Many people aspire to work in Canada. The country has the ideal blend of a strong economy, cultural acceptance, and a good work-life balance. However, finding work in Canada is difficult, especially if you apply from a foreign country. ATS, a software that filters profiles based on specific keywords and formats, is used by Canadian businesses.
Bypassing these filters is a necessary step in getting a job in Canada. Here are some pointers for tailoring the best resume, as well as dos and don’ts and three formats to increase your chances of being chosen.
What exactly is a resume?
A resume is a formal document that summarizes your professional qualifications, skills, relevant work experience, education, skills, and notable accomplishments. It is usually one or two pages long.
A resume is frequently mixed up with a CV or Curriculum Vitae. A CV is a more detailed version of your resume that includes your credentials, work experience, and publications. Typically, this is several pages long.
Resume Boosting Strategies
Keep it brief and to the point: Most employers will only look at your resume for 30 seconds. Use the first 30 seconds of your interview to sell yourself.
Make your resume brief and highlight the points you want to emphasize. Job descriptions should be brief and easy to read. Using bullet points instead of long sentences allows recruiters to scan your resume more quickly.
Unless you have 10+ years of experience, your resume should never be longer than two pages. If not, two pages will suffice.
Follow Proper Formatting: Proper formatting will make your resume appear more appropriate and will draw your recruiter’s attention to your’eye for detail.’
Include a heading at the top of each section. Maintains consistency in your font throughout the document, and the font size should never be less than 10. Remove any unnecessary spaces and correct any typos.
Use Keywords and Action Words: To beat the ATS, customize your resume for each role you apply for (Applicant Tracking System). Even if you don’t have any relevant transferable skills, make sure to mention them.
Using keywords or action words relevant to your role will help you match the recruiters’ Boolean searches. Optimize your resume by identifying and including the keywords used in the job description in your resume.
Volunteer Experience: If you want to get a head start in your career in Canada, include one volunteer experience on your resume. Describe your roles and responsibilities during this opportunity.
If you include volunteer experience on your resume, you may be able to overcome the Canadian Experience Barrier.
Proofreading: Before sending your resume to hiring managers, make sure you thoroughly review it. You can send it out once you’ve covered all of the points you wanted to highlight about yourself.
You could also ask a friend to look at it. A different set of eyes can often detect differences that yours cannot.
What Should Your Canadian Resume Contain?
Name, contact information, educational qualifications, and work experience are the four sections that must be included in your resume. Aside from that, if you need to add weight to your resume, you can include any volunteer experience and awards.
Name: Because your name is the most important part of your resume, it should be written in large font. Put in your first and last names but not your middle name. Make sure it’s easy to read.
Contact Information: This should be placed directly next to or below your name. Your phone number, email address, and current address should all be included.
Educational Qualification: List your degrees in reverse chronological order if you have more than one. Make certain that you only include completed or current education. It should include the program of study, the name of the institution, the type of degree earned, and the years of attendance.
Awards: List out the three most significant achievements, awards or official recognization if that is relevant to the position you are applying for. Write a short description of how these achievements were substantial.
Cover Letter: Companies prefer resumes that come with a cover letter. It adds value to your application and, in turn, increases the chances of your resume getting selected.
Why Is a Cover Letter Necessary?
Hiring managers prefer resumes that come with cover letters. Cover letters are not only a courtesy but also an opportunity to impress the reader.
A good cover letter highlights your:
Immediate Value: First impressions are important. Use your cover letter to highlight your strong points and sell yourself to the reader. A concise and compelling letter will help you stand out from the crowd and be regarded as a formidable competitor.
Use the letter to demonstrate your unique skills, talents, and knowledge. You can demonstrate to recruiters how your skills are related to their requirements.
Personality: The tone of your letter will provide the employer with an insight into your personality and assist him in determining whether you can add value to his team.
What NOT to Include in a Canada Resume?
A generic resume can include a variety of items, but a Canadian resume is unique. In your resume, avoid including any excessively personal information. Age, gender, height, weight, sexual orientation, marital status, blood group, nationality, and other factors should be avoided.
Details about your family or parents should be avoided as well. Make certain that no personal photographs or annexes are used. A formal Canadian resume only includes information pertinent to the position or job role for which you are applying.
In your resume, avoid using gap years or one-year work permits. You can discuss this with the hiring manager during your face-to-face interview, but you should not include it on your resume.
Formats of Resumes Used in Canada
Reverse Chronological Resume: A reverse chronological resume lists your work experience in reverse chronological order. In other words, the order begins with the most recent experience and progresses to the oldest.
If you have prior experience working in the industry you are entering, you can use this format.
Functional Resume: A functional resume highlights your overall skills and qualifications. It lists all employment history except for skill and education. This is the best type of resume to use if you are changing jobs or trying your luck in a new industry. If you are a recent college graduate, you can also use this.
Reverse chronological and functional resumes are combined in this format.
The key to landing your dream job is your resume, and recruiters in Canada are a little pickier about it. Furthermore, they are now using the ATS, so the perfect format is essential. The first impression is extremely important and can make or break your application’s future.
Follow the steps outlined above when creating your resume, and concentrate on tailoring the right one to help you land an interview. Alternatively, you can seek the assistance of a professional resume builder to ensure that the overview is exactly as you expected it to be, unless you want your resume to be rejected on petty grounds.
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