One of the recent trends in the job search is the use of QR codes in résumés and business cards. QR (which stands for Quick Response) codes are those small, square, barcode-looking images that you’ve probably seen in magazines, print ads, and product packaging. With a smart phone, users can scan the image, which will take them to the website of that product or service.
For job seekers who use QR codes on their résumés or business cards, an employer can scan the codes, which will then open the applicant’s website. TheLadders, a staffing and recruiting company, listed QR codes as one of the “7 Personal Branding Trends for Job Search in 2012.”
Pros and Cons
As with many trends, you’ll hear pros and cons. Career columnist and employment expert Joyce Lain Kennedy describes two benefits in her article for the Chicago Tribune: First, “a quick response code helps you to stand out from the crowd of job candidates who’ve never even heard of them.” Second, “Ageism-threatened seniors can project an image of being technologically vital by incorporating a QR code on their business cards and in their resumes.”
If you have examples of your work that you would like to show employers (e.g. a portfolio, a blog, video clips), then including a QR code on your résumé or business card may be an appropriate and effective decision.
As for negatives, if a recruiter isn’t familiar with QR codes, doesn’t have a mobile device (or a scanning app), or doesn’t have access to the Internet, then the space that the QR code took on the résumé might have been used more effectively. Although QR codes are becoming more commonly used, some people view their use in the job search as being too gimmicky.
Tips for Using QR Codes
If you’re considering incorporating a QR code on your résumé or business card where recruiters can view your work, here are some tips:
- Consider your audience and the type of position you’re applying for. The more tech savvy, multimedia, or marketing oriented the position/employer, the more accepted the QR code will be.
- Make sure that the site to which your QR code goes is easily accessible and viewable on a mobile device.
- Include the website’s URL in addition to the QR code so recruiters know exactly where the code is taking them or so they can access the site without a QR code reader.
- Make sure your website that the QR code links to is professional (such as your LinkedIn page or your portfolio) and not to a site that may contain information that is too personal (such as your personal Facebook page).