Your resume: no photo, no age, and results over duties

Canadian resume conventions are close to American ones, and quite different from much of Europe, Latin America and Africa.

What to leave out

• Photograph
• Date of birth or age
• Marital status or family details
• Nationality or immigration status beyond confirming you are authorised to work
• Social Insurance Number

Human rights legislation makes employers cautious about information tied to protected grounds. Including it can work against you.

What to include

• Name and contact — phone, professional email, city and province
• Experience — employer, title, dates and accomplishments
• Education — with the institution and country
• Certifications and licences, including provincial registration where relevant
• Languages, particularly French where it applies

Getting past applicant tracking systems

Most medium and large employers screen with software first:

• No tables, columns or graphics
• Standard headings — Experience, Education, Skills
• Use the exact terms from the posting
• Submit a .docx or text-based PDF

If your credentials are foreign

State the country and, where you have one, the credential evaluation result. If you are in the process of licensing with a provincial body, say so — it signals you understand the requirement.

This is one of the most common gaps in newcomer applications.

Results, not duties

"Responsible for inventory" says little. "Managed inventory across three sites, reduced stock discrepancies by 40% and led a team of five" says a great deal more.

Use numbers.

Length

Two pages is standard and widely accepted in Canada, unlike the strict one-page convention in some American contexts.

Bilingual applications

For Quebec and federal roles, a French version may be expected or required. Have both ready if you are targeting those.

Keep it current

A complete profile means employers find you in their searches, even when you are not actively looking.