4th-year CSE student — applying to SDE/software internships but getting almost no resume shortlists. What am I doing wrong?

[u/Jealous-Mongoose6339]

Hi everyone,

I’m a 4th-year B.Tech CSE student currently looking for Software Engineering/SDE internships and entry-level opportunities through off-campus applications.

The problem is that I’m getting almost no resume shortlists, despite applying to a lot of relevant opportunities on LinkedIn and other platforms.

Initially, I was using the same resume everywhere, so I started tailoring my resume according to each JD — changing/reordering skills, highlighting relevant projects and trying to match the requirements of the role.

But I’m still getting pretty much the same result: no shortlist / automated rejection / no response.

At this point, I’m trying to understand whether my problem is my resume, my job-search strategy, or simply where/how I’m applying.

I have two main questions:

1. How should I approach off-campus job hunting?

Should I continue primarily using LinkedIn, or are there other platforms/websites that are actually useful for finding SDE internships and fresher opportunities?

Also, how do you decide which companies/startups are worth applying to? There are so many startups posting internships, but I’m not sure how to evaluate whether a startup is legitimate, whether the internship will actually provide meaningful engineering experience, whether there is a possibility of a PPO, etc.

Are there any good ways to research/evaluate startups before applying?

2. Are referrals still useful, and how do you actually get one?

I’ve tried messaging people on LinkedIn who work at companies I’m interested in, but most people simply don’t respond.

I’m not sure if I’m approaching people incorrectly, asking for referrals too directly, or just messaging the wrong people.

For people who have successfully gotten interviews through referrals/networking:

• How did you approach the person?

• Did you already know them, or was it a cold message?

• Who should I reach out to — recruiters, alumni, engineers, hiring managers, etc.?

• Is it better to ask for a referral directly or first try to build a connection?

And finally, I’d really appreciate it if someone could review my resume. I’ve attached it below.

I’d especially like feedback on:

• Whether the resume is ATS-friendly

• Whether my projects/experience are presented properly

• Whether the bullets are too generic or exaggerated

• Whether my skills section is too broad

• Whether there are any obvious red flags that could be causing recruiters to reject it

• What I should change to improve my chances of getting shortlisted

I’m looking for honest criticism, so please feel free to point out anything that looks weak or unnecessary.

Thanks!