How to Write a Canadian Resume (Examples and Tips)

1. Share your contact information

Your professional full name and contact details always sit at the top of your Canadian resume. This short but crucial section should always have this information: 

• Full name: Add your government-issued first and last name to make it easier for employers to run background checks. 
• Phone number: Use the Canadian phone structure. Add country codes if you’re an international candidate.
• Email address: Create a dedicated email handle. Avoid personal nicknames or inside jokes like knit.9.stitches@example.com to maintain a professional tone. 
• LinkedIn or related social media: Use professional social media accounts to compliment and emphasize your resume. 
• Location: If you’re a Canadian citizen, add your city and province/territory or city and state if you’re an international candidate. Never add your complete mailing address.

Example for a Canadian applicant:

Example for an international applicant:

2. Introduce key qualifications under a resume summary

A resume summary briefly introduces your job-related training, qualifications and relevant accomplishments. It highlights up to three key points and encourages employers to spend more than seven seconds on your application. 

Since this must capture an employer’s interest in seconds, place this section immediately under your contact information. If possible, focus on the following topics. 

• Highlight up to three key skills and relevant experience.
• Use strong action verbs and quantifiable achievements.
• Mention career goals or what you hope to achieve, especially as an entry-level or international candidate.
• Keep it concise and between three and five sentences.

Example of a bulleted summary:

Example of a traditional Canadian resume summary:

3. Boost your skills

Most Canadian resumes feature a dedicated skills section, but you can share additional skills throughout your resume. Key places to advertise your skills include your resume summary, work history section, and optional sections like language and volunteer sections. 

• Use bullet points for easy reading.
• List hard skills like technical or computer skills and soft skills like communication or teamwork. 
• Prioritize skills related to the job needs. 

For example, a data analyst would focus on analytical and critical thinking skills, whereas a communications specialist would highlight presentation and writing skills. 

Example of a general skills section:

Example of categorized skills sections:

4. Add work and volunteer experience

Your volunteer and work experience sections will be your Canadian resume’s most extended and detailed sections. This section breaks down your work history based on your past jobs. Share your job title, employer, location, dates of employment, and up to four bullet points with notable responsibilities or accomplishments per job. 

Example of your experience sections:

5. Education and professional qualifications

Your education and certifications section is the last mandatory section of your Canadian resume. List your degrees or certifications in reverse chronological order. Add the name of the degree, institution name, and graduation or completion date. 

If you have foreign credentials, run them through the Canadian pre-arrival services to ensure they’re valid and accepted by most Canadian employers.

Example of a local citizen’s education section:

Example of a valid international education section:

6. Optional sections

Like U.S.-based resumes and international CVs, you can add optional sections to your Canadian resume to highlight key skills or relevant interests. Topics you can cover include:

• Languages: Canada has two official languages, English and French. If you’re bilingual or multilingual, list your level of fluency for each language you speak. 
• Awards and recognition: Share any career-related awards or commendations. 
• Professional memberships: List your membership in professional organizations, especially if they have a respected foothold in Canada.
• Publications: Share a list of notable publications or presentations about your career.

Example of an optional language section: