Okay, so the title of this post is a little one-sided. When I say “semi-professional” I don’t mean the kid down the street that thinks he’s a professional, I’m more so talking about the persons like myself that are professionals, but currently lack the ‘professional status’ that many notice. The students, job seekers, etc of the world. Obviously, these tips can also be used for the professional, but my main focus is on the ones that are in need of the assistance.
Many of the people reading this know what QR codes are… for those unfamiliar with QR codes you can check out this link for a more thorough description of what they are and how they work. A QR code is a square bar code containing bits of data such as URL’s, text or other forms of information. As the United States begins adapting the concept of QR codes, we begin learning more and more uses for these nifty looking blocks of bits.
So, how can a semi-professional use QR codes to spread the word about who they are and what they have to offer? I found a wonderful article over atTheJobShopper.com that gives 7 very useful ways of using QR codes in the professional world.
- LinkedIn page – direct the reader to your personal LinkedIn page to provide more detail and depth to your professional background. It would be best if you have a robust LinkedIn page, complete with blog links, social media feeds and recommendations.
- YouTube video – link to a YouTube video page where they can view you describing your professional strengths and detailing the value you can bring to their organization.
- vCard – although this might not be the best idea if you’re applying to a very large corporation through HR, it could work well if you’re submitting your resume directly to an identified hiring manager. Knowing that they will likely want to contact you directly at some point, you can have your QR code download a vCard with all of your contact information directly into their smartphone.
- Blog page – if you have a professional blog, direct the reader to your page so they can read your posts and get a sense of how you think about industry issues and gauge how well you communicate.
- Display a creative text message – The QR code can instruct the reader’s device to immediately display a text message on their screen. This is a perfect place to present your unique positioning statement, like: Tim Johnson is the person who will build lasting relationships with the people you want to do business with.
- Custom landing page – create a custom landing page that highlights your professional strengths and direct the reader to your personal sales page.
- Portfolio page – Showcase your work and direct the reader to an online portfolio of your best work. This is especially powerful for those candidates in design and marketing who can display visual examples of previous design efforts or marketing campaigns.
As QR codes gain steam and more professionals load readers on their smart phones, we will find these nifty little uses popping up. Get out there, learn them and utilize them as best as possible. They will soon become an integral part of both the career world and the social world.
Source: The Job Shopper
