to QR or not to QR?

[ambrosialx]

So, I know it looks good to be tech savvy especially in a field where being able to utilize the latest technology effectively make you as an SM more effective but here is my question. To QR or not on a resume? I have recently found a site where you can create your own QR for free so I did one to link to my website (both the full and mobile versions) but do I put it on my resume? Keeping in mind they are big blocks...is it worth it to look up to date on technology or is it a waste of space no one will use?

[loebtmc]

this shows you how non tech-savvy I am, but what is QR?

thank you

[MatthewShiner]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code


I think the QR on the stage management resume might be a waste of space. 

Hiring a member of a stage management staff, especially a PSM, is not a quick decision, and anyone who is going to being take them time to make the decision to hire you, pay you your rate, and commit to you by handing you a show, will be willing to take the time to type in your e-mail address or a web address.

Remember, that most people doing the hiring are a bit older then the current technology, and may wonder what that is.

I am pretty tech savvy guy, married to an EXTREMELY tech savvy guy - we have never used a QR reader.

Remember, Stage Management is not a TECH field, we manage people.

[ambrosialx]

Thanks for the feedback! Maybe I'll keep it on my Lighting Director resume but not sm. (The QR code is the patterned square that you scan with your IPhone or IPad that will take you to the website or provide some other sort of information)

[Mac Calder]

I would not put QR code on my resume. I do however have it on my business card. The QR code is a vcard with my contact details. Generated using this Site - any QR reading phone can import all my contact details in seconds - including who I am, how to contact me (email, fax and mobile) what my website is, who I work for and a host of other details.  Half the battle is getting into their phone book.

[KMC]

I would omit.  I am extremely tech savvy and have never used QR. 

Some inhibiting factors that would make me wary of putting on my resume:
#1 - Does the target (PM, Producer, HR manager...) know what QR is?
#2 - If yes, does the target have a smart phone?
#3 - If yes, do they have a QR reader app?
#4 - If answers 1-3 are "yes", are they going to just type the web address in to their computer anyway?

QR has a place in advertising, marketing, etc...  I absolutely understand the desire to market yourself but let's think about the purpose of QR for a minute.  Selling your product to people who are on the move, walking through a subway station, airport, with a coffee in one hand and their phone in the other.  People who don't have time to write down a web address.  The QR code is a way for that information to be transferred from some form of signage to the user's pocket.  If someone has your resume then they already have the information in their pocket, on their desk, at their disposal.  If they're in a position to scan the QR code on your resume that means they've got it on their desk and are looking at it.  At that point hasn't the objective of the QR code already been achieved?

[nick_tochelli]

QR code barely have a handhold in marketing in this country, I don't think generating them for use outside of that is really worth while. Maybe things are different in other countries (I know Japan has been using this technology successfully for many many years), but I think trying to use it on one's resume is just a little too ahead of the times.

Even on your lighting design resume I think it might be going too far. As Matthew said, people will research you on their own. If they are incapable of finding your website listed on your resume....they will never be able to figure out how to get a smart phone scanner to work.

I own multiple smart devices with cameras...with the exception of the ones I made for my theater company (just to make sure they worked) I don't think I've ever interacted with any other QR codes.

[drewski91]

I, too, am in the "I'm pretty darn tech-savvy but have never actually used QR codes" camp. I definitely understand their potential use in some situations, but I keep seeing them in increasingly weird places where it's just not realistic that someone is going to whip out their phone and actually use it. I agree that a resume is one of those places... if someone is looking seriously at your resume, they're probably more likely to just type it in their browser at their desk.

With that said, i do have on on my business card. It directs to a PDF of my resume. I put it there mostly because I was printing a small batch of homemade ones after changing some of my contact info, and the back was just wasted space, so I tried it out. I do think that it MIGHT actually be useful in that sitauation, but almost everyone I've given one to has flipped it over and said "what is this?!"

[KMC]

For those of you who do use QR, here is an article about how some in the health care industry are thinking outside of the box.  Some pretty cool ideas on how to use a QR code as more than simply a digital business card.  Example: a scan of a QR code takes the person to a one minute youtube video of you introducing and selling yourself.

The latest health care marketing tool: QR codes