We have listed the dos and don’ts for writing a Resume that will fit the requirements of the Canadian job market. Build a resume that will entice your hiring manager to give you the job of your dreams in Canada.
The very first thing about finding a job in Canada is resume building. Although there are other steps too that are essential for job seekers in Canada. Prior to filling any job application or building a resume, you must start with market analysis and job research in Canada’s economy and job market and figure out the best company to apply for your new job. There are certain tools available online on the digital portal of the Canadian government’s website.
Potential employers of Canada will look for a concise and informational resume that is easy to read. You must always have in mind that the employers have genuine formatting preferences, that are among the best in the industry. In this article, we will highlight the letter writing and better formatting of your resume that will help you to land up the best job.
First, let us walk through the list that suggests the DON’Ts in the resume writing
Things you must NOT put in your CV
1. Do not put a photo
A lot of countries make it compulsory for job-seekers to include their photos in their resume. Canada is not one of them. A lot of professions require a photograph such as modeling and acting. Although usually, a resume format has the relevant information in chronological order of the accomplishments, job descriptions experiences. The information should be concise and relevant while applying for jobs.
2. Do NOT overshare
It is important to only include the photos in your profile that are general and seem relevant. You must not include personal information in your Resume at all costs. What should be added is your name and your contact information. Age, caste, creed, religion, marital status, or anything related to your family and personal life should not be included. Information like this is not even asked in a job interview as it is illegal under the human rights law of Canada.
You should not tell your social insurance number to the employers until you have been finalized as an employee. The SIN number is an important document and must only be shared whenever it is required legally.
Your Curriculum Vitae should have the relevant skills and work history for the job profile that you have been applying for. A professional resume template must contain your legal name, email, phone number, concise employment history, volunteer work. Mailing address is not always necessary to put. If you are looking for a job in a different city and even within a commutable distance you may want to include it otherwise it is not necessary.
3. Avoid making your resume text-heavy
Ideally, a two-page resume is enough. It is difficult for the person who will go through your Curriculum vitae to know everything. Only write the relevant and the best of your experiences and responsibilities. The candidate’s recent experience matters heavily as it helps us with a great tracking system.
In other words, we would suggest you keep your Curriculum Vitae simple and precise.
4. References shouldn’t be included
An employer will only ask for references if they select you for a particular job profile. You should keep a good manner of informing your reference that you will be naming them so that they are prepared beforehand. You must always ask to share their contact information too. If you talk to your reference, you shall know if he or she will give you a good review or not.
5. Inappropriate email addresses should not be used
While you may wonder if the recruiters will pay heed to these little details or not. An employer might judge you for the email address you had put in your high school as a funny joke or trend. Your email address should only contain your legal name and may not give you any red flags.
What should you write in your CV?
1. Tailor make your resume for each job posting
A very important tip for writing a resume while getting a job is that you tailor your resume for each and every job position that you will apply to. You must first scrutinize the job posting or if you are conducting a job search make sure that your curriculum vitae has a strong action verbs and bullet point writing system. Fonts will be emphasized by resume-building tips and including career objectives too.
You must have a clue of what your employer is looking for in a job profile. Tender your resume accordingly. Only showcase the most important information and important key skills relevant to the job profile.
2. Quantify your achievements and milestones
One of the most important resumes writing tips is that you will have to quantify your skills and achievements in numbers. Specific achievements should be listed in the numbers while laying emphasis on the skills and objectives.
3. You must write in the third perspective
Forbid yourself from using, I, me, or my while writing your resume. It should sound professional as it is. Always write in the third person. Your sentences should be apt and crisp.
The writing guide for your resume is to write in reverse chronological order. It starts from the most recent and goes back to the previous experiences. Always include the name, location, and the name of the company you worked previously in. You can also list your key skills and responsibilities for that particular role and include the number of years you have been associated with that company. If by any chance your work experience is less than a year you may mention the number of months too. If you have taken a gap in-between jobs you are not necessarily required to write it down, the recruiter will bring it up in the interview if it is required.
Your education history is crucial- The name of your school, the year of your passing out, programs, credentials, and location are important with respect to the type of job you are applying for. GPA can be included as well but not necessary. You can also list your awards under a separate section.
4. Always include voluntary and unpaid work experience
If you have worked as a volunteer and have experience in a certain field you should add them and as long as you are prepared for the duties you can get a chance on the job that you are applying for.
5. Always include a cover letter with the resume
It is always advisable to put a cover letter along with your CV. It doesn’t matter the recruiter asks for it or not. A cover letter is aimed to summarize the resume and convey it better, it also supports your statement of you telling your potential employer about why you will be the best option for the opening in a particular job profile.
You can refer to some sample cover letters online just to get a gist of it. We shall anyway list a few ideas about how to formulate a cover letter that supports the resume.
The cover letter should never be lengthy. The few things that should be added are the company’s contact number, address, your contact information.
The cover letters can use the first-person form of writing. The purpose is to connect to the employer. You can greet the letter with the name of the employer too only if you are 100 percent sure of the name.
The leading paragraph of the cover letter must be an introduction of yourself and the present work role of your employer. The job profile you want to be considered for should be mentioned in the cover letter too. In the following paragraphs, you will want to prove that how you will be an asset to their team with your relevant experience. You can write about how including you in the team shall solve their business problems and make the company succeed.
More secrets to keep up with your Canadian job hunt
Being a foreign national, you will have to face more challenges than an average Canadian-born candidate would do, naturally while job searching.
Although Canada has many services like employment services, immigrant support services that will help you as a job-seeker in the Great White North. You can find these services on the website of Canada. We will advise you to also keep in check the provincial, territorial websites, and other job services in the territory.
Job-hunting can also be done online through various social media platforms. LinkedIn and Facebook groups often post job vacancies and connect to the HRs of the companies looking for recruitment.
It is also suggested that if you come across a job profile and assume yourself to be underqualified for the same, apply in any case. For worse comes worst you will learn to adapt to the skills the company was looking for or you might not land the job. In either case, you don’t have anything to lose.
