Have you ever seen one of these funny looking bar codes and wondered what it is? QR tags or “quick reference” tags are a type of bar code that when scanned (or simply photographed) by a device, such as a smart phone, with a QR code reading application, can link the user to the content of the creator’s choice.

QR tags can be found on everything from magazine advertisements to food boxes these days and can also be a great tool for job seekers to use when branding themselves in the employment market.    A growing trend is adding a QR tag to your business or networking card which can link the recipient to more information about you such as your online portfolio, video resume or LinkedIn profile.  This allow you to share more than just your name and contact information with everyone you meet. It also helps  brand you as someone who keeps up on the latest trends and technology.

Creating a QR tag for your business card is quick and easy. There are various websites that develop these codes for free but one I have used in the past and have had success with is at http://qrcode.kaywa.com. You simply fill out a quick form with the content you want the tag to link to and the graphic is generated which you can save to your computer as a picture file.

I would love to hear your success stories using QR tags in your job search! Post your comments and questions below and I’ll do my best to respond!