LEE COUNTY, Fla.- If you are looking for a job, it turns out, social media may be the key to finding your dream career. Recruiting via social networking is on the rise and is helping more people get jobs. Rasmussen College has brought in a social media expert to help job seekers get set up. The old fashioned method of sending a resume via mail or email is out and getting linked in online puts job seekers ahead of the pack.    

With jobless claims edging up slightly again last week, job seekers are looking for new ways to set themselves apart. Applicants met with nearly three dozen potential employers Thursday morning at the Rasmussen job fair in Fort Myers. It's one of 22 that the college is providing for free across the country.

Candidates say they hope a little face time will go a long way. The widespread use of social media, including more sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as Linkedin, is becoming a powerful force in many job searches. The folks at Rasmussen say without making the personal connection, as much as 70 percent of resumes are never seen by a hiring manager. So they're offering free training on how to implement social media when pursuing a new position.

When you come to a career fair you get five minutes in front of an employer, then they can go to your Linkedin site or social media site and find out even more about you. The social media expert emphasized using key search words and using your own profile as a chance to brag about your professional accomplishments.