Create a Quick Response Bar Code for your Career Site

The Quick Response (QR) or 2D bar code has been in use in Japan for over a decade, but it is just starting to pick up steam here in the states. Below, I've tried to address FAQ about the QR.

What is it? According to Wikipedia, "A QR Code is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be text, URL or other data."

How is it used? Wikipedia explains, "Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR Code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the phone's browser." Still confused? Check out this video on YouTube to see how it was used on a "For Sale" sign.

How can I use this technology? The QR provides another way for you to advertise your job openings and direct the applicant to the appropriate site to apply. For example, our applicant tracking software provides the career search search screen http://limacore.appone.com/. With the QR code, I can create a scanable bar code that will direct applicants to http://limacore.appone.com/ to apply. This technology is perfect for signs and job fairs where the applicant can simply scan the QR with their phone and save the URL to apply at a later time.

How do I create a QR for my career site? There are several QR creators out there, but personally I like the free tool from Google. To create your QR, follow these step by step instructions:

Go to your careers page, and copy the URL of your career page. For example, http://limacore.appone.com/.
Next, go to http://goo.gl/
Sign into Google using the link in the top right corner
Paste your career page URL into the text box and click the shorten button
After clicking the button, the shortened URL will be created and displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Click on the Details link
On the details screen, the stats of your shortened URL will be displayed with your QR
Copy the QR image and start placing it on your "Now Hiring" materials

Comment by Jerry Albright on March 3, 2011 at 9:12am: @Josh - I can dig it.

Comment by Suresh on March 3, 2011 at 11:18am: Ok, i thought will it work if its in my profile photo..Call me crazy.

Comment by Jay Perreault {DCTechRecruiter} on March 3, 2011 at 4:42pm: The picture with the QR is very clever Dr. Raghavan!

Comment by Suresh on March 3, 2011 at 5:27pm: Thanks Jay...just experimenting.

Comment by Alex Putman on March 7, 2011 at 1:25pm: Thanks Julia, I just learned about QR last week and wrapped up a post on it! Cool stuff with tons of applications. I have seen the google version in use. Additionally I tried qurify.com and found it easy to use for creation!

Comment by Michael Marlatt on May 2, 2011 at 12:33pm: Nice post Julia. I like QR and use it frequently and a big fan of mobile recruiting. You can view my blog (CloudRecruiting.net) or view my "mobile recruiting" Flickr Photostream

QR codes can be helpful for driving audience participation, provided the target audience has some familiarity with QR technology and a QR reader. In general, I like the idea of scan "X" to get "Y" - but we want to make sure that the end result of "Y" is something of value. Although it's a bit clunky, QR codes can be helpful in certain mobile recruitment promotional campaigns by redirecting your audience to a mobile optimized "something" (e.g., mobile career site, mobile download of an employer's iphone/android app, video, etc.).

The important thing here is that we want to provide a seamless experience for those who choose to use their mobile device to access your company's information. That said, we should think about designing an entire experience for the mobile device. In other words, the experience of scanning the QR is lost if the users are simply redirected to a desktop version of a career site on their mobile browser. They should ideally be viewing a mobile version of the site on their mobile browser. Anything less, I'm afraid Jerry's right...it can be viewed as overkill when a simple link is just as easy to redirect to the same location.

Comment by Julia on May 2, 2011 at 2:15pm: Michael, I couldn't agree more. Also, thank you for the links to your blog and Photostream! I look forward to reviewing the information you posted.