part time job resume template canada

Canadian Resume [Format, Tips & Examples for 2024]

Canada is a unique country that combines some traits you’ll find in the USA with some you’ll find in Europe.

This goes for resumes, too.

That’s why, when applying for a job in Canada, you have to make sure your resume conforms to Canadian application standards.

Naturally, you might be wondering - what does a Canadian resume even look like?

If you’re a foreigner, you’re likely drawing a blank trying to figure out what makes a Canadian resume different from the one in your own country. Even if you’re Canadian, you might still need to brush up on your resume writing skills.

Luckily for you, we’re here to show you how to write a compelling Canadian resume.

Here’s what we’re going to go over:

• Differences Between Canadian, US, and European Resumes
• Canadian Resume Formatting
• A Step-By-Step Breakdown on How To Write A Canadian Resume

And more!  Let’s get started!

Canadian Resume Example

Let’s take a look at a Canadian resume example:

Here’s what this resume does right:

• Reverse-chronological format. This format highlights your most recent work experience first and is a recruiter favorite all around the world.
• Relevant contact details. This resume example highlights the candidate’s first and last name, phone number, email address, location, and LinkedIn URL.
• Captivating resume summary. The paragraph nested in the header summarizes the candidate’s most essential skills and accomplishments.
• Action words. The candidate uses action verbs and power words to describe work responsibilities.
• Bullet points. The resume leverages bullet points to appear easy to read, organized, and reader-friendly.
• Additional sections. Language proficiency, certifications, awards, and interests all give a holistic view of the candidate and add value to their application.

Free Canadian Resume Templates

Creating a resume from scratch is time-consuming work. 

You need to twitch the margins, keep the fonts uniform, carefully align every element you add, and make sure it never spills over to page two.

But you can skip all that hassle if you use a resume template .

Novoresume’s templates are created in collaboration with recruiters and meet all job market requirements. 

Any template you use can save you time and let you write your resume in minutes.

Canadian Resume Specifics

There are a few basic things to keep in mind when crafting your Canadian resume. First things first:

The terms resume and CV can be used interchangeably in parts of Canada. In Quebec, for example, both terms refer to a one or two-page-long summary of a candidate’s career that’s tailored to the job they’re applying for.

Outside of Quebec, however, a CV is different from a resume in that it’s far more detailed and appropriate for academic positions or specific senior-level applications. 

Most job postings will ask for a resume unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Some other things to keep in mind about Canadian resumes include:

• Keep your resume one to two pages . A one-page resume is more than enough if you’re a recent graduate or new to the job market. Two-page resumes are recommended for seasoned professionals, and in certain cases, a three-page resume can be acceptable.
• Write your resume in the same language as the job offer. If you’re going for a position in Quebec and the advertisement is in French, then use French. Don’t assume they’ll accept a resume in English unless it’s explicitly written so on the job posting.
• Skip personal information and photos. Your resume should never give away your appearance, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, marital status, number of children, or any personal identification numbers.
• Don’t list references with your application unless the employer has requested them. Assumably, you can provide references if requested, so dedicating space on your resume when you’re not asked to is a waste.

Canadian Resume vs. US Resume

Both the USA and Canada prefer using resumes over CVs. In fact, Canadian and US resumes are almost identical.

The biggest difference? The language the document is written in.

You might be thinking - wait, I thought Canada used English?

Only partly.

Canada has two official languages - English and French. Both of these languages have standardized Canadian spellings, so that means they are not 100% the same as American English or European French.

Most of the terminology on your Canadian resume will be just about the same as it would be on its US equivalent. The biggest difference will probably be the added “u” to words like colour, and favourite , and the spelling of words like catalogue, centre, and cheque, as opposed to catalog, center, and check.

Before submitting your application, consider using a grammar checker like Grammarly or QuillBot to make sure your resume is up to par with Canadian spelling conventions .

Canadian Resume vs. European Resume

Typically, a resume in most of Europe, Asia, and the Pacific is referred to as a CV. The term resume in Canada refers to the same document that a CV refers to in Europe.

Both documents are meant to be one to two pages long, and list skills and experience relevant to the position you’re applying for. So in this sense, a European CV is actually different from a Canadian CV.

In Canada, a CV is an extensive document and is usually required in academic settings rather than for corporate job applications. The CV can be anywhere from two to ten pages long since it’s meant to list everything - from work experience to projects to publications.

European resumes also tend to be more detailed. For example, they can include details on high school education and grades, even if the candidate has a college degree. In Canada, that’s not the case. Your high school education is irrelevant if you have a higher degree of education.

The biggest difference between Canadian resumes and European ones is the amount of personal information you’re allowed to give away. For example, in Germany including a picture of yourself on your resume is common, but that’s absolutely not the case in Canada. There, your date of birth and nationality are a no-go.

These bits of information can be used to discriminate against you, so you’re supposed to keep them out of your resume as a precaution to give everyone a fair chance. Recruiters often consider resumes that overshare details of the candidate’s life (e.g.: race, age, date of birth, religion, political affiliation, etc.) unprofessional.

Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Your Canadian Resume

You’ve seen what a Canadian resume looks like. Now it’s time to write your own.

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry -  we’ve here to help you get it right.

Just follow these steps:

#1. Use the Correct Format

The most popular resume format in Canada is the reverse-chronological format (which is also called the chronological format).

It’s so widely used that it’s expected by most recruiters. The chronological format puts your most recent work experiences first and then goes back in time.

Here’s an example of what it looks like:

One of the other formats is the functional resume format , also known as the skills-based resume format, which focuses on your key strengths and abilities. It’s recommended for career changers or recent graduates with little-to-no experience in the field they’re applying for.

Then, we have the combination resume format . As the name suggests, it mixes elements of both the chronological and functional format. This format gives equal attention to a candidate’s experience and skills. It provides a detailed skill summary and is a good choice for applicants who have a noticeable employment gap but plenty of work experience nonetheless.

