In a world of ever-changing technology, paper resumes may be on the road to extinction. Unlike previous generations where a hard-copy resume was supreme, there are now easier and faster ways to share accomplishments with the click of a button.

This summer, SVSU began a one-year pilot program of ReadMedia, a web-based platform that allows universities to publish student achievements on the web, social networks and using traditional media. The university emails a link to student achievements through ReadMedia, and students can then post these achievements to a personalized readabout.me profile.

SVSU University Communications, Web Communications, Admissions and Career Services contributed toward a subscription for the program.

“The program is a one-year pilot project, and after the year we will evaluate and see how it worked,” said J.J. Boehm, director of Media and Community Relations. “If the program realizes the potential that we see, we will try to make this a more permanent part of SVSU’s communication plan.”

All incoming freshmen received information to create their readabout.me profiles. Returning students on the dean’s and president’s list have received an email invitation to begin creating their profile. University Communications plans to reach out through various campus offices and organizations so additional achievements can be sent and more students can create profiles.

“We expect readabout.me to be quite active during the fall semester and throughout the academic year,” Boehm said. “This is a good tool to promote what SVSU does well and showcase the extraordinary things that our students do.”

Boehm said readabout.me profiles are broken down into two components.

“The first component is university-recognized achievements such as making the dean’s list, having an internship or being named to an honor society,” he said. “The second portion is where students can personalize their profile by populating information they would like to see included.”

Boehm said upon completing a readabout.me profile, students will have a unique link that they can forward to potential employers as a positive public profile.

“We see adopting ReadMedia as a significant benefit to both SVSU and to our students,” said Boehm. “For the university, its another way to promote all of the exceptional things our students are doing, and for our students, it gives them an online resource to promote themselves professionally.”

Readabout.me differs from other professional networking profiles like LinkedIn in that the university must initiate the creation of a student profile.

“LinkedIn is great for career development and networking, but it’s not built to showcase many of the successes students have in their college career,” said Alan Dore, university communications specialist. “Readabout.me fills that gap, and offers students a chance to demonstrate their achievements and their drive.”

Readabout.me also gives students the opportunity to post accomplishments to their personal Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn page.

“With the click of a button, it’s easy to let your friends know about the play you’re performing in, or the internship you just accepted,” said Dore. “It’s a great way to build a sense of community, and a feeling of shared accomplishment.”

Marketing and management senior Monica Ginop created her readabout.me profile this summer.

“I received an email regarding this new website because of making the dean’s list for the winter 2012 semester,” said Ginop. “I had never heard about it before so I thought I would check out the site and sign up. Students need to expose themselves professionally as much as they can while they are still in college. The more professional websites you are on, the more you will be available for businesses to search for.”

Many students have already realized the benefits of creating a readabout.me profile.

“Readabout.me allows me to show the highlights of my college career, such as my high academic standings and club involvement,” said secondary English education senior Alex Faley. “If employers are going to search online for information about me, I want to be prepared to show them all the great things I’ve accomplished.”

Boehm reinforced that although students receive lots of electronic communication, the university encourages students to take the time to review this program and embrace it.

“When students realize the potential benefits of readabout.me, we think it will prove to be a very helpful tool when they are in a job search,” Boehm said.