Canadian Style Resume Templates 8 Tips for Creating the Perfect Canadian Style Resume Free Resume Templates 8 Essential Tips for Writing the Perfect Canadian Style Resume www.prepareforcanada.com Outline 1: Why Do I Need to Change My Resume Style in Canada 2: Tailor Your Resume 3: Formatting and Social Media 4: Keywords and Double Checks 5: Resume Templates www.prepareforcanada.com Why Do I Need to Change My Resume Style in Canada Put Your Best Foot Forward A lot of newcomers to Canada will find that they become frustrated when sending resumes out to multiple companies and not hearing anything back from them. A very common question they ask is “How do I create a Canadian style resume in order to find a job in Canada”. There are many different Canadian style resume formats out there to choose from, and the requirements for what you need to include will vary by industry. Free resume templates can be a huge help when applying for jobs in Canada as an immigrant. With a Canadian style resume, there will be some big differences from the type of resumes or curriculum vitae you are expected to provide in your home country. www.prepareforcanada.com Tailoring Your Resume 1) Keep it Short and Simple Any Canadian style resume needs to communicate all of your great experiences quickly and with ease. Canadian style resumes are short and to the point. Keeping a resume to 1 page is ideal, but 2 pages are also acceptable if you have a great deal of experience in your field. Understanding the importance of a Canadian resume style guide or free template is crucial to your success. 2) Tailor the Resume for Each Job Description Many Canadian career finding experts and business leaders will always recommend that you take the time to examine the job description and adjust your resume accordingly. Generic resumes will not satisfy the employer as they will not focus on the key qualities that they are looking for in an employee. The changes could be as simple as changing the order of your skills to reflect those that are most desired for the role you are applying for, or major changes depending on how specific the job description is. 3) Volunteer Work and Canadian Employers Any volunteer experience that you have should be included on your resume. Ideally this should be towards the bottom of your resume, unless it relates directly to the position that you are applying for. Remember to take the time to examine the job description before you decide where this component should go. www.prepareforcanada.com Formatting and Social Media 4) Social Media Never before have employers been able to discover more about a potential employee than following the advent of social media. People’s personal social media accounts and former employers are now easier to find than ever before. They will simply cross reference your name and job history on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Depending on the job field, many jobs now require people to submit their twitter ID or LinkedIn profile. Taking the time to ensure that all the information across these platforms is not detrimental to your character is vital, it could mean the difference between getting hired or not. 5) Format is Critical If you state on your resume that you are fluent with Microsoft office and then have numerous formatting errors in your resume, it does not engender trust in the rest of what you are about to say about yourself. A Canadian style resume should be formatted clearly and organized perfectly. If the job you are applying for states that attention to detail is a priority for the position, then this is a great opportunity to show it off. If you are emailing your resume to potential employers, it is best to save it as a PDF, this ensures that your formatting is preserved and that it can be opened up on any computer. www.prepareforcanada.com Keywords and Double Checks 6) What Not to Include Canadian resumes do not need to include pictures of you or personal information such as marital status, religion or place of birth. A lot of employers will not need to know this. In most cases it is actually illegal for them to ask questions related to religion and family Household situation in an interview.Items Stick to professional achievements, experience and anything that will help you stand out in the eyes of an employer. This can include volunteer work as well as personal interests and hobbies that may help you in the role you are applying for. 7) Use Keywords When you look at the job description and you are planning on how to tailor your resume, make a list of keywords that stand out to you as important to the employer. These could include things like specific program knowledge such as “Adobe Acrobat” or “Microsoft Excel”. There could also be more general attributes like “Attention to detail” and “Positive attitude”. Once you have compiled a list of these keywords you can begin to incorporate them into your resume. 8) Check, Double Check, and Triple Check Make sure that there are absolutely no errors in your resume, even the smallest bit of missed punctuation can cause an employer to discard your resume. Having a friend take a look at the resume can be a huge benefit as they can make helpful suggestions. Finally you should print out the resume to see how it looks on paper. This can show you any flaws in the formatting that may have gone unnoticed on the screen. www.prepareforcanada.com The Resume Templates By downloading our free Canadian style resume templates for immigrants you will be able to hit the ground running with the application process. Please be advised to use these templates as a guide. Customising the format and information included is vital to ensure that you stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs in Canada for immigrants. Chronological resume A chronological resume is one that is organised based on the dates you were employed at your previous job. This is the most common format that you will expect to see in Canadian style resumes. Your most recent or current employment should be listed first followed by your previous jobs. This format is best if you have had moderate to extensive experience in your field. Functional Resume Our free resume template for Canadian jobs is based on your skills and abilities. This format would suit you best if you are a recent graduate, or have limited experience or are looking to get back into work following a prolonged absence. Settlement agencies are also a good tool to help you find advice and to create a Canadian style resume. They can even help with other aspects of the application process. www.prepareforcanada.com