#2. Follow These Layout Tips

If your resume looks cluttered and unorganized, the hiring manager is less likely to want to read it.

But paying attention to your resume’s layout can get you a better chance.

Stick to these formatting tips when building your Canadian resume:

• Have separate sections for all the information you want to add.
• Use a professional and easily legible resume font . 
• Let your resume breathe - leave in enough white space so the contents are easier to read, by setting your resume margins to 1” on all sides. 
• Save your resume in the correct document size. Canadian resumes use a standard North American letter size (8.5 x 11 inches), instead of the A4 size common elsewhere. You can do this easily in the Novoresume editor by choosing “Layout” in the top menu and choosing “US Letter Format”.

#3. List the Right Contact Information

Once you’ve sorted out your resume layout, it’s time to start filling in its content.

The contact information section is the first thing you should list. Here’s what to include:

• Name and surname
• Canadian phone number
• Address (City and Province)
• Professional email address

Optionally, you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile, a personal website, or an online portfolio. Just make sure they’re updated and relevant to the application.

#4. Write Your Resume Summary

Each resume only has a few seconds to catch a recruiter’s attention, so you have to make yours eye-catching and easy to read.

Here’s where a resume summary comes in. 

Going at the top of your resume, a resume summary is a two or three-sentence-long summary of your career. It includes:

• Your professional title and years of experience. 
• Two-three of your biggest achievements.
• One-two of your top relevant skills for the position.

If you’re less experienced, you can opt for a resume objective instead. A resume objective focuses on your skills and motivation to grow in your chosen field, rather than on prior experience and professional achievements.

When applying for a remote job for a company based in Canada, mention this in your resume summary. If you’re looking for a company that’s going to relocate you to Canada , make sure to mention that in your resume instead, so you don’t waste time for yourself or the hiring manager.

#5. Include Your Work Experience

Work experience is the most important section on a Canadian resume . 

It lets you expand on your past achievements and responsibilities, proving to the hiring manager you’re the best candidate for the job.

Here’s how you should structure this section:

• Start with your most recent job and go back in time. That said, don’t go back more than ten or 15 years ago, even if you’re a senior professional. The hiring manager doesn’t care about your job as a server from back in college.
• Start with your job title. The recruiter will immediately know if you have the necessary experience for the job from reading your job title.
• Add your company name and location. Sometimes you can even add a brief description of your former employer, particularly if it’s a smaller business that isn’t well-known.
• Include your dates of employment. There’s no need to be super detailed, so just stick to the mm/yyyy format.
• List your job responsibilities and achievements. Provide 4-6 bullet points for your most recent position and 2-3 bullets for older jobs.

Structuring your work experience the right way is only half the work. To stand out from the competition, you want this section to be as impressive as possible.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help with that:

• Reference the job ad, and focus on the top skills and qualifications required from candidates. Tailor your work experience around the skills that you do have to draw attention away from the ones you don’t.
• Focus more on achievements over day-to-day responsibilities. The hiring manager already has an idea of what your responsibilities for a certain job were. What they’re interested to know is what you achieved while doing it.
• Quantify your accomplishments as often as possible. Use the Laszlo Bock formula ( “accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z” ) to provide a timeframe, scale, and results for what you’ve achieved. e,g: “ Increased annual revenue growth from 5% to 10% through the implementation of a financial roadmap. ” 
• Use powerful words and action verbs . Recruiters hate hearing generic phrases like “responsible for” or “team player,” so using the right vocabulary can help you stick out. 

Are you a recent graduate with no work experience on your resume ? Don’t sweat it - we’ve got a guide to help you find your first job .

#6. Add Your Education

In Canadian resumes, the education section typically goes right under your work experience.

Here’s how you should format this section:

• Program Name. E.g: “B.A. in Computer Science”
• University Name. E.g: “Ohio State University”
• Years Attended. E.g: “08/2018 - 06/2022”
• Achievements (optional). E.g. “Minor in Linguistics” 

It should look something like this:

B.A. in Computer Science

Concordia University

08/2019 - 06/2023

• Summa Cum Laude
• Minor in Business Analytics

Follow these tips to make this section pop:

• Don’t describe your high school education if you have a university degree.
• Mention courses you’ve taken that are relevant to the industry you’re applying to. (E.g: Statistics and Probability for a Data Analyst)
• Stick to a reverse chronological format when listing your degrees. E.g: A Ph.D. is listed above a Master’s Degree, which is listed above a Bachelor’s degree, etc.
• If you don’t have work experience, you can emphasize your academic background. Just list your education at the top of your resume instead of the work experience.

#7. Highlight Your Greatest Skills & Strengths

The skill section shows which candidates have the necessary expertise for the job, and no Canadian resume is complete without it.

Skills are typically divided into two categories:

• Soft skills consist of personality traits and characteristics developed in your personal and professional life. They involve communication skills , people skills, interpersonal skills , etc.
• Hard skills, or technical abilities, are skills you can gain from experience, training, or education. These can include computer skills or proficiency in the use of specific tools.

The trick here is, don’t list every skill you’ve ever learned, just the ones relevant to the job you’re applying for.

If you’re going to be a graphic designer, your Photoshop skills are more important than your forklift certification. Recruiters want to know which skills make you the right candidate for them, not which skills make you the most well-rounded individual.

Scan the job description and jot down which of your skills the company is looking for. Then add them to your Canadian resume.

Just make sure you don’t focus solely on one type of skill over the other. A good application covers both soft skills and hard skills, depending on the job requirements.

Here’s an example:

#8. Leverage Additional Sections

If you’ve covered all the essential resume sections and have some space left, consider adding some optional resume sections.

These sections aren’t as vital as the ones we’ve covered so far, and they won’t do as much heavy lifting on your resume as your work experience, skills, or education.

