A resume has to fit a lot onto one or two pages, and some of your best evidence, like a portfolio, a project demo or a video, simply does not fit on paper. A QR code can bridge that gap: a recruiter holding your printed resume can scan it and land right on your work. Used well, it looks modern and saves the reader typing. Used badly, it wastes space, links to a broken page, or gets ignored entirely.
This guide covers when a resume QR code is worth adding, what it should link to, where to place it, and how to make sure it actually scans.
Should you put a QR code on your resume?
It depends on how the resume will be read.
It can help when:
- You hand out printed resumes at career fairs, networking events or interviews.
- Your work is visual or interactive: design, photography, architecture, video, software, writing samples.
- You want to point to something that a plain URL makes awkward to type, such as a long portfolio link.
It adds little when:
- You apply through an online form or applicant tracking system (ATS). These systems read text, not images, so a QR code will not be scanned. The reader is already on a screen and can simply click a link.
- The link would go to something the resume already covers, such as a copy of the same resume.
- Space is tight and the code would push out more important content.
A good rule: use a QR code on printed or PDF copies meant for people, and always include the same link as clickable or typed text. The text link is what ATS software and many recruiters will actually use.
What should the code link to?
Pick one destination that adds something the page cannot.
| Link to | Best for |
|---|---|
| Online portfolio | Designers, photographers, writers, marketers |
| LinkedIn profile | Most roles; shows recommendations and full history |
| GitHub or project demo | Developers and data roles |
| Personal website | Anyone with a site that collects all of the above |
| Short video introduction | Roles where communication or presence matters |
| Contact card (vCard) | Career fairs, so a recruiter can save your details instantly |
If you want to share several links, point the code to a single page that lists them, such as a personal site, rather than cramming several codes onto the resume. One code is cleaner and easier to scan.
A vCard code saves your name, phone and email straight into the scanner's contacts. That is handy at events. See our vCard QR code guide.
Make a free QR code for a link, WiFi or contact card — generated in your browser.
Open the free QR code generator →How to add a QR code to your resume
- Get the final link. Make sure the page is public, loads on a phone and looks good on a small screen.
- Generate the code with a free QR code generator. For a link, choose the URL type and paste it in.
- Download as SVG or PNG. SVG stays sharp at any size, which is ideal for print. A high-resolution PNG also works. See SVG vs PNG for QR codes.
- Insert it into your resume file in Word, Google Docs or your design tool, then export the final resume as PDF.
- Test the printed page with at least two different phones before sending or printing many copies.
Where to place it
- Top right corner, next to your contact details is the most common and logical spot. It reads as "more about me."
- Bottom of the page or in a sidebar works for designers who want it less prominent.
- Add a short label under it so people know what they will get: "Scan for portfolio" or "View my projects."
- Keep it away from the edge of the page so it is not trimmed by printers, and leave a blank margin around it. That empty border, called the quiet zone, helps phones find the code. See QR code quiet zone.
Size and design tips
- Size: on a printed resume, about 2 cm (roughly 0.8 inch) square is a practical minimum for a short link scanned from a normal reading distance. Longer links produce denser codes, which need more space. Our minimum QR code size guide explains how to check.
- Keep the link short. Shorter URLs make simpler codes that scan more easily at small sizes.
- Dark on light: black or dark navy on white is the safest. Light codes on dark backgrounds or low-contrast colors may fail. See QR code colors that scan.
- Match your resume's look with a dark accent color if you like, but test it.
- Skip heavy decoration. A logo in the middle or fancy shapes can make small codes unreliable. If you want a logo, read can a QR code have a logo first.