Canadian resume format: what to include and what to leave out

How long should a Canadian resume be?

Job Bank says to limit your resume to two pages and to focus on your most recent experience. Jobs and experience from more than 15 years ago should be cut or kept very short. alis gives similar advice: unless you are applying for work at a college or university, or you have more than 20 years of experience, a resume should not be longer than a page or two.

Short matters because readers move fast. Job Bank says an employer takes an average of 30 seconds to skim a resume; alis says recruiters can take as little as 6 seconds to decide whether it makes the cut.

What goes on a Canadian resume?

Start with your contact details at the top of the first page: name, address, email and phone number. Job Bank stresses checking that they are correct, and using an email address based on your name, with no nicknames or special characters.

Then list your experience with the most recent job first. For each role, Job Bank recommends showing what you achieved rather than repeating duties, and using numbers where you can: how many people you supervised, how much you sold, or by what percentage you improved something. Keep each section to about 5 to 7 bullet points.

• Contact information: name, address, email and phone number.
• Skills that match the job posting, including technical skills.
• Work experience, most recent first, with achievements and numbers.
• Education and training, including Canadian courses and certificates.
• Volunteer work, especially if it relates to the job.

What should you leave off a Canadian resume?

Job Bank advises leaving out personal details such as age, weight, height, marital status, religious preference and political views, so that they cannot bias the reader. It says not to include a photo: although that is acceptable in some countries, it is not the norm in Canada and can lower your chances. Above all, never put your Social Insurance Number on a resume.

Job Bank also recommends leaving off references (provide them on a separate sheet when asked), reasons for leaving past jobs, and hobbies, unless the hobby is relevant to the job.

• Photo
• Age or date of birth
• Marital or family status
• Religion or political views
• Height, weight or other physical details
• Social Insurance Number
• References and reasons for leaving past jobs

Why do Alberta employers not ask for your photo or age?

The Alberta Human Rights Act protects people from discrimination based on protected grounds. The Alberta Human Rights Commission lists them as race, colour, religious beliefs, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sexual orientation, physical and mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status and source of income. For age, the Act protects people aged 18 and over.

The Commission says employers and recruiters cannot require a candidate to give information related to a protected ground in an application or interview, unless it is a bona fide occupational requirement (a genuine requirement of the job). For example, an employer can ask whether you can legally work in Canada, but cannot ask where you were born, and cannot ask a candidate whether they have or plan to have children.

So the personal details missing from a Canadian resume are not just a style choice. Leaving them off means the reader judges you on your skills, which is what the law expects of them anyway.

Which resume type should you use?

alis describes three types. A chronological resume lists your work, education and training from most recent to oldest. It suits you if the job you want is similar to the one you have now. A functional resume focuses on skills rather than work history, which can help if you have gaps. A combination resume groups your skills into categories, then briefly lists your work history; alis suggests it if you are changing careers.

If your past job titles or employers will not be familiar to Calgary employers, a combination resume lets you lead with skills they can recognize. alis also warns that gaps in your work history can be a red flag for hiring managers, so be ready to explain them.

How do you get past applicant tracking software?

alis says many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan resumes for keywords, and reject resumes that do not include the keywords they are looking for. A resume can also be rejected if the software cannot read it.

Keep the layout simple: alis says to avoid columns, fancy bullet points and visuals of any kind. Use standard headings such as “Contact information” and “Skills” rather than creative ones. Read the job posting closely and use the same words for the skills you really have.

How do you tailor and check your resume?

alis recommends keeping a master resume with your full history, skills, achievements, training and references, then copying the most relevant parts into a custom resume for each job. Job Bank also says to tailor each resume to the position by reading the job description and the employer’s website.

Proofread several times and have someone else read it. Job Bank warns that a single spelling mistake can create a negative impression. Be honest: both Job Bank and alis warn that overstating your skills does not help.

You don’t have to do this alone. Job Bank’s free Resume Builder needs a free account. In Calgary, the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) lists Canadian-style resume writing workshops among its employment services for newcomers.