QR codes and their future (?) in recruitment

The New York Post reported that one woman sent more than one thousand resumes over 99 weeks receiving only two interviews. Sending out plain looking sheets with personal data facts is no longer the option, right?

There are numerous ways nowadays how technology can be used in job search (http://on.mash.to/lUgHrb). One of them seems particularly interesting to me, and that is using QR codes in your resumes, cover letters of even video self-presentations. Wiki:

A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.

Here is how it looks and I am not sure yet if it works, but you surely can scan it and see what's there :)

Increasingly, people start putting QR codes on their business cards. For instance, adding those for your LinkedIn or Twitter accounts will make it so much easier to go through the stack of business cards after an event or a long trip. You can see an example of a business card with a QR code on it here: http://bit.ly/lHV1X2.

How are QR codes useful in job search?

• surely, you'll break the routine of any recruiter bored with thousands of similar-looking CVs
• you will stand out (and that's excatly what you want to do!)
• you will demonstrate your knowledge of modern technology and the courage to use it in a conventional job seeking process
• you can be as creative as you want in designing your presentation folio as long as you put the QR code there - and it will do all the job for you.
  

Yet, there are certain dangers associated with the use of technology in the job search process:

• recruiters may not have time, knowledge or technology to scan the QR code
• when your resume is stored in the recruitment system, all the formatting is removed together with pictures and ... your QR code
• more and more people are using them, so how different are you?

Still, at this very moment using QR codes to look for a job is cutting edge and I would encourage you to dabble in this technological advance. Check out this video of a guy who was looking for an internship and used the QR technology to redirect the recruiter to his resume:

QR CODE - Content-rich Resume from Victor petit on Vimeo.