe, M.B.A. Publicist Visual Anthropologist

  
  
• For dual career people - you could use your work cards or you could create anthropology orientated cards if your work doesn't have anything to do with your study interests.

The Point Is Convey who you are & your interests Don't get hung up on your title!



• The Company Name

~ If you are not passing out your company cards, then list your University/college affiliation. You can put it at the top, side, bottom, or under your name. It's not the most important item on your card, but you should include it. You are certainly paying enough money for that name on your degree.

~ In addition, it helps people orient you in the world of applied anthropology and stimulate discussion about department interests and/or faculty. You may find that some academic applied anthropologists will be better able to remember you and/or know your faculty. This is always a good topic starter in itself. How you format it is up to you, but include your affiliation.

• The Logo - Your Symbol

The logo is up to you and your tastes. You can have one or not have one. It depends on how much time, money and effort you want to expend.

• Color Logos & Cost

~ If you are doing it on the computer and then printing them out on a color printer, make sure you have enough color ink!
~ If you are going to the printer's then, color cards are expensive. The price increases with each color. So, that great color graphic in clip art may cost you a bundle at the printers!
~ If you want an inexpensive graphic, think about using a black and white symbol.
~ Or use colored paper with a black and white graphic. Then you get color and a logo for less.

• Logo Look

~ Pick a logo that has some meaning to you. Otherwise, why waste your time and/or money for a logo. A generic logo, looks generic. Do you want to be generic?

Carrying Business Cards

~ Stick them in your pocket, in your wallet, in your jacket. You may want to designate one pocket for cards you get and one for your cards. That way you won't be fumbling about trying to find one of your cards or accidentally give out someone else's!

~ A business card case. Some people like the business card case. It keeps your cards looking nice and crisp, you always know where they are, and they look nice. However, if you can't find your case - you can't give out your cards. Some of the cases are pretty small and if you collect a lot of cards, then you may not have space for them. So, the business card case is up to your particular style and way of life.

~ The most important thing is, if you are going to have business cards, make sure you can find them to give them out.

Keeping Track of Business Cards

~ I like to put a few catch phrases on the back of them to remember the conversation, the ideas, or their interests.

~ Believe me, three weeks after the conference, you'll look at a card and wonder who that person was and what you talked about.

~ There's nothing worse when you want to send an e-mail to that great development contact and you can't remember from looking at the cards who he/she is!

A Notebook

A handy notebook or pad of paper is always a good idea to write comments, ideas, questions during each session you attend. Here are tips & common uses:

Note questions for the presenter. Label your notes with the session title, so you'll know what's what's later. Jot conversation notes.

Use your notebook to write e-mails down, if they don't have a card - that's usually students! Make a special promises area for - items to send or - tasks do.

Use something you won't lose, Is comfortable & Can carry around all day.

Wearing Your Name Tag- A must!

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Going to Socials

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