How To Optimize Your Resume for Online Internship Applications

Applying for internships online can be really frustrating! Often times you don’t hear back from employers and if you do, it’s an automated message confirming receipt of your internship application. The online application process is enough to make any student throw up their hands in defeat! But before you get discouraged, check out the tips below and find out how to optimize your resume so that it ranks high in a company’s Automated Tracking System (ATS). After all, you don’t want your resume going down the black hole!

What’s an Automated Tracking System?

An ATS helps large corporations, who receive thousands of applications, manage the recruitment and interview process for prospective interns. With an ATS applicants upload their information (resume, cover letter, transcripts, portfolio) to an online database — which scans and then ranks each applicant based on the data provided.

Candidates whose resumes are “optimized” and closely match the needs and requirements outlined in the job post will usually rank the highest. Those applicants are the most likely to be offered an interview. It’s that simple.

How do I “optimize” my resume?

1) Study the title and internship description of each position carefully so that you understand the position’s requirements
2) Search for similar internship positions and study their descriptions to get an idea of the responsibilities associated with that type of internship role and the terms used to describe those positions
3) Make a list of synonyms and include keywords from the position’s description and industry-specific terminology on your resume to describe your experience
4) Customize your resume for each position. While some internship positions may seem similar, the duties for a marketing, advertising or social media intern are often distinct and require different functions

How do I know which “keywords” to include?

When following the steps outlined above, look for information in the internship posting that describes the specific functions of the position. These are the key terms you want to use on your resume.

For instance, if an internship posting is for a social media intern then you want to include terms in your resume that are closely related to social media and community management.

Much like a search engine, an ATS is also designed in such a way that employers can specify the most important qualities for the applicants they want to recruit, based off each internship position. If you customize your resume and optimize it with keywords/terms relating to the internship position, then your resume will have a better chance of ranking higher in an employer’s ATS – and you will have the opportunity to score an interview! Sweet, right?