Three innovative ways to add social media to your job application

In today's competitive job market, it's no wonder that the average applicant has to send in 200 cover letters to get one single interview (a statistic overheard at a career services office). But what can us social media savvy job hunters do to show our expertise goes above and beyond the typical Facebook user or Instagram photo-enhancing college student? Why not include our beloved social media in the application? Now, not all potential employers will appreciate a creative resumé, but some who are looking to hire for jobs such as PR, advertising, graphic design and communications may fall as deeply in love with your new resumé as you are. 

Create a Digital Portfolio
More and more companies unfortunately do not have the resources to fly interviewees out to location. Many applicants are unhappy with the impersonal nature of phone or Skype interviews. Although you cannot physically hand them your portfolio to look over, you can create a digital portfolio with links to the work you've done. 

I personally suggest Wix. A friend told me of the site and I've found it incredibly user-friendly. Just like a blog, you can also choose a theme for your site which will give a potential employer more insight to who you are. 

Incorporate a QR Code
I must admit, I don't use too many QR codes from day-to-day, but I think a QR code is a great addition to any resumé. Giving the human resources personnel a chance to stray away from the ever-repetitive traditional resumé won't hurt your chance of standing out, either. 

There are plenty of free QR building websites. Simply have a link of the website you want the QR code to connect to and after a few clicks, your new QR code is ready for some action. I've seen some utilize it as a connector to LinkedIn or a digital portfolio. 

One important thing to remember is that some job sites won't accept a resumé with any kind of image. Be sure to check before submitting your application. 

Score Yourself
Potential employers want to see numbers. How many events have you planned? How many articles have you had published? What percentage did you exceed a goal by? For social media specifically, include your Klout score. Or, rate your social media expertise and skills using charts and visuals. 

Check out my Pinterest board for some innovative resumé ideas.