What is a Canadian style resume?
A Canadian resume format is not all that different to any other style of resume you’ve likely come across before.
There’s no fundamental difference in the general information you’re trying to get across in a Canadian resume.
There’s no difference between Canadian resume format and USA format, for example.
There are however a few subtle but important differences in emphasis and structure for the Canadian resume format compared to other countries.
But at the end of the day a resume is essentially a summary of your skills, employment and education and this is no different for the Canadian style of resume.
Any differences in how you write your resume for a Canadian job lies in how you might format and structure your resume; not a full overhaul of the substance.
Canadian resume format
There are two main formats of resumes used in Canada. The traditional reverse-chronological resume (or just chronological resume) and the functional resume.
The reverse-chronological is the traditional one you’re probably familiar with where it focuses on your employment history. For most people with employment history in the same field as the role they’re applying for, this is the best format to go for.
It’s the format most hiring managers are most familiar with and therefore makes it easy for them to understand your experience.
The other type of resume is the functional resume which focuses more on your skills rather than employment history. This type of resume may be better suited to those that are looking to change to a new career field or are recent graduates with little employment experience.
For typical reverse-chronological resume generally you should follow this structure:
- Resume header with your basic information
- A personal summary
- Your professional experience
- Education and professional qualifications
- Skills
The format is not set in stone and can be flexed to suit your particular situation: the job you’re applying for, your experience or lack thereof, etc. But generally you should be trying to make sure you hit all of the above items at some point in your resume.
Canadian resume format general rules
Conventions of what to include in your resume or CV vary between counties so here’s a list of some do’s and don’ts, and general points to apply when writing a Canadian resume:
- Never include a photo of yourself in a resume in Canada.
- Do not include your date of birth or any other personal information (other than your name and contact details).
- A Canadian resume should be two pages long. One if you’re junior.Having a longer resume doesn’t show that you have loads of experience, it just highlights that you can’t convey information concisely or that you haven’t put in the effort to tailor your resume for the role.Figure out the key information you need to get across for that role and then cover that. Needlessly long resumes are always a red flag when I’m reviewing them. Get to the point!
- It’s really important that you make sure your resume is written in perfect English or French with correct grammar.Strong communication skills are crucial for so many jobs. If an employer sees a resume that doesn’t demonstrate a solid grasp of the English or French language it’s likely you won’t get any further in the recruitment process.If you’re writing your resume in a language that you’re not completely fluent in, this is particularly important. Ask someone whose first language is French or English to read through your resume before you submit it.
Top 10: Canadian resume common mistakes
Mistake 1: Too long
This is the most common issue I see. Unless you’re writing an academic CV (in which case different rules apply) a resume in Canada shouldn’t be more than two pages.
Most hiring managers will stop reading after the first page, and will often make a decision within a few seconds on whether to read your resume in depth or close it and move on to the next candidate.
Keeping your resume short and to the point makes it more likely that the hiring manager will quickly appreciate your experience and (hopefully!) put you through to the next stage. If your resume is long, the most likely outcome is the hiring manager will just get bored reading it.
Mistake 2: Poor spelling and grammar
It’s surprising how many resumes I see that have spelling mistakes.
Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors tell the hiring manager you haven’t taken care and attention in preparing your resume and therefore you likely won’t take care and attention in performing your job! Stop reading and move on to the next candidate!
Mistake 3: Failure to customize
While its time consuming and, let’s face it, a bit boring – customizing your resume to suit every role you apply for is very important. Tailored resumes stand out from the crowd and demonstrate the most relevant skills and experience to the hiring manager.
Mistake 4: Examples
If you’re saying you have a specific skill or type of experience, it’s important that you back that up with quantifiable examples. This grounds your resume and makes it real for the hiring manager.
Giving specific examples adds weight to your resume and provides evidence that you’re the right person for the role.
Mistake 5: Obvious exaggeration
It’s very important to sell yourself, however don’t fall into the trap of blatantly overstating your experience. Over exaggeration is easy to spot in a resume and makes the hiring manager question everything you’ve written.
Mistake 6: Not getting to the point
This is tied to mistake 1 but, be concise and to the point. Don’t write a paragraph when a sentence will do. Most hiring managers have limited time and will appreciate succinctness.
Mistake 7: Misreporting dates
The most basic checks done by employers will quickly identify any incorrect dates on a resume. Be honest and make sure all of your dates are accurate.
Mistake 8: Underselling yourself
While some people have a tendency to exaggerate, others don’t sell themselves enough. Don’t feel arrogant or have self-doubt about your achievements, your resume is your opportunity to sell yourself!
Mistake 9: Gaps
Many people have gaps in their experience, and this in itself doesn’t need to be a problem. But if you’ve not explained the gaps in your resume then it raises alarm bells. Maybe you were raising your children, maybe you had a career break or studied. Explain it in your resume!
Mistake 10: Messy formatting
Margins not aligned, different fonts and sizes, misaligned bullets and so much more. Poor formatting immediately creates a bad impression for the hiring manager and says you don’t have good attention to detail. Make sure your resume is tidy and well formatted and don’t go overboard on trying to make it look fancy.
Best formatting for a resume is to keep it simple. This makes it immediately easy for the hiring manager to see the structure.