Expert tips for creating an impressive resume for the Canadian job market

A resume is a document which highlights your qualification, skills, and professional experiences. Tell us, are you an international student who plans to build a global career? If so, you must build a resume to aid in your job search. The format and style of your resume for fetching a job in Canada can be a bit different from the one you usually make. Want to know more? Don’t worry, we are to help you make a perfectly well-written resume for employment in Canada!

If you have a basic structure, and a checklist of information you need to include in your resume, curating one wouldn’t be a difficult task! Here are the guidelines you should take care of while writing a resume.

1. Your contact information

Mention all required details including your full name; current address; primary phone number, and e-mail address.

2. Objective, profile, and summary statement

This section is optional and is most effective when you know the specific industry or type of work that interests you, or when you are transitioning from one career to another, if you want to include it, state your career goals clearly and concisely, or summarise your professional experience.

3. Education

Begin with the most recent degree you are pursuing or have earned and list additional degrees in reverse chronological order. Include your institution and its location by city and state; degree level; major, minor, or concentration; and the month and year of graduation, or anticipated completion. If you have studied abroad, also include the institution, location, academic term, and concentration. Scholarships, academic awards, and other honours can be included in this section or listed separately. Relevant courses, class projects, and independent studies can also be included which often help bolster credentials if you have less relevant work experience.

4. Your past experiences

Emphasise relevant experience that you have gained through part and full-time employment, paid and unpaid internships, volunteer positions, and leadership positions with student organisations. If your experience naturally breaks into two distinct categories – related and other – create separate headers and list your experiences accordingly. For each entry, list the organisation and its location by city and state, position title, and employment dates by month/year.
Craft concise statements, not full sentences and use strong verbs and specific details to describe your actions and results. Demonstrate to employers how you applied the selected knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve desired outcomes. If possible, quantify your results to convey the scope and significance of the project.

5. Mention your skills

Including this section in your resume is strongly recommended. When listing a variety of skills, such as computers, languages, and research, simply use the header “Skills.” If your skills are all one type, label the section accordingly, e.g., “Computer Skills.” If your skills support your career objective more effectively than other parts of your resume, place this section above the less compelling sections.

6. Training, certifications, and licenses

If you have completed your training or earned certifications or licenses that relate to your career goal, name the section accordingly and include key details.

7. Your activities with professional associations 

Through a description or a list of your accomplishments, extracurricular activities, or professional associations, employers begin to learn about your interests, motivations, and skills. For all leadership positions held, list the organisation’s full name, position title, membership dates, and a brief description of your key accomplishments. For involvement as a member, list the organisation’s full name, membership dates, and activities in which you have participated that relate to your career objective.
If you want to know more about how to write a good resume when applying for a job or internship in Canada, then you can get in touch with our international education experts for guidance.