However, they can help set you apart from candidates with similar work experience and skills as yours. 

For example, if choosing between two equally qualified professionals, and the position includes collaboration with French-speaking employees or business partners, the hiring manager is likely to choose a candidate who can speak French.

Here are the additional sections you can include on your resume:

• Languages . Being able to communicate in more than one language gives you an advantage over other candidates.
• Internships. Adding any relevant internships to your resume shows you have some experience that’s prepared you for the job you’re applying to.
• Volunteer experience . Any experience volunteering is a great addition to any resume since it shows you’re a caring person who wants to give back to your community.
• Hobbies and interests . Certain hobbies or interests might give the hiring manager a look into who you are as a person, and work in your favor.
• Certifications and awards. Any relevant qualifications or awards, such as online classes, can go here.
• Publications. If you’ve published anything, ranging from magazines to research articles, you can add it to your resume.
• Projects. Interesting projects you’ve worked on can show the hiring manager your passion and dedication to your field.

#9. Include a cover letter

Cover letters are still an essential companion piece to any resume.

Adding a cover letter to your application shows the hiring manager you’re ready to take all the necessary steps to land the job.

Cover letters also complement resumes by allowing you to elaborate on things you don’t have the space for in your resume, such as certain achievements or employment gaps.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what your cover letter should include:

• Header. As with your resume, include your updated contact information with your name, surname, Canadian phone number, and professional email address. Be sure to include the employer’s contact information as well.
• Greeting line. Make sure you address the cover letter correctly with a greeting line like “ Dear John Doe, ” or “ Dear Mr. Doe, ”. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, just use something like “ Dear [Department] Team. ” 
• Introduction. Start off with a brief summary of why you’re writing the letter and which position you’re interested in. To grab the hiring manager’s attention, use your opening paragraph to also describe two or three of your top achievements.
• Qualifications and motivation. The body of your cover letter should emphasize your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the position. Use it to explain exactly what makes you the right candidate and how you’re the right fit for the company.
• Closing paragraph . Wrap up your letter with a call to action and an official signature line.

Struggling to write your cover letter? Check out these cover letter examples to get inspired.

FAQs About Canadian Resumes

Do you still have any questions? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Canadian resumes.

1. How can I create a Canadian resume as an international student?

Whether you’re looking to apply to a university in Canada, secure an internship , or land your first job after your graduation, your main focus should be on your academic achievements.

Education is highly valued in Canada and your credentials and relevant coursework will boost your resume, so long as you keep it relevant to the position you’re applying for.

When describing your education, you can also add the location next to your school or university’s name. E.g.: “Marmara University, Turkey” instead of just “Marmara University”.

2. Should the Canadian resume be in a PDF or Word file format?

Generally speaking, a PDF is the preferred format for resumes since it remains the same regardless of what operating system or device you use to open it. Moreover, it keeps your formatting and illustrations in place, and can’t be edited by accident when a recruiter mislicks.

Most career websites in Canada accept resumes as both PDF and Word files. Nonetheless, we recommend you have your Canadian resume exported to PDF unless the job ad specifically requests Word.

3. Do Canadians say CV or resume?

Depending on what part of Canada you’re in, people might say CV and resume interchangeably. However, outside of Quebec, these are two different documents.

Resumes are typically not longer than two pages and are meant to be tailored to the job you’re applying for. CVs, on the other hand, are far more detailed and appropriate for academic settings or specific senior-level applications.

4. What should you NOT include on a Canadian resume?

As an anti-discrimination measure, pictures of yourself and personal information, are legally prohibited from job applications. This means your nationality, age, gender, religion, immigration status, political affiliation, marital status, and social insurance number, have no place on your resume.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s taboo for applicants to include their salary expectations on a Canadian resume. Salary expectations should only be provided if requested by the employer, and even then, they are best included in a cover letter, never on your resume.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a- boot it for Canadian resumes!

Let’s recap the main things you need to know on the subject:

• Canadian resumes are essentially the same as US resumes. You won’t have any difficulties applying with a US resume for a position in Canada, but Canadian English is preferred over standardized American English.
• A Canadian resume is the equivalent of a CV in Europe and most other parts of the world. However, a CV in Canada is a much longer document that’s used mostly to apply for jobs in academia.
• Keep your formatting clear, and use separate sections and legable fonts when building your resume.
• When applying to jobs in Canada, you should never include anything that could be used to discriminate against you, such as information about your age, nationality, and immigration status, or pictures of yourself.

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Resume builder build a professional resume.

Build a resume in just a few minutes and make a lasting impression with the Resume Builder – a feature of the Standard and Plus accounts on Job Bank.

Build a professional resume

Showcase your potential.

Easily build a professional-looking resume that showcases your goals and qualifications. Just pick a template and fill in the blanks. No formatting is needed!

Cut down on writing

Spend less time writing and make sure you use the same words as employers. You can simply select skills and job duties from our thousands of pre-defined options.

Store your resume online

Build multiple resumes for different types of jobs and save them all in your account until the right opportunity comes up. You can download and print them at any time.

How to use the Resume Builder

Step 1 pick a template.

After you create a Standard or Plus account on Job Bank, just login to access the Resume Builder. To build your first resume, pick from one of the two templates currently available. You should choose the resume template that best reflects your current situation.

• you have several years of experience in your field;
• you’re looking for a job in your field;
• your career progression has been stable and your work history is fairly consistent (no major gaps).

Use the youth and recent graduates’ template if:

• you’re a first-time job seeker starting your professional career;
• you’ve just completed your education and you’re looking for an entry-level job in your field of study;
• you have limited paid work experience.

Step 2 Fill in the blanks

Once you’ve picked a resume template, fill in the blanks with details about your education, experience and skills.

To help fill in some sections of your resume, you can search thousands of pre-defined options and select the ones that suit you. For example, you can import job duties for any job title. When you look up a job title, you can select all or any of the associated job duties and add them to your resume in one click.

