Last reviewed: August 8, 2026
Keep it to one or two pages
Canadian employers expect short, focused resumes. One page is ideal for less than 10 years of experience; two pages is the maximum for almost everyone. Recruiters spend under a minute on a first pass — make every line count.
What to include
- Contact details — name, city and province, phone, email. A full street address is not needed.
- Professional summary — 2–3 lines describing what you do and your strongest, most relevant skills.
- Work experience — reverse chronological order. For each job: title, employer, city, dates (month/year), and 3–5 bullet points describing what you did and what improved because of it.
- Education and certifications — include Canadian equivalencies or credential assessments if you trained abroad, plus certificates like Food Safe, First Aid, forklift, or trade tickets.
- Languages — list every language you can work in. In Canada this is an asset, not a footnote.
What to leave out
Canadian resumes do not include a photo, date of birth, marital status, religion, or a full ID number. Employers are not allowed to consider these, and including them looks out of place.
Match the posting
Read the posting's duties and requirements, and use the same words where they honestly apply to you. If the ad says "food preparation and kitchen sanitation" and you did exactly that, say it in those words — both for the human reader and for applicant-screening software.
Cover letters
Short is fine: 3 short paragraphs — which position you're applying for, why you fit (2–3 concrete points), and how to reach you. Always mention the exact job title from the posting, especially when applying by email.
Before you send
- File name:
Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf— send PDF unless the posting asks otherwise. - Use the email subject the posting asks for; if none, use the job title.
- Proofread once out loud. Spelling mistakes in the first line end applications.