Canadian Resume Guide

The contents of this guide are intended to direct you as you construct your resume for Canadian employment purposes. Your resume is based on your own experiences and skills. Because of that, every resume is unique.

When applying for a job in Canada, it’s important to have a well-written resume that effectively communicates your skills, experience, and qualifications to potential employers. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you create a winning Canadian resume:

1. Format: Your resume should be clear and easy to read. Use a simple font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and a font size between 10 and 12. Avoid using bold or italicized text, except for headings or subheadings.
2. Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and mailing address at the top of your resume. You can also include your LinkedIn profile, if you have one.
3. Summary Statement: Write a brief summary statement at the beginning of your resume that highlights your skills, experience, and qualifications. This should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for and should showcase how you can add value to the organization.
4. Work Experience: List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. For each job, include your job title, company name, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments.
5. Education: List your educational qualifications, including the name of the institution, the degree or certificate earned, and the dates attended. You can also include any relevant coursework, academic honors, or extracurricular activities.
6. Skills: List any relevant skills or certifications you have that are specific to the job you’re applying for. This could include technical skills, language skills, or other job-specific skills.
7. References: It’s not necessary to include references on your resume, but you should have a list of references prepared in case the employer requests them.

Other tips to keep in mind:

• Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for, highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position.
• Use keywords from the job posting in your resume to help it get past applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Keep your resume to two pages or less, unless you have extensive experience that is relevant to the job.
• Proofread your resume carefully for spelling and grammatical errors.

By following these guidelines and tailoring your resume to the job you’re applying for, you can increase your chances of getting noticed by potential employers and landing the job you want in Canada.

How to Format a Resume?

Here’s a basic outline of how to format a resume:

1. Header: Include your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the page.
2. Professional Summary: A brief statement that summarizes your skills and experience, and how they relate to the position you’re applying for.
3. Work Experience: List your work history in reverse chronological order (starting with your most recent position). Include the job title, name of the company, dates of employment, and a summary of your responsibilities and achievements.
4. Education: List your educational background, including the name of the institution, degree, and date of graduation. You can also include relevant coursework and academic honors.
5. Skills: List any relevant skills or qualifications that you have, such as computer proficiency, language proficiency, and relevant certifications.
6. Optional Sections: Depending on your experience and the job you’re applying for, you may want to include additional sections such as volunteer work, professional associations, or extracurricular activities.

Formatting tips:

• Use a simple and easy-to-read font, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Use a font size between 10 and 12 points.
• Use bold or italics to highlight important information, such as section headings or job titles.
• Use bullet points to break up paragraphs and make your resume more readable.
• Keep your resume to one or two pages, depending on your level of experience.
• Use white space effectively to make your resume look clean and professional.
• Save your resume as a PDF to ensure that it looks the same on all devices.

Remember, the goal of your resume is to showcase your skills and experience in a clear and concise way that makes you stand out from other applicants. By following these formatting tips, you can create a resume that is easy to read and highlights your strengths.

What not to Include in the Resume

There are several things that you should not include in a resume in Canada. Here are some examples:

1. Personal information: Do not include personal information such as your date of birth, marital status, religion, or social insurance number. These details are not relevant to your qualifications and could lead to discrimination.
2. Unrelated work experience: If you have worked in a job that is not related to the position you are applying for, it is best to leave it out. Focus on the experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for.
3. References: Do not include references in your resume unless specifically requested to do so. Instead, simply write “References available upon request.”
4. Salary information: Avoid mentioning your salary history or expectations in your resume. This information is typically discussed during the job interview process.
5. Unprofessional email address: Use a professional email address that includes your name rather than a personal email address that may be inappropriate or unprofessional.
6. Spelling and grammatical errors: Make sure to proofread your resume carefully to avoid any spelling or grammatical errors. These can create a negative impression on the employer.
7. Hobbies and interests: While it is important to show some personality in your resume, do not include too many personal details about your hobbies and interests. Only mention those that are relevant to the position or demonstrate skills or qualities that could be useful in the job.

When creating your resume, it’s important to tailor it to the job you’re applying for. Use keywords from the job posting to ensure that your resume gets past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is seen by human recruiters. Focus on highlighting your relevant skills and experience, and make sure that your resume is easy to read and well-organized. By including these sections and tailoring your resume to the job, you can increase your chances of getting noticed by potential employers and landing the job you want.