If you have a Plus account on Job Bank, you can simply import all of your profile details into the Resume Builder to automatically fill the blanks.

Step 3 Customize your resume

Make sure to put a personal spin on your resume: with the ability to add free text descriptions and create new sections, you can easily customize its content to suit your needs.

Not sure where to start? Expert tips on customizing each section of your resume are provided as you fill them in. For more advice, read our do’s and don’ts of writing a good resume .

Build a resume that will land you a job interview.

Resume Guide

An effective resume (cv) is essentially a marketing document wherein you are the product..

Studies show that employers spend no more than 20 seconds glancing over each resume they receive. Your resume should present a well-organized profile of your qualifications, work experience, education, achievements and overall career objectives. What's more, it's vital that the information you present be visually appealing, consistently formatted, and free of errors.

Your resume may need to be altered for Canadian employers. You can create your own custom Canadian resume with the free CanadaVisa Resume Builder .

Canadian employers typically expect to see the following information in a resume:

1. Contact Information

Be sure to include your name, current home address, telephone numbers including area codes, and your personal email address.

2. Professional/Career Objective

Your professional/career objective is basically your resume's opening statement. It defines the field or position for which you are applying. It is important that your career objective be clear, concise and customized to the job that you are applying for.

3. Education

This section of your resume should include details of your academic background, beginning with your most recent degree, diploma or certificate. The standard format lists the college or university, followed by the degree/diploma/certificate, major, and graduation date.

4. Experience

Your career/job experience is what most employers pay particular attention to. Recent graduates with no work experience should include any part-time employment, as well as summer jobs, volunteer work and internships. This section should list company names, locations and employers for whom you have worked, presented in a logical and consistent manner.

It is also advisable that you include a bulleted "job responsibilities list" that outlines your particular job functions and achievements for every job you specify. Remember to include the names and locations of organizations for which you have worked, your position/title, and dates.

5. Qualifications or Skills

It is advisable to include a section that briefly states any skills and qualifications that relate to your professional objective in a bullet list format. Examples include:

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and all associated applications.

6. Honours and Activities

Some resumes also contain a section that summarizes any honours and/or activities that demonstrate strong academic abilities, such as honorary societies, scholarships, and/or extra-curricular activities.

Employers pay attention to how a candidate's personality and personal tastes/lifestyle fits in with the company's corporate culture and vision. Any material you include that casts you as a balanced, well-rounded individual may endear you to a potential employer.

7. References

You may choose to include your references or simply state, "References are available upon request" or something to that effect at the bottom of your resume. If you choose to include references, be sure that the people you list can still be contacted at the telephone numbers you give. Moreover, if you feel that a potential employer may call your references, be sure to advise the people you have listed that they may receive a call from a potential employer.

Resume Writing Tips:

• Spell check your document. Make sure that punctuation, grammar, and spelling are free of errors.
• Include a customized cover letter with your resume. A cover letter is your chance to express why you believe you're the best person for the job. You may also use this format to effectively communicate your "professional disposition". Remember to address your cover letter to the employer/manager and include the company name.
• Include "action words". Action words are terms that describe your job functions such as Achieved, acquired, addressed, analyzed, centralized, coordinated, created, demonstrated, designed, eliminated, enforced, implemented, improved, maintained, managed, organized, oversaw, performed, reorganized, reviewed, selected, supervised, surveyed, trained.
• Include relevant skills, such as being able to speak a second language or mastery of particular computer applications.
• Avoid using paragraphs or long sentences. The bullet style — use of an action word followed by an account of the action you performed — enables you to include a lot of information about your work-related duties, responsibilities, and achievements in as condensed a form as possible.
• Convert all terms to the North American equivalent. For example, use terms like "high school", "GPA" (Grade Point Average — the equivalent for university grades), "internship", etc.
• Present results and achievements of previous work projects in quantitative terms. For example: Worked with a small team on an overhaul of the existing website and implementation of a digital marketing strategy, resulting in an increase in web traffic of 92 percent over 12 months.
• Left-justify (left-align) the entire document.
• Use a standard font, size 10-14 only.
• Avoid boldface, underlined or italicized print.
• Avoid parentheses (brackets), graphics, shading, tabs, and hard returns.

Create your own custom Canadian resume with the free CanadaVisa Resume Builder .

Latest news, canada's express entry draw results from july 16, 2024.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted an Express Entry draw on July 16, 2024. Read on for the results of this latest draw.

Canada's Express Entry Draw Results from July 8, 2024

Today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in another Express Entry draw. Here are the results from IRCC's latest Express Entry draw on July 8, 2024.

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Canadian Resume Format: How to Make a Canadian Resume

12 min read

If you’re looking to find a job in Canada, you need to have a resume -- not a CV – to begin your job search. This is easy for job seekers who already use a USA resume but will require more adjustments for job seekers with a more comprehensive CV. In this article, we will go over some essential tips for creating a Canadian resume. At the end of the article, we’ve included a sample resume you can use to increase your chances of getting a new job in Canada.

ZipJob has a wide network of career experts and hiring managers, so the information on our blog is based on real experience from people who know how to land a job in the US and Canada. Spoiler alert: they're pretty similar systems!

Is the Canadian resume format different from the American resume format?

So, we already spoiled it for you, but there aren’t a whole lot of differences between the Canadian and US resume formats. Both countries use what’s considered a traditional format that includes your contact information, a professional summary, your work history, and education. The biggest difference is in the language. For example, Canadian English uses the word “colour” whereas the US would use “color.” You’d also find metric units on a Canadian resume instead of the imperial system of measurement found on a US resume. 

The 3 resume formats you can use in Canada

There are only three types of formats you should use for a resume in Canada:

Traditional reverse chronological

Strategic functional resume

Balanced hybrid resume

All of these formats include the same basic information with a different layout.

