How to write a resume Canadian employers actually read

Most resumes get a quick first skim before anyone reads them properly. Your job is to make that skim count.

Keep it to one or two pages

For most roles, one page is plenty. If you have ten or more years of relevant experience, two pages is fine. Anything longer usually gets skimmed less, not more.

Lead with a short summary

Two or three lines at the top that say who you are and what you're looking for: "Bilingual customer service representative with four years in high-volume call centres, looking for a hybrid role in Ottawa."

Match the job posting

Read the posting and mirror its language. If it asks for "inventory control" and you did "stock counts", say inventory control. Many employers use applicant tracking software that looks for those words.

Show results, not just duties

• Instead of "Responsible for cash", try "Balanced cash for 300+ daily transactions with no discrepancies"
• Instead of "Did customer service", try "Resolved billing questions for up to 60 callers per shift"

Leave these off

In Canada you don't need a photo, date of birth, marital status or your SIN on a resume. Employers generally shouldn't ask for them at this stage.

Save it as a PDF

Unless the posting says otherwise, a PDF keeps your formatting intact. Name it clearly: firstname-lastname-resume.pdf.