How to Write a Canadian Resume

This isn't another piece that tells you to spell-check your resume or just format some margins. We'll go through some less-obvious ways to get your foot in the door of your dream career in Canada.

A résumé is only one step in the process of obtaining work in Canada—and it isn't even the first. Do some study on Canada's employment market and choose the companies you'd like to apply for before you sit down to type up your professional background. A number of tools are available on the Canadian government's website to assist you in your job hunt.

We'll concentrate on optimizing your resume for Canadian employers in this article. Employers will have their own preferences, so keep that in mind.

There are five do's and don'ts when it comes to drafting a Canadian CV.

1. Don't use a photograph

Unless you're an actor or a model, you don't need to include a photo with your CV in Canada, unlike in some other nations. In general, you only need to include material on your CV that is relevant to the job description.

2. Don't go overboard with your sharing

The majority of your personal information does not need to be included in your CV. The only personal information the company need at this point is your name and a way to reach you.

They don't need to know your age, country of origin, race, religion, marital status, or other information about your family. In fact, it's possible that asking these questions in an interview is against the law of human rights in Canada.

Furthermore, your CV is not the place to reveal your Social Security Number (SIN). Employers do not require this information until you have been hired for the position. Your Social Security card is a private document that you should only share when legally compelled.

All you need to put on your CV is your relevant abilities and expertise, as well as basic contact information such as your name, phone number, and email address.

A mailing address isn't always required, especially if you're looking for work in another city. You may want to add it if you want to show that you are within commuting distance of your place of employment, but most job searchers feel that it takes up valuable page space.

3. Don't go overboard with your writing

One page is optimal in terms of length, but two is great as well. You want the individual examining your application to just see your best, most relevant, and most recent work experience.

If you're just starting out in your profession and don't have much experience, you can mention items that aren't necessarily relevant to the job.

Keep your resume short and sweet in general. Recruiters should be able to acquire a sense of their background without having to read a novel.

4. References should not be included

Your employer will request references if they want them. It's a good idea to make sure your reference is aware that you're naming them and providing their contact information. Speaking with your reference ahead of time might also assist you to assess whether or not they will truly give you a good recommendation.

5. Use a professional email account instead of a personal one

Recruiters are aware of these data, and they may pass judgement on you based on the email address you thought was amusing in high school. There are no red flags in using an email address that contains your name.

5 do's and don'ts when it comes to preparing a CV for Canada

1. Make sure your application is tailored to the job posting

It takes longer but tailoring each resume to the position you're seeking frequently yields better results than a batch of generic resumes.

You're not sure what order to display your experiences in? Which talents should you include and which should you exclude? Are you indecisive about a word?

Take a look at the job description. This is your first indication of what the recruiter is looking for and the language you should use in your application. The job qualifications will be listed first, followed by the nice-to-haves. On the first page, put your relevant abilities front and centre.

2. Do keep track of your accomplishments

If you can, try to quantify your accomplishments with numbers. If you were a manager, for example, state how many people you were in charge of. How many things did you sell as a salesperson? How much money did you make each month?

A generic statement will not highlight your skills as well as list your specific successes in statistics that an employer can understand.

It's pointless to claim that you have an "excellent work ethic." Demonstrating, for example, that you increased traffic to your company's website by 20% in a year informs a recruiter that you know what you're doing.

3. Write in the third person

No "I," "me," or "my" is in the third-person style. Make your sentences as short and as clear as possible.

Include the name and location of your organization in your work experience section, as well as a couple of your tasks. Include the years you worked at the company, or the number of months if you worked for less than a year.

On a resume, there is no need to explain pauses in employment. If the recruiter even asks, it will come up in the interview. List the school, programme, credential, and dates for your schooling. You can add your GPA depending on the position you're going for, but it's usually not required.

4. Include any unpaid employment experience you have

You can add volunteer work if it prepared you for the responsibilities, you will be performing at the job you are applying for.

5. Always include a cover letter

Even if the employers haven’t asked for one. Even if they're going to ignore it and go straight to your CV, a cover letter is always a good idea. A cover letter is intended to complement your resume and demonstrate to the recruiter that you are the ideal candidate for the job.

We could, and probably will publish a separate essay about cover letters. However, we will provide you with a fundamental notion of how to create a cover letter in this article.

The company's contact information, as well as your own, should be included in your cover letter. It shouldn't be more than a few paragraphs long and shouldn't take up the entire page.

Here you may write in the first person. Your objective is to make contact with the recruiter. Only use their name if you're certain it's the actual name of the person who will be reviewing your application.

If you know their name, use it, but keep in mind that a prefix is frequently unnecessary. Unless you know for sure that the recruiter receiving your letter prefers it, starting a letter with "Sir" or "Madame" is usually incorrect these days.

The first paragraph should describe who you are and why you are applying for this position. Make sure to include the title of the position you're applying for.

You'll want to show why you're the greatest candidate for the job in the following lines, citing your previous relevant experience. You can go above and above by demonstrating how your cooperation will help them solve their challenges and improve their business.

Finish by thanking them and informing them that you will be in touch.

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