EXPERT TIP: View 200+ more professional resume samples for all industries, along with a free template and a 2020 guide to writing resumes from our experts, just click here .

It is vital to choose the right resume format for the job. Your choice should be determined by the years of experience you have and the type of job you’re seeking. We’ll go into detail about when to choose a different Canadian resume format, but most job seekers use the reverse chronological resume format.

Most Canadian employers use an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) to screen your resume before it's ever seen by a human. About 75% of resumes are filtered due to applicant tracking systems and will never be read by the recruiter or hiring manager. Many times the candidate is qualified, but the resume is not optimized for ATS.

Key Takeaway

KEY TAKEAWAY: If you’re seeking a job in Canada, it’s important to use a proper Canada resume format to maximize your chances of securing employment.

The best resume format for a Canadian resume is the reverse chronological 

A reverse chronological resume details your job experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position. This is the best resume format if you have at least some experience in the workforce. It is the best format to use for getting past the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that companies use because the scanning software can easily parse information from a reverse-chronological format. It’s also what hiring managers expect to see. 

To put it bluntly, there isn’t a human being alive who will read your resume. They’re going to skim through it until something jumps off the page at them. Then, they’ll stop and read. The reverse-chronological format puts things in a simple layout with strategically divided sections that lay out your career history in an easily digestible manner. 

However, if you are a recent college graduate or have significant work gaps on your resume, however, you should consider the hybrid or functional resume formats.

When to use a hybrid or functional Canada resume format

The functional resume is a versatile format that focuses on your skills and qualifications instead of experience. While your employment history is still included, it is usually listed after your skills and education section. That places greater emphasis on those skill sets, showcasing your suitability for the position. As a result, this option can sometimes be used effectively by newcomers to the workplace and those who are changing careers.

A hybrid resume retains the expanded reverse chronological work experience section, but it’s no longer the bulk of the resume. Instead, the skills section is also expanded to include a summary of qualifications in addition to the technical skills or core competencies section.

Top 3 things Canadian employers and recruiters want to see on a resume

You can maximize your odds of landing your dream job if you understand what Canadian employers want to see. That can help you to shape your Canadian resume format to fit those desires. Here are the questions you need to answer on your Canadian resume:

1. Hard skills

Make sure your Canada resume format emphasizes the technical skills needed to perform the job. These may include data analysis, language skills, computer skills, or similar qualifications relevant to the position.

2. Soft skills

Canadian employers appreciate soft skills on a resume, including people skills. These soft skills can include everything from communication and teamwork skills to problem-solving, flexibility, and the ability to learn and adapt. Include these vital skills throughout your resume with examples, results, and metrics.

3. Professional qualifications

Canadian employers, like most other employers, value relevant professional qualifications and achievements. Make sure you are qualified by the right institutions for the job you’re applying for.

EXPERT TIP: Enhance your resume with these 7 free certifications .

How to write a Canadian resume

Once you choose the format you’re going to use and have a list of your relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications, it’s time to write. Your resume should contain the following sections (at least):

Contact information: This is your name, location (with postal code), telephone number, email address, and any relevant social media profiles (like an optimized LinkedIn profile). Basically, the details that the hiring manager needs to get in touch with you if they want to call you for an interview.

Title and profile summary: At the top of your resume – just beneath your contact information – should be a title that mirrors the title of the job you’re applying to. It should be followed by a three to five-sentence paragraph that highlights your skills and qualifications in a way that shows prospective employers what you bring to the table for them. 

Skills: This is a simple list of up to 15 core competencies . It should contain a mix of hard and soft skills that are specifically tailored to the job you want. 

Work history: Whether you choose the reverse-chronological format or the hybrid format, you’ll always start your work history section with your most recent job. You’ll list the company name, the dates you were employed, the title you held, and three to five bullet points that call attention to the achievements you had in the position. From there, you work backward approximately 10 years to fill in the rest of your work history section. 

Education: The degrees you’ve earned, professional development classes you’ve taken, and any licenses or certifications you possess should go under “Education” at the end of the resume. 

It’s important that you use relevant keywords throughout your resume that are tailored to each job you want to apply to so that your resume makes it through the ATS. These programs are scanning resumes for those keywords, so not including them could be the thing that gets your resume rejected by the system. Being rejected by the ATS is one of the top reasons that job seekers are ghosted by companies – the human beings at the company won’t even know you exist.

The final step is to proofread and edit. If there is one thing that will turn a hiring manager off, that’s typos and grammatical errors. And it happens a lot! Do a quick search for the word “manger” on LinkedIn and you’ll see countless profiles where people use that spelling instead of the “manager.” Not only should you read your resume, but you should also have someone you trust read it to because your brain will interpret the words as they’re supposed to appear, not necessarily how they are actually written. 

Canada resume sample

They say seeing is believing , so to help you visualize all of these steps, here’s a sample Canadian resume. Use it as inspiration or as a template for how to format your own resume. 

Additional tips for writing a Canadian resume

To modify your resume to the Canada resume format, it’s important to pay attention to the small details.

1. Include only the relevant information

Starting with your contact information, include your name, location (city and province), phone, email, and LinkedIn profile URL at the top of your resume . If you have a second page, it should also include your name at the top of the page.

Keep your skills, experience, and additional resume information highly tailored to the job you're applying for. This might mean omitting jobs from 10+ years ago on your resume or adding in volunteer work.

2. Don't include too much information

Don't include any personal details like your date of birth, parent or spouse names, marital status, or identification numbers. Canadian employers don’t want to see this and may reject your resume automatically to avoid discrimination concerns.

3. Include a cover letter

Take the extra time to write a custom cover letter for each job you apply to. It's professional, polite, and shows that you care about this position. It's one of the best things you can do to stack up well against candidates with similar experience to you!

