{"id":2740,"date":"2012-01-11T13:12:00","date_gmt":"2012-01-11T13:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/hr-advice\/qr-codes-the-next-big-thing-in-recruiting-technology\/"},"modified":"2024-12-22T03:01:07","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T11:01:07","slug":"qr-codes-the-next-big-thing-in-recruiting-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/qr-codes-the-next-big-thing-in-recruiting-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"QR Codes: The Next Big Thing In Recruiting Technology?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"qrcode\"If you are a recruiting leader or recruiter who is constantly on the lookout for new recruiting trends, practices, and tools, you have surely already heard of QR codes.
\nQR codes are a second-generation barcode that allows potential candidates to quickly and directly access supporting materials and websites using only a camera equipped smartphone. QR codes have many uses, but are most often used to direct target audiences to online content that cannot be easily conveyed in print.
\nYou can of course provide a printed URL, but if you have ever tried to enter a long URL into a mobile browser, chances are you wouldn\u2019t do it again.<\/p>\n

What Is a QR Code?<\/b>
\nThe QR in QR code stands for quick response, and although you might not know them by name, you have undoubtedly already seen these one-inch square shaped symbols that look a little like a maze in advertisements, on billboards, and in posters. Don\u2019t let their size fool you: QR codes can be powerful communication mechanisms because they can take candidates directly to customized supplemental recruiting information that might include a website, pictures, videos, narrative information, or point directly to Twitter or Facebook. Organizations that have taken lead in using QR codes for recruiting include Google, the U.S. Army, E&Y, AT&T, Siemens, and Pepsi.<\/p>\n

The Many Benefits of Using QR Codes in Recruiting<\/b>
\nQR codes were designed to support mobile users, something the recruiting-tools community hasn\u2019t invested a great deal of time in despite the widespread adoption of smartphones. Because many smartphone users are never more than a few feet from their almost-always-on device, mobile<\/a> will become the platform of choice for recruiting activity. The application to decode a QR Code comes pre-installed on most devices and there are many free Apps for users with a device not pre-installed with one. Potential candidates could be on the subway, reading the paper, or walking down the street and with the push of a button be immediately taken to follow-up information or a job application.<\/p>\n

If your recruiting effort is attempting to show off your firm\u2019s innovation or its use of technology, the use of these codes might help to reinforce that message. QR codes can dramatically increase the value and usefulness of print ads, billboards, posters, business cards, and brochures. Because college students are particularly mobile phone dependent, QR codes should be embedded into all aspects of college recruiting.<\/p>\n

These codes are also powerful because they easily allow for effective tracking analytics that can identify sources and usage rates. In addition, QR codes can be produced for free and because they are so small, will save space and advertising costs. These codes can also be used for non-recruiting purposes including check-ins and to provide employee, vendor, and customer information.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike a picture, a QR Code can replace a thousand words.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Potential Uses of QR Codes in Recruiting<\/b>
\nThere are literally dozens of ways in which these codes have been or can be used to provide recruiting information to prospects and candidates. Some of them include:<\/p>\n