Dear Ed,
I’m just starting out. Is it appropriate or tacky to bring copies of my resume to an Ed Happy Hour?
-Jennifer, New York City
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Dear Jennifer,
Because Ed’s always straight with you: It’s totally tacky to bring resumes to a bar. What prospective employer would gladly welcome papers being shoved in her face while she’s trying to relax? One happy hour attendee did this to Ed—he wound up spilling his drink all over her CV! He felt bad about it (that paper quality was mighty nice), but got over it, realizing that bars are not conducive to resume exchanging.
Aside from the potential for your resume to get ruined, networking works best when it’s a two-way street. It’s understood that you want to make contacts who could help you land cool gigs, but bringing resumes makes it seem like you’re only interested in the end goal of getting a job. It’s kind of like bringing an engagement ring to a bar: Sure, you may want to meet someone you could marry, but you should get to know each other before you start planning a wedding!
That being said, it’s completely acceptable to tell the people you meet what kind of job you’re looking for. If you hit it off, give ‘em your contact info so they can keep you in the loop about any relevant spots. And if you have something to offer them (maybe they’re employed, but new to your city, so you can suggest some cheap, yummy restaurants), do it. After your fantastic conversation, you can ask if it’d be all right if you e-mailed your resume to them.
Love,
Ed