EXPERT TIP: Professional resume writers know how to organize your resume to appeal to hiring managers. Check out our guide to the best resume writing services to find your perfect fit!

Canadian resume vs. European resume

If you’re moving from Europe to Canada or vice versa, you’ll see a great difference in the format of the document you use to apply for a job. Mostly, you’ll see that European companies want a curriculum vitae (CV) instead of a resume. Because a CV is more of a chronicle of your career life, it’ll have a lot more information on it and, therefore, will be longer. A resume in Canada is generally one to two pages in length while the European resume (CV) is up to three pages in length. 

NOTE: In Canada and the US, using three pages can be seen as grandstanding and should be reserved only when you have a lot of career extras like specialized research or publications. 

Additionally, European resumes will contain the information that we mentioned in the “Don’t include too much information” section above, including date of birth, nationality, and marital status. If you’re writing a European resume, you’ll also find that different countries have varied requirements – for example, you wouldn’t include marital status on your resume in Germany – while all provinces of Canada would accept the same resume format. 

Canadian resume frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long should my resume be? The general rule of thumb is that if you have less than 5 years of experience, then your resume should be on one page; on the other hand, once you get to 5 years of experience (and especially as you approach 10 years of experience), you’ve earned a second page. 

Should I include a photo on my resume? The short answer here is, “No.” The ATS can’t properly parse information from resumes that contain images. It would read the image as a bunch of funky characters which could cause the ATS to think your resume file is corrupt, causing it to be rejected. On top of that, some employers find photos on resumes to be unprofessional – as if the candidate thinks that their looks will help them land the job. 

Should I include references on my resume? Again, the short answer is, “No, never.” Don’t even allude to the fact that references are available. If the hiring manager wants references, they’re going to ask for them whether you have them available or not. The best thing to do is create a new document for your references so that when they ask, you’ll have it available to give over. 

Do I need to translate my resume into French? It depends on the job description. If it is written in French, then your resume should absolutely be translated into French. You’ll see this mostly in Quebec, but it’s possible to see it across all provinces. Don’t assume they’ll accept a resume in English unless the job posting specifically says they will. 

Does my Canadian resume need to include my salary history? It isn’t mandatory to include your salary history, but there are some employers who will ask for it. Even in those instances, it’s a good rule of thumb to have it separate from your resume whenever possible. 

Do hobbies, volunteer work, and interests have a place on my Canadian resume? You can definitely include your hobbies and interests. But remember, they’re not likely to be the things that get you an interview. So, if your resume is spilling over to three pages, consider deleting hobbies and interests. However, if you’re hobbies and interests are professionally relevant, then you probably want to try to find a way to include them. For example, if you are on the board at a local nonprofit organization and were able to raise some money last quarter to ensure the continuance of a failing program, then that would definitely be worth mentioning. 

Keep it simple

The resumes in Canada are very similar to resumes in the US, but vastly different from CVs in other countries. Stick to resume formats that employers will expect, and play up your strengths. By using these Canada resume format tips, you can increase your chances of securing an interview and landing an eventual job.

Good luck with your job search!

If you need a new resume for a job in Canada, ZipJob is ready to help you. Our staff of professional resume writers are fully versed in the ins and outs of what will be required by prospective Canadian employers and we’d love to be your partner in securing a new job.

Recommended reading:

Is There A Difference Between Canada and US Resumes?

How To Find A Job When Moving To Canada

Here is What a Good Cover Letter Looks Like

Marsha Hebert, Professional Resume Writer

Marsha is a resume writer with a strong background in marketing and writing. After completing a Business Marketing degree, she discovered that she could combine her passion for writing with a natural talent for marketing. For more than 10 years, Marsha has helped companies and individuals market themselves. Read more advice from Marsha on ZipJob's blog .

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Part-Time Job Resume Sample

Score the part-time job of your dreams and spark ideas for your own resume with this fully customizable Part-Time Job resume sample. Download this free resume example or personalize it using our trusted resume builder.

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Part-Time Job Resume Sample (Full Text Version)

Charlie brews, resume objective.

Proactive and goal-driven high school student seeking a part-time position in sales. Demonstrates outstanding communication and leadership abilities, with a proven track record of problem-solving. Charlie excels in team environments and is committed to surpassing set targets and objectives.

Work experience

• Initiated and established a new Business Society at school, overseeing key society functions.
• Coordinated a team of over 20 students and played a pivotal role in organizing and planning various events.
• Managed and implemented society budgets, as well as created original promotional content for multiple social media platforms.
• Represented the society at school meetings and executed essential administrative duties.
• Successfully grew membership from 0 to 150 within a year.
• Achieved a GPA of 4.0, ranking in the top 1% of the program
• Participated in extracurricular activities including Business Club, Golf Club, and Student Council.

Volunteering

Certificates, part-time position.

Part-time positions are a unique opportunity for individuals to work flexible hours and gain valuable experience while still having the time and freedom to pursue other interests. These jobs offer a chance to explore different industries and career paths, and to develop skills that can be applied in any workplace. With the right mindset and work ethic, a part-time job can be a stepping stone towards a fulfilling career, as well as a fun and rewarding experience in its own right.

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

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Natural Sciences Student Student Internship University Student High School Student Social Sciences Student Professions And Applied Sciences Student Formal Sciences Student Humanities Student

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Content Creator

El Zid Tabuzo (Zid) is a Filipino-Canadian who moved to Canada in May 2015 as a landed immigrant. Originating from the Philippines, he immigrated through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), one of Canada's economic immigration programs.

Driven by a passion for sharing his immigration journey, Zid launched a YouTube channel in 2018 to provide insightful content to aspiring immigrants.

