The unemployment rate in texas is falling and that's a good sign, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, social media could be a big help in finding work.
"I've been sharing news on Twitter, Facebook," said Ameena Rasheed, a college senior searching for a job in the media industry.
Rasheed is using a different way to kick start her career.
"Everybody's doing internships. Everyone has the journalism degree, and you kind of want something to supplement that," she said.
Rasheed is using a site called Storify to publish her work and experience.
"People should know that employers are now turning to social media to look for potential candidates," social media expert Ashley Small said.
Small says employers are starting to look for candidates who think outside the box and grab their attention immediately.
From Facebook, Linked In and Pinterest, there are many new social media tools out there to choose from. But no matter which one you use, make sure your social media profiles are consistent.
"If you're being very positive and upbeat on Linked In, you want ot do the same thing on Facebook and Twitter," Small said.
That's because employers are cross checking your social media profiles for consistency.
In addition to social media, applicants are creating video resumes.
And some people say this is a great way to get noticed by a potential employer. But experts warn a lot of depends on the type of job you're going for.
Career path coach Bonnie Monych says these new electronic resumes are acceptable if you're going for something creative like marketing or advertising. But it doesn't apply to all job seekers.
"If you're an engineer and you want to go into the oil and gas industry, I don't think a video resume is going to be received very well," Monych said.
If you're applying for a job in corporate America, they may not be on the social media bandwagon yet.
The bottom line is they all want to know one thing.
"What can you do to help me make or save money? That's really what they want to know," Monych said.
As for Rasheed, she's hoping her resume stands out from the crowd and helps her land that first big job
More companies are starting to consider and accept these new profiles that showcase your work experience. However, a majority of them still prefer traditional resumes.
