Barb De Wit’s Canadian Resume Guide

Barb De Wit’s Canadian Resume Guide

This guide will give you the knowledge and tools to create resumes that communicate your value to potential Canadian employers. If you would like more  assistance,  please contact barb@learnenglishforcanada.com

Please get ready to write your resume by following the steps on these three pages:  

1. 1. Skills Inventory:
      • Technical Skills: Hard skills specific to your industry or field (e.g., hardware, software, programming languages, certifications).
      • Soft Skills: Personal qualities that enhance your job performance (e.g., teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, communication, leadership).

• Which skills are transferable to your target job? 

1. Professional Achievements:
   • Quantifiable accomplishments that demonstrate your impact in previous roles (e.g., increased sales by X%, managed projects worth $X, implemented a new system that improved efficiency by X%).
2. Values Assessment:
   • What are your values? What motivates you professionally? (e.g., work-life balance, training, income).
3. Career Story:
   • Reflect on your career and identify the major skills and experiences you gained. 
   • What did you learn about yourself? 

Additional Self-Assessment 

• SWOT Analysis: Conduct a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to gain a deeper understanding of your professional profile.
• Personality Tests: Consider taking personality tests (e.g., Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) to gain insights into your work style and preferences.
• Feedback from Others: Seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or former supervisors to get an external perspective on your strengths and areas for improvement.
• Keep a Journal:  Maintain a journal to document your accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned throughout your career. This will be a valuable resource when making your resume. 

Market Research

1. Industry Analysis:
   • Research current trends, in-demand skills, and growth areas in your field.
   • Identify key industry players and potential employers.
2. Job Description Analysis:
   • Analyze job descriptions for your target roles to identify common keywords, required skills, and preferred qualifications.
3. Company Research:
   • Research the companies you’re interested in, including their purpose, values, culture, and current projects.
4. Networking:
   • Use LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your field to gain insights into industry trends, pain points,  and possible openings
   • Attend industry events and job fairs to expand your network and learn about potential opportunities.

Additional Tips for Market Research:

• Online Job Boards: Utilize online job boards to search for job postings and get a sense of the current job market.
• Professional Associations: Join professional associations in your field to stay informed about industry news and connect with other professionals.
• Social Media: Follow companies and industry leaders on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest developments.
• Informational Interviews: Conduct informational interviews with professionals in your field to gain insider knowledge and expand your network.

Your resume should tell a story about your professional journey.

1. Create a Personal Brand:
   • Identify your unique value proposition and what sets you apart from other candidates.
   • Develop a consistent personal brand that reflects your skills, experience, and career goals.
2. Show Career Development:
   • Ensure your resume presents a clear and logical career progression.
   • Highlight how your past experiences have prepared you for your desired role.
3. Focus on the Needs of Your Target Audience:
   • Tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for. Make sure to use keywords from the job description or posting.
   • Emphasize your skills and experiences that are relevant to the position.

Additional Tips for Writing Your Resume

• Focus on the Results You Got in Your Work: Highlight your accomplishments and the impact you’ve made in previous roles.
• Use Strong Verbs: Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements. 
• Quantify Your Accomplishments: Whenever possible, use numbers and metrics to showcase your results.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills and experience.

Canadian-Specific Considerations

When applying for jobs in Canada, there are a few specific considerations to keep in mind:

1. Education Equivalencies:
   • If you were educated outside of Canada, get your credentials assessed to determine their Canadian equivalency. WES does this.  
2. Canadian Experience:
   • Highlight any Canadian work experience, even if it’s volunteer or internship experience.
   • Demonstrate your understanding of Canadian workplace culture and practices.
3. Bilingualism:
   • If you are bilingual (English and French), list your language skills and levels on your resume.
4. Professional Associations:
   • List any memberships in Canadian professional associations or organizations. For example OACETT (Ontario Association for Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists – a networking and educational organization for internationally educated engineers

Additional Tips for Canadian-Specific Considerations

• Canadian Workplace Culture: Research Canadian workplace culture and values to ensure your resume aligns with Canadian employer expectations.
• Provincial/Territorial Regulations: Research provincial or territorial regulations that may affect your job search or qualifications.

After completing all of the above, you are ready to type your resume.

Resume Structure & Formatting

1. Essential Sections:
   • Contact Information: Name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL.
   • Professional Summary: A brief overview of your skills, experience, and career goals, using keywords from the job posting.  
   • Separate the points with bullets and only list relevant points 
   • Work Experience: Describe your current and past roles with action verbs and back them up with metrics of quantifiable results.
   • Education: Your educational background, including degrees, diplomas, certifications, and relevant coursework.
   • Skills: List both hard and soft key skills that are relevant to the posting:

Formatting Guidelines:

• Length: 1-2 pages 
• Font: Use a professional and easy-to-read font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) in a size between 10 and 12 points.
• Margins: Use standard margins of 0.5 to 1 inch on all sides.
• Spacing: Use consistent line spacing (e.g., single or 1.15) and clear section breaks.
• File Format: Save your resume as a PDF unless otherwise specified by the employer. Save it with words you can easily find. 

1. Organization Strategy:
   • Chronological: Lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This is the most common format and is suitable for most job seekers.

Additional Tips for Resume Structure & Formatting

• Bullet Points: Use bullet points to list your responsibilities and accomplishments in a concise and scannable format.
• Bold and Italics: Use bold and italics sparingly to highlight key information.
• Consistency: Be consistent with your formatting throughout your resume.

IMPORTANT: Write Achievement-Focused Statements:

• Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments.
• Quantify your results whenever possible.
• Focus on the impact of your work rather than just your responsibilities.