How to tailor your co-op resume in Canada (and handle ATS)

What does an ATS do to a co-op resume?

An applicant tracking system is software employers use to manage hiring, and it can search and filter resumes. How much it decides depends on the employer. The University of Waterloo says employers use ATS to varying degrees.

Canadian sources do not all describe the risk the same way. Alis, the Government of Alberta's career service, says a resume will be rejected if it lacks the keywords the system looks for or cannot be read. Trent University calls ATS a gatekeeper and adds that a human will ultimately read your application. McMaster University also says real people still play a crucial role, and that AI screening can go beyond keywords to rank candidates.

Co-op portals are a separate question. None of the career centre guides we read says whether a school's co-op portal filters applications by keyword, so ask your co-op office. The advice below holds either way.

How do you tailor a resume to a co-op posting?

Work from one complete resume and cut it down for each posting. Five steps cover it.

1. Keep a master resume

List every job, course project, lab, volunteer role and tool in one long file that you never send. Waterloo and alis both recommend a master resume. Each application starts as a copy of it.

2. Pick the requirements that matter

Read the posting and mark the skills it repeats or lists first. Waterloo's method is to draw a line from what the employer wants to the evidence you have.

3. Match each requirement to true proof

Find one thing you really did for each requirement. Trent says to use the posting's keywords with your own evidence to support them, and Waterloo warns against listing skills without evidence. If you have no proof of a requirement, leave it out.

4. Use the employer's terms in your own sentences

If the posting says "data analysis" and that is what you did, write "data analysis". The University of Alberta suggests a simple structure: an action verb, a relevant skill, then the context. McMaster warns that AI can detect keyword stuffing, so use words that naturally describe your experience.

5. Put the strongest match first

Move the most relevant project or job up, and cut what the posting does not need. A course project can go under a heading like "Relevant Experience"; Trent says unpaid experience can sit there too, marked as volunteer.

What does a tailored resume line look like?

Here is one line for a made-up student and a made-up posting that asks for "SQL" and "reporting to non-technical teams". Keep only what is true for you.

Before: Worked on a database project for a class.

After: Wrote SQL queries to analyze [real dataset] for a databases course, then presented the findings to [real audience] in plain language.

The action is the same. The second line names the skills the posting asked for and says what you did with them. Add a number only if it is real.

Which resume format works for ATS?

A plain one-column layout with standard headings. On this point the sources agree.

• One column. Alis and Waterloo both say to avoid columns.
• No visuals. Skip images, icons, tables and charts. Waterloo also says to avoid web templates and Canva.
• Nothing important in headers or footers. Alis says some ATS software cannot read them, and Trent says many cannot.
• Standard headings. The University of Ottawa suggests Education, Experience and Skills.
• Simple fonts and bullets. Waterloo names Aptos and Arial. Alis says to avoid fancy bullet marks such as stars and checkmarks.
• One or two pages. That is the limit alis gives for most people.
• No photo and no social insurance number. Alis says to leave both off. McMaster suggests city and province instead of your full address.

Should you send a PDF or a Word file?

Send the format the posting asks for, as alis and the University of Ottawa both say. If it does not say, follow your own school, because schools differ: Waterloo says to create in Word and upload as PDF, while Trent says to use Word format. Name the file clearly. Alis suggests your first and last name plus "Resume".

Can you use AI to tailor a co-op resume?

Check your school's rules first, because some limit it. Waterloo tells co-op students not to put WaterlooWorks job descriptions into AI, and says generative AI may produce false information. Trent warns that an application an employer believes was fully written by AI can count against you.

The University of Alberta takes a more open view: it suggests using AI to pull keywords from a posting, while reminding you to verify the results and add what only you know. Whatever your school allows, you are the one answering for each line in an interview.

International student: do you need a co-op work permit?

Eligible post-secondary students no longer do. IRCC says that since April 1, 2026, they do not need a co-op work permit for a placement their program requires, as long as they meet conditions such as a valid study permit, full-time enrolment and a placement that makes up 50% or less of the program. Secondary students still need one. Check your own case with IRCC or your school's international office.

Frequently asked questions

Does an ATS automatically reject co-op resumes?

Sources differ, so plan for both. Alberta's alis service says a resume can be rejected if it lacks the keywords or cannot be read. Trent University and McMaster University stress that a person still reads applications. Keep your resume readable and specific.

Do co-op portals like WaterlooWorks use ATS keyword filters?

None of the career centre guides we read says so either way. Ask your co-op office how employers receive and sort applications on your school's portal. Tailor your resume either way, because a person reading it also looks for the posting's requirements.

Should I upload my resume as a PDF or a Word file?

Use the format the posting asks for. If it says nothing, follow your school: Waterloo says to create in Word and upload a PDF, uOttawa says PDF or Word depending on the posting, and Trent University says to use Word format for ATS.

How many keywords should I copy from the posting?

No source gives a number. Use the posting's terms wherever they truly describe what you did, and back each one with evidence. McMaster warns that AI screening can detect keyword stuffing, so never paste in a list of words.

How long should a co-op resume be?

One or two pages. Alis says a resume should not run past a page or two unless you have more than 20 years of experience or are applying to a college or university.

Can I use an AI tool to tailor my resume?

Check your school's rules first. Waterloo tells co-op students not to put WaterlooWorks job descriptions into AI, and Trent warns that an application written fully by AI can count against you. If your school allows it, keep every claim true and in your own voice. CVScriba, for example, works from the CV you give it without inventing jobs or numbers, and you review it before sending.