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Crafting the Perfect Resume for Part-Time Jobs in Canada: Tips from Campus Destination Experts

• Post author: campusdestination
• Post published: November 11, 2023
• Post category: Part-Time Jobs in Canada
• Post comments: 0 Comments

When embarking on the journey to secure part-time jobs in Canada , one of the most crucial tools at your disposal is your resume. As experts at Campus Destination, we understand the nuances of the Canadian job market and are committed to helping you craft a resume that not only stands out but also resonates with Canadian employers.

Understanding the Canadian Job Market

Before we delve into resume crafting, it’s important to understand the Canadian job market’s unique landscape. In Canada, employers value clarity, conciseness, and relevance in resumes. The job market is competitive, and a well-crafted resume can be the key to opening doors to numerous part-time job opportunities.

The Basics of a Great Resume

A great resume for part-time jobs in Canada starts with the basics:

• Personal Information : Include your name, contact number, and email address. Refrain from adding personal details like age or marital status.
• Objective Statement : A brief, compelling statement about your career goals and what you bring to the table.
• Education : List your educational background, focusing on qualifications most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Work Experience : Highlight your previous job experiences, internships, or volunteer work. Emphasize the skills and accomplishments relevant to the part-time job.

Tailoring Your Resume for Part-Time Jobs

Tailoring your resume for part-time jobs in Canada involves focusing on specific skills and experiences:

• Highlight Transferable Skills : Skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are highly valued in the Canadian job market.
• Relevance is Key : Customize your resume for each job application. Highlight experiences and skills that are most relevant to the job description.
• Achievements Over Duties : Focus on what you accomplished in your previous roles, not just your duties.

The Campus Destination Touch

At Campus Destination, we provide tailored resume support to help you navigate the Canadian job market effectively:

• Expert Guidance : Our team of experts provides insights into what Canadian employers are looking for.
• Resume Reviews and Feedback : We offer personalized reviews and constructive feedback on your resume.
• Workshop and Webinars : Participate in our workshops and webinars to learn about resume building and job search strategies in Canada.

Formatting and Design

The presentation of your resume is just as important as its content:

• Professional Format : Use a clean, professional layout. Avoid overly artistic or complicated designs.
• Consistency : Ensure consistent formatting throughout your resume, including fonts and bullet points.
• Length : Aim for a one-page resume, especially important for part-time job applications.

Overcoming Challenges

International students and newcomers might face unique challenges, such as a lack of Canadian work experience:

• Focus on Transferable Skills : Emphasize skills gained through experiences in your home country or through your studies.
• Canadianize Your Resume : Use Canadian spellings and include any Canadian certifications or relevant experiences you might have.

The Importance of Keywords

Incorporating keywords from the job description can make your resume more ATS-friendly:

• Use Job Description Keywords : Identify key skills and terms in the job description and include them in your resume.
• Industry-Specific Terms : Use terms and jargon that are commonly used in the industry you’re applying to.

Cover Letters Matter

A cover letter can significantly bolster your application:.

• Personalize Your Cover Letter : Tailor it to the job and company you’re applying to.
• Showcase Your Personality : Use the cover letter to express your personality and enthusiasm for the role.

Leveraging Campus Destination Resources

Take full advantage of the resources provided by Campus Destination:

• Job Search Techniques : Learn effective job search strategies tailored to the Canadian market.
• Access to the Hidden Job Market : Utilize our network to access unadvertised part-time job opportunities.

Crafting the perfect resume is your first step towards securing a part-time job in Canada. With Campus Destination’s expertise and resources, you are well-equipped to create a resume that not only reflects your skills and experiences but also aligns with the expectations of Canadian employers.

Remember, your resume is more than just a document; it’s a tool to showcase your professional story. Utilize our guidance to make sure that story is compelling, clear, and in tune with what part-time jobs in Canada require. Start your journey today and open doors to a world of opportunities in Canada!

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Resume writing tips for international students in Canada

The first thing you need when looking for jobs is a Canadian-style resume . As you sit down to craft your resume, you may have several questions. What can you include in your resume? Does your international experience count? How can you prove you’re qualified for the job without any Canadian work experience ? In this article, we provide tips and advice on how to write the perfect resume as an international student in Canada.

In this article:

Why do you need a resume as an international student in Canada?

• How to write a resume as an international student with no Canadian experience
• What should a good international student resume include?

Eight resume writing tips for international students in Canada

One question many international students in Canada have is, “Do I even need a resume?” If you plan to work in Canada during or after your studies, the answer is a resounding YES .

As an international student, you may be eligible to work part-time while studying to cover part of your living expenses in Canada . Alternatively, your study program may include a mandatory internship or co-op term. Whether you choose to work on-campus, off-campus, or as an intern or co-op student in a professional environment, you will need a Canadian-style resume to apply to these work opportunities.

Often, international students who move to Canada to study decide to stay here and work for a few years after they graduate. To work full-time in Canada after completing your studies, you need to apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or an employer-specific work permit. When you start looking for full-time employment after graduation, your resume will be a valuable tool.

Your resume is often your first opportunity to make an impression on potential employers and also determines how your future manager will assess your value. An impressive Canadian-style resume can help you stand out among your peers by highlighting your unique strengths and skills that will help you excel in the workplace.

How to write a resume as an international student with no Canadian experience 

As you prepare to enter the Canadian job market, your Canadian counterparts will likely have an advantage over you in the job search process. Some of them may have worked in part-time or summer jobs since high school and, having grown up here, may already have valuable industry connections. You may need to catch up with them in certain crucial areas in order to be on equal footing when you start looking for jobs.

So how can you, as an international student, make your resume stand out? The prep work for your resume starts well before you put pen to paper, even as early as the beginning of your study program. Here are some key aspects to focus on:

Volunteer work counts as Canadian experience

In Canada, volunteer experience is considered work experience and, where relevant, you should include it on your resume. Volunteering is part of the Canadian culture and can help you gain insight into the Canadian professional environment. It’s also a great way to put your theoretical knowledge to practice, develop new skills, and build your professional network . Not to mention it also gives back to your community.

