Business Cards

[desnov74]

Hello all!

I have a question regarding business cards. I've been unemployed for about 6mo. now. I'm not a PE yet, will be next year.(God willing!)I think I'm going to turn on the marketing heat and start offering tech/engineering support services in my field/s. I don't want to go full out and start a company, but I'd temp 1099 instead. I can be cost effective by eliminating the cost of benefits. What would be appropriate on a business card for an individual?

I think a logo might be kinda too much. My "plan" for marketing material is to have a portfolio of capabilities/project list, my resume, and a business card for a point of contact. Any thoughts?

 

[MikeHalloran]

<template>
Have Gun
Will Travel

Wire Paladin
San Francisco
</template>



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Ron]

Hey Mike...there's only a few of us here who remember Paladin! Best business card ever!

 

[MikeHalloran]

The card also included a small logo.
I agree; best business card ever.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[desnov74]

Even if you're not that old there's always re-runs. Which still haven't been on for a while. It was a knight chess piece.

 

[zdas04]

It is on Encore Western on satalite every afternoon.

 

[KENAT]

desnov, how do you plan to do this without straying into the 'offering engineering services' catch all that you have to be a PE to do in most US states?

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[desnov74]

KENAT,
Good point KENAT, but I won't offer any engineering services.

I will offer tech and engineering support initially(CAD, programming, field support, etc.). I will only offer my services to licensed professionals NOT to the public. I will show my experience as a competative advantage(HOPEFULLY) over other techs. I can use it hopefully, to get my foot in the door in a good company or launch a business when things rebound & when I get a P.E.. I do not intend to be an EOR or do anything for the public doing engineering design initially.

I got to do something!

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I will only offer my services to licensed professionals NOT to the public.

Isn't this simply semantics?

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[desnov74]

MacGyverS2000
Simply semantics? No I don't believe so. Because there is a difference between being a technical contract employee to a LICENSED PROFESSIONAL/EXEMPT ORGANIZATION and say offering technical services to a building owner (public). If doing CAD and programming work is the domain of the engineer then 1) State boards would give credit to such services as qualifying experience 2)SPE has to sue China and India for violation of engineering practice laws.

I'm NOT offering engineering services, I'm going to be offering services to ENGINEERS. There is a huge difference.

 

[testrun]

@desnov74
If I were you I wouldn't be too concerned about business cards. After all, you're essentially just looking for a temp employee position. Focus on having a good resume, and targeting the companies who you could potentially help. If you call a company up, they will be thinking to themselves, " Can this man do anything for us?" Therefore, be clear in your mind about your usefulness. Focus on that, and not health insurance or 1099 vs. employee status. I'm thinking that a smaller firm (maybe a one man show) would be the one to hire you temporarily, and such a company may not offer health insurance to their employees anyway. Find a person/company with a need that you can meet, and you've found yourself work. I wish you the best. Hang in there, be flexible, and don't give up at whatever you decided to do.

http://www.DraftingServices.com

 

[brandoncdg]

As someone who will be entertaining the idea of hiring someone if all the proposals we have sent out get approved, I don't even understand what you are looking to do temp work for. What in the world is tech/engineering support?

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com/blog

 

[desnov74]

What don't you understand?

CAD, drafters and cad guys support egnieers, ergo an engineering support task!

Technical Writing, technical activity supporting engineering.

PLC Programming, a technician level task. I have a 608 refrigeration license, technician work. etc.

 

[FreddyNurk]

desnov74 (Electrical)
20 Apr 10 20:12
What don't you understand?

CAD, drafters and cad guys support egnieers, ergo an engineering support task!

Technical Writing, technical activity supporting engineering.

PLC Programming, a technician level task. I have a 608 refrigeration license, technician work. etc.

Politely, if a whole heap of people who might be looking for the sort of 'support' services that you are aiming to market don't get it, you might want to change your strategy.

Calling yourself a drafter or similar would solve that issue. Some places call such roles 'designers', but I'm not sure how that works in the U.S. The places I've seen that use that term don't have such stringent licencing restrictions (in Australia, by the way).

 

[brandoncdg]

The way you are talking about your services up above do not make it sound like you will be a pure drafter. Tech/engineering support to me sounds like an IT guy who helps set up CAD standards. Your response to me sounded exactly like a pure drafter who takes my redlines and drafts. Every engineering company I know, can see through the silly wording of people. This is not a knock against you, it's just that you should be very specific in real world terms what you are trying to do.

FreddyNurk: A designer and drafter are pretty different in the US. Some drafters can design based off of redlines. But some drafters can only literally copy the redlines with no input on the design issues a designer might call into question. I have worked with all types of people, and worked my way up from being a sucky newby drafter at a job to understanding what the PM's really wanted and/or expected.

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com/blog