Digital Business Cards for UK Graduates and Students

Digital Business Cards UK Editorial Team — Networking and events

Digital Business Cards UK Editorial Team · Published 31 October 2026 · Updated 31 October 2026

Starting a career means introducing yourself to a lot of people who have never heard of you: employers at careers fairs, recruiters on LinkedIn, alumni at networking evenings and interviewers on video calls. A digital business card gives you one simple, professional way to do it.

This guide is for UK graduates and final-year students. It covers university careers fairs, putting your link on your CV and LinkedIn, a simple portfolio and what to include when you are starting out.

For the general buying checks, start with our UK buyer's guide to digital business cards.

What a digital business card does for a graduate

A digital business card is a web profile with its own link and QR code. An employer scans the code with their phone camera, or you send them the link. One press of Save to Contacts puts your name, email and phone number into their phone. No app is needed on either side.

For a graduate, it means:

• A professional first impression, even before you have a job title.
• One link for every application, on your CV, in emails and on LinkedIn.
• A place to show your work, such as projects, a dissertation summary or a portfolio.
• Details that stay current. When you move house, change number or start a job, edit once and every link updates.

At university careers fairs

Careers fairs are busy. Employers speak to hundreds of students in a day. Make it easy for them to remember you.

• Prepare a 30-second introduction: your name, your course, what you are looking for and one thing you have done.
• Offer your QR code at the end of the conversation. "Can I share my details?" works well.
• Ask for theirs too, or note the recruiter's name and the company's careers page.
• Follow up within a day with a short email or LinkedIn note that mentions your conversation.

Recruiters at these events often use digital business cards themselves. Our guide for UK recruiters shows what they look for.

On your CV and LinkedIn

• CV. Add your profile link next to your email address and phone number. Keep it short and clickable in a PDF.
• LinkedIn. Add the link to your profile and to messages when you connect with someone new.
• Email signature. Put the link under your name in emails to employers.
• Application forms. Where a form asks for a website or portfolio, use your profile link.

Your CV is a summary. Your profile is where an employer can see more without asking.

Building a simple portfolio

You do not need a lot. A few good examples beat a long list.

• Gallery. Images of design work, photography, models, posters or event photos.
• Documents. A one-page project summary, a short writing sample or your CV as a PDF.
• Blog. A short post about a project, a placement or something you learned.
• Social Links. LinkedIn first, then GitHub, Behance or another platform that shows your work.
• Testimonials. A short quote from a placement supervisor or tutor, with their permission.

Choose work that matches the jobs you want. A future engineer might show a group project. A marketing graduate might show a campaign from a society.

What to include when starting out

Use Contact Display to choose exactly which details are public. Many graduates show an email address and LinkedIn but keep their phone number for people they have met.

Placements, internships and part-time work

You do not need a graduate job to have useful experience. Placements, internships, summer jobs and part-time work all count.

• Add a short line for each placement: the organisation, your role and one thing you did.
• Ask a supervisor for a testimonial at the end of a placement, while they remember your work.
• Share your link with colleagues when you leave a placement, so they can find you later.
• Keep the profile current after each new experience.

Writing a short bio

Two or three sentences are enough.

1. Who you are: "Recent geography graduate from the University of Leeds."
2. What you can do: "Experienced with GIS mapping and data analysis from my dissertation and a summer placement."
3. What you want: "Looking for a graduate role in environmental consultancy."

Keep it factual. Avoid words like "passionate" unless you can show it.

Freelance and portfolio careers

Some graduates go freelance straight away, especially in design, writing, photography and tech. If that is you, your profile becomes your shop window. Add your services, a few prices if you publish them and a clear way to get in touch. Our guide for UK freelancers, consultants and sole traders covers what to include when you start working for yourself.

Common mistakes graduates make

• Too much text. Employers skim.
• No examples of work. Even one project helps.
• An unprofessional email address. Use a simple one based on your name.
• Forgetting to update the profile after a new placement or job.
• Sharing the link without testing it on your own phone first.

Networking beyond the fair

Careers fairs are only one route. Alumni events, industry evenings, society talks and local business events all help. Our guide to UK networking events covers the 60-second introduction and polite follow-up in more detail.

On video interviews, paste your link into the chat at the end, or show your QR code on your background.

Getting your profile ready

Set aside an hour before your first careers fair.

1. Choose a clean template and one accent colour.
2. Add a clear, recent photo, the kind you would use on LinkedIn.
3. Write your short bio and the role you are looking for.
4. Add two or three examples of your work under Gallery or Documents.
5. Choose which contact details to show with Contact Display.
6. Save your QR code to your phone's photos so you can show it quickly.
7. Ask a friend to scan it and tell you what they see first.

Then put the link on your CV and LinkedIn, and you are ready.

Which plan suits a graduate?

Both plans are a single payment in pounds with UK VAT included.

• Brand Presence (£45) is likely to be enough. It includes Details, Social Links, Documents, Blog, Gallery, Testimonials, Templates, Contact Display, Analytics, QR Code, Save to Contacts and Unlimited Edits.
• Business Add-ons (£90) adds tools for businesses, such as Bookings, Enquiries, CRM and Contact Leads. Most graduates do not need them until they start working for themselves.

Because there is no subscription, the profile stays live as your career develops. Update it when you start a job and keep using the same link. Start on the online business card page, which is set up for sharing by link.

Frequently asked questions

Is a digital business card worth it for a graduate?

If you are applying for jobs or attending careers fairs, it gives employers one professional place to find you and see your work.

Should I put the link on my CV?

Yes. Add it next to your email and phone number, and make sure it is clickable in the PDF.

What should I put in my portfolio?

Two or three examples that match the jobs you want, with short captions. Quality matters more than quantity.

Should I show my phone number?

That is up to you. Use Contact Display to show only the details you are happy to share publicly.

Which plan do I need?

Brand Presence is likely to be enough. It includes your profile, portfolio sections, QR code and Save to Contacts.

What happens when I get a job?

Update your profile with your new role. The link and QR code stay the same, so people you have already shared it with see the change.