What's in a name? Everything!

Put your name on everything. When you apply for a job, your resume, reel, reel breakdown, outside of your portfolio, and portfolio contents should all have your name and contact information on them. Your resume may get separated from your other material so it is essential that all your materials have your name on them. If a prospective employer sees a reel he likes, make sure he knows who did it.

State your full name on your answering machine's outgoing message. Don't make the caller guess whether she's reached you or not.

Leave your name when you phone, leave messages by email, fax or other means. Identify yourself with your first and last name and leave your contact info if you want your message returned. Don't expect someone to recognize your voice, even if it is someone you have spoken with on numerous occasions. It is a courtesy to the person you called, it's professional, and mentioning your name makes the person you called think he should know who you are.

Be a Name Collector
Networking will help you hear about opportunities, but you also have to get your name out there.

Don't keep your name a secret at meetings or events. Introduce yourself to speakers and fellow audience members. If your fellow networker does not reciprocate, ask his or her name. Use it immediately and several times in your conversation so you remember it.

Forget a name? Don't be embarrassed to admit it. Introduce yourself and say, "I'm sorry I forgot your name." In his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie reminds us that, "A person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language."

When you introduce yourself, give some information about yourself as well. Provide a springboard for conversation. Prepare a brief introduction (90 seconds or less), which highlights what makes you special. This is like a log line in the TV Guide — why that person should get to know you. You might include what you do, what you specialize in and your special strengths and skills, your passions and what you've worked on and who you've worked with. Basically it's a personal ad of what you offer — what makes you unique.