Download our Networking Guide for insights on why networking is crucial for your career in Canada and tips to help you build professional connections in Canada.

Start building your portfolio

More than anything, what an employer wants to know is whether, if they hire you, you can get the job done. A powerful portfolio is proof of your capabilities, both technical and creative. You should only include your best work or the projects you’re most proud of. Your portfolio can be in the form of a blog, design portfolio, or other samples of your past work. If you have a digital portfolio, include a link to it on your resume and LinkedIn profile .

Focus on the transferable skills you can bring to a company

Think about all the skills you’ve acquired through your studies and how those skills can be beneficial to the position you’re applying for. Even if it doesn’t seem directly related, there may be aspects of your past work, part-time job, academic projects, clubs and extracurricular activities, and volunteer work that are valuable for your new role. For instance, if you worked part-time at a call center while studying, you may have picked up customer service and time management skills or learned new software on the job. If you were the treasurer of a student club, you probably picked up some accounting or fundraising skills. If you coached a sports team, you may be able to highlight the people management skills you developed.

What should a good international student resume include? 

Since each company looks for a different combination of skills and experience, you should customize your resume for each and every company and position you apply for. This will improve your chances of being selected for an interview. Here are some standard elements that a good Canadian resume should include:

• Your name and contact information. Make sure your email address is one you check frequently and is professional (it shouldn’t include nicknames, slang, or, ideally, numbers)
• A link to your LinkedIn profile and/or portfolio. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and reflects your recent accomplishments. Most Canadian employers will go through your LinkedIn profile and other social media accounts before hiring you, so make sure they are professional and optimized for your job search.
• A professional summary or objective. This paragraph should summarize your skills and achievements along with why you would be a good fit for the position.
• Any relevant skills or professional experience. Professional experience can include internships, part-time jobs, projects you’ve done in school, co-ops, or even volunteer experience. You can also include work experience from your home country if it’s relevant to the job.
• Your education and academic accomplishments. Even if your study program doesn’t directly relate to the role, your academic merit can prove that you’re a hard worker and fast learner. 
• Language skills and other relevant interests. If you speak a language other than English, that can potentially be a huge asset. You may also have honed other interests over the course of your studies that are relevant to the workplace or your desired industry. For instance, if you were on the debate team in university, potential employers may see that as evidence of public speaking and analytical thinking skills.

Now that you know what should generally be included in your resume, let’s dive deeper into what a good resume should look like and how you can craft an impressive Canadian resume that will resonate with employers.

1. Choose the right resume format 

There are three main resume formats in Canada : reverse chronological, functional, and combination or hybrid. For students, a functional resume is the most effective format. One of the most common apprehensions international students have while writing their resumes is how to draw attention away from their lack of Canadian work experience. The functional resume format helps solve this problem by focusing on your skills and achievements rather than your experience (or the lack of it). 

On the other hand, the reverse chronological resume lists your work experience from most recent to least recent and is best suited for experienced professionals. If you have prior work experience, you can also use a combination resume, which highlights both your work history and transferable skills.

Download our free Canadian Resume templates and customize them to your profile:

2. Highlight your skills and non-professional experience

Research the role you’re interested in to understand the skills the employer seeks. Your resume should reflect relevant skills you bring to the table and your accomplishments from past professional and non-professional roles. Non-professional experience can include any relevant projects you completed inside or outside of school, or volunteer experience applicable to the position. Use the C-A-R (Challenge-Action-Result) approach to showcase the impact you made and, where possible, quantify your accomplishments.

3. Use keywords from the job description 

Including keywords from the job description in your resume increases your chances of getting past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This is an automated system that scores and ranks your resume based on how closely it matches the job description. Many Canadian companies, large and small, use ATS to filter applications so that only resumes that are a good fit for the role reach the recruiter or hiring manager.

4. Include relevant technical and soft skills 

Are you a good communicator? Have you led small teams to complete a task or project? Soft skills like communication and leadership are sought after in the Canadian job market and should be included on your resume. Again, read the job description to understand which skills are relevant to the role.

5. Include your foreign qualifications (and ECA equivalents)  

Academic or professional qualifications from your home country may still be useful in the Canadian job market. Often, different countries have different nomenclature for educational credentials. If possible, get your foreign credentials assessed and list their Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) equivalency on your resume. This will give employers a better picture of your qualifications as they apply to the role in question. It will also improve your resume’s match score when it passes through ATS.

6. Keep your resume short  

As an international student, your resume should not be longer than one page, especially if you’re applying to entry-level jobs. A short resume encourages you to highlight only the most important aspects of what makes you a viable candidate. If you have several years of work experience, Canadian or foreign, and are applying for a mid- to senior-level role, a two-page resume is acceptable.

7. Use standard fonts and avoid design elements 

In an attempt to make their resume stand out, many applicants make the mistake of incorporating fancy graphics and bold colours in their resume. However, tables, design elements, and other non-text content can lower the chances of your resume clearing ATS. Employers want the actual information on your resume, and niche fonts or design elements can be distracting. Keep it simple, at least for this phase of your job search. Avoid using pictures and stick with standard fonts. Be sure to leave ample white space to make your resume more readable.

8. Include a cover letter 

Even if the job posting doesn’t specifically ask for one, always include a cover letter. Cover letters are your opportunity to get a bit more personal about why a specific job is important to you and why you are a good fit for it.

As an international student in Canada, you should familiarize yourself with a Canadian-style resume before you start looking for internships, part-time work, or even your first job after graduation. Your lack of relevant Canadian experience doesn’t necessarily lower your chances of landing your dream job in Canada. As long as you’re able to focus on your strengths, highlight relevant achievements and skills, and make a strong case for why the organization should hire you, you should be able to start your career successfully in Canada.

Things our lawyers want you to know

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Disclaimer: This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.

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