Note: I am still open for interns, if you have any open intern positions please message me or comment below. From Fall 2023 through Spring 2024, I diligently applied to approximately 1,000 internship positions. My applications spanned various companies, including Adobe where I worked for 3 years before pursuing my current masters. In Adobe I applied for multiple intern positions for both Software Development Engineer (SDE) and Research intern roles, as well as several Fang (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) companies and numerous others sourced from job portals. Despite my extensive efforts, I found myself repeatedly denied even an interview opportunity. Among the few promising leads I encountered, there were disappointments: 1. ENRU: Initially shortlisted for an interview with their CTO, the company later canceled its internship program for indefinite time. 2. AbbVIE: After reaching out to a hiring manager who forwarded my resume to his hiring team, I was contacted by the hiring department. However, after clarifying my visa status and eligibility for the STEM extension, I received no further communication. 3. Adobe: Despite persistent attempts to reconnect, I was informed that I wasn't deemed suitable for an internship role (In LinkedIn one of the recruiters told me that I am not fit for an intern, I followed up asking what should I change but I was ghosted back). Subsequent follow-ups with other people were met with silence, as the company did not respond to further inquiries. 4. Amazon and others: My online assessment was perfect for Amazon, IBM, GS and few others. But I never heard anything back. Online assessment for some HFTs were not 100% from my side (optiver, akuna, Wolverine) and consequently I never got anything from them back, but even if you do 100%, I think it doesn't matter. Multiple applications in Microsoft but never heard anything back. In addition to these experiences, I also reached out to various startups, including Y Combinator companies like DreamWorld and Terra. While I received responses from some, the constraint of limited funds often meant they were unable to offer paid internships, posing another challenge. I also talked to a few other people doing startups as well but most of them have budget constraints. Reflecting on these experiences, I've identified several key takeaways and potential reasons for my lack of success: 1. Generalized Resume: My resume may be too broad, showcasing multiple experiences that make it difficult for recruiters to discern my suitability for specific roles. 2. Tailored Resumes: Crafting different resumes for different roles could potentially improve my chances by highlighting relevant experiences and skills. 3. Networking: It's possible that candidates securing interviews may have professional contacts that I lack as an international student. While I've reached out to many on LinkedIn, I acknowledge that this approach may come across as intrusive. 4. Strategic Applications: Merely submitting applications en masse may not be effective. It's crucial to leverage connections and internal information within hiring teams to increase the likelihood of success. Moving forward, as I approach graduation in December and prepare for full-time roles, I aim to learn from these experiences and avoid repeating the same mistakes. I'm seeking constructive feedback on my resume to refine it for future applications. Additionally, I welcome any tips or advice that could enhance my job search strategy, ultimately aiming not just for full time offers, but only for the opportunities to showcase my skills through interviews and technical discussions. It's important to note that despite the setbacks I've faced in securing internships, I remain steadfast in my determination to excel in any opportunity that comes my way. My commitment to my current research at Gatech is unwavering, and I am deeply engaged in pushing the boundaries of knowledge in my field. While the challenges I've encountered in the corporate world may be disheartening at times, I am not discouraged. On the contrary, I am motivated to approach every endeavor with the same level of dedication and enthusiasm. Therefore, I hope this post serves not as a rant, but rather as a constructive case study of my journey thus far.
I think it’s bc u have 3 YOE, are on your 2nd MS, and seem around 28. You quite honestly are not whom internships are designed for (i.e. students with limited to no professional work experience in the field). I have a slightly similar issue. I have 2 YOE (1 before MS, and 1 during) since I needed a way to pay for grad school. I’ve heard it may occasionally disqualify me from some new grad openings. It’s unfair but life is unfair
Way too long overall. Achievements and responsibilities sections are a complete waste. Maybe any achievements >= 2021 are worth keeping. Similarly i think any projects/experience prior to 2021 are too old and just draw out the resume. None of your projects really mention impact. Im missing the “so what?” Throughout your entire resume. Why should I care about this project or that achievement?
Thanks, Yeah I think this makes sense. For intern I think I should have kept my resume shorter (removing or shortening project, achievement and POR sections). I had this one question, for the full time roles, are the shorter resumes prefered?
Wait you have 3 years of full time experience and now you want to be an intern?
While I do possess three years of full-time experience, I am currently pursuing my master's degree. As a student, I am compelled to manage my expenses, and undertaking internships is one way to achieve this. Moreover, internships offer several invaluable benefits beyond financial considerations. Establishing corporate contacts during internships can be instrumental in shaping future career opportunities. I completely didn't understood your point: Do you mean, having a few more years of experience means I've got it all figured out and don't need any more learning opportunities.
????? That logic is crazy, maybe you do deserve to be an intern. With 3 YOE you will learn nothing new at an intern level. If money is an issue you can get full time or part time SWE contracts while in school.
Reduce side margin, add sections like skills, patents, publications etc. Try to shorten every bullet item and reduce text. Use chatgpt to shorten/rephrase. Put expected graduation month year instead of an asterix. Keep the education table but remove the lines of the table. That'll give you formatting but reduce noise. Use a better font. I am sure there are more out there that are pleasing to the eyes.
Just FYI, your github repos aren't redacted above.
Thanks for your feedback! I appreciate your suggestions. Just to clarify, the resume does have sections for skills, patents, and publications. It seems you might not have clicked on the image to view the full content. I'll definitely take your suggestion to shorten bullet items into consideration. Actually, I intentionally left my GitHub repos visible. I don't mind sharing that information publicly. Appreciate your concern though!
Did you go to boot camps or no name school
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First impression: too long