1. Personal information:
Begin your CV with your name, address, phone number, and email address.
2. Career summary:
Include a short paragraph outlining what makes you different, whether it is personality, technical ability, managerial skills, team building or some other talents.
3. Work and Volunteer experience:
Include your previous titles, tasks, and key accomplishments. Volunteer experience is essential in a Canadian-style resume. List your experience in reverse-chronological order, including the duration and dates that you worked at each job.
4. Related skills:
Include computer skills as well as important job-related skills and certifications. Additional language skills can be essential in areas of Canada that primarily speak French.
5. Relevant education:
Include all tertiary information as well as any additional programs and courses. If you are a recent graduate, include your graduation dates and completed courses that may apply to the job. Your qualifications should be presented in reverse-chronological order meaning that your recent qualifications will appear first.
6. Awards and achievements:
Include work and non-work achievements including community awards that may relate to the job.
7. Professional memberships:
Include job-specific, business-related and community groups. Stay away from including any political or religious memberships.
Quick tips:
- Keep the sentences short and do not use any pronouns. (I, you, we)
- Tailor every CV to a particular company and job.
- Do not list personal interests or hobbies.
- Do not include the words “resume” or CV at the top of the page.
- Do not list that you are on a “gap year” as possible employers do not want employees who may leave within a year.
- Do not include references on your CV as it wastes valuable space.
- Convert all terms to the North American equivalent. (use terms like “high school” or “GPA”)