Use a Canadian resume format to land a job in Canada. With examples!

Whether you’re a Canadian citizen on the job hunt or just looking to make a move and work in Canada, you’ll need a resume that aligns with the standard formatting used by most Canadian companies. While the difference between a Canadian and US resume is minor (and yes, they do call it a "resume" in Canada, not a CV, although sometimes they’re used interchangeably), it’s important to show a potential employer that you’ve done your research and are taking your job search seriously.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to assemble a Canadian resume, including:

• What is the difference between Canadian and American resumes?

• What is the best format for a resume in Canada?

• Examples of Canadian resume formatting

Canadian vs. American resume — what’s the difference?

While American and Canadian resumes are very similar, there are a few subtle differences you should be aware of. Canadian resumes, in general, tend to be more concise and basic in format and place more emphasis on achievements and results, as opposed to job duties and overall responsibilities. They tend to be shorter, around one page long (unless you have many years of experience), and utilize more formal language, whereas an American resume might use more industry-specific terms. Canadian resumes also place less emphasis on an educational background, while American resumes tend to highlight degrees, certifications, and honors front and center. None of these differences are insurmountable, however, so if you have an American resume it would only take a few tweaks to make it align with Canadian standards.

Formatting tips for a Canadian resume

A Canadian resume is fairly straightforward, without a lot of long chunks of text or complicated formatting. There are two types of resumes you can create — a reverse chronological resume, which is most common, or a functional resume. A functional resume highlights the skills you gained in your previous employment, and is best for people who are changing careers, are recent graduates, or have a gap in their career history. To assemble your Canadian resume, consider the following sections.

1. The resume header

Like most resumes, the header is placed at the top of the resume and should include the following information:

• Your name, including any pertinent certifications or titles

• Your phone number and email address

• City and province

• A LinkedIn profile address, if you have one

Please note that your email address should look professional — this is not the time to share your “[email protected]” address. Wondering what not to include on your resume? Make sure you don’t include any super-personal information, such as a photo, your age, ethnicity/religion, marital status, or any disability. While it is illegal to discriminate against anyone because of these things, it may cause you to fall victim to unconscious bias on the part of the recruiter. It's better to omit it.

2. Professional summary

While this section isn’t mandatory, it’s a good opportunity to give a brief “pitch” of your experience and qualifications. Don’t editorialize — while it's good to use “power adjectives” to describe your background, avoid hyperbolic statements such as “the best salesman ever in the history of the company.” Keep your summary brief and highlight your relevant experience and accomplishments.

3. Your work experience

Most Canadian resumes utilize the “reverse chronological” format for resumes, which puts your most recent experience at the top. When listing your work history, make sure to:

• Include your job title, employer/company name, location, and dates employed

• Use specific, quantifiable data to highlight your accomplishments and achievements

• Use bullet points to list your job responsibilities, emphasizing achievements over day-to-day activities

• Make sure to incorporate keywords from the job listing to make it through the applicant tracking software

4. Your educational background

Canadian resumes tend to prioritize experience and achievements over education, so while it should be included, it doesn’t need to be front and center. Include your high school diploma only if you didn’t attend college. And don’t bother listing your GPA, unless you’re a recent graduate and you graduated with honors. Make sure to include:

• University/college name

• School location

• Degree and area of concentration

• Year degree was earned (if less than ten years prior)

5. The skills section

In this section, you can list the job-specific hard and soft skills at which you’re proficient, including things like “leadership” or “organization” as well as software and applications you have used in your work. While you can use a scale to rank your proficiency, it’s probably better to include only the skills in which you’re highly adept and leave the others off.

6. Optional categories

While not mandatory, many Canadian resumes include additional sections to showcase volunteer work, internships/co-op programs, certifications, or awards.

Important things to remember for a Canadian resume format

True, Canadian resumes are very similar to US resumes, but there are a few differences you need to keep in mind, especially if you’re applying for a job in Canada from another country — you want to stand out, but not in a negative way! As you’re reviewing your resume, and including your keywords, skills, and power verbs, there are some small but important details you’ll want to keep in mind.

Don’t forget the spelling differences!

There’s one area that might have never even occurred to you — spelling! Of course, you’re going to proofread for spelling errors, but when it comes to Canadian resumes, there’s a bit more to it than that. Yes, Canadians speak English (and French, depending on the province) but Canada spells certain words a little differently, much like the British do. Here is a brief, non-inclusive list of common words that are spelled differently in Canada that you might want to be aware of while writing your resume.

Extra tips for your Canadian resume format

Just like any resume you’d submit for a job, make sure your resume is properly formatted, easy to read, and free from spelling errors. Some other things to keep in mind:

• Use a professional font, such as Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Arial.

• Incorporate white space to keep your resume from looking dense or hard to read.

• Canadian resumes use the standard North American letter size, which is 8.5 x 11 inches with a one-inch margin on all sides.

• The majority of Canadian websites accept both PDF and Word documents, but you should save your resume as a PDF to avoid formatting issues when the document is opened unless the job posting expressly requests Word documents.

Sample Canadian resume — reverse chronological format

Integrating the above categories into a sample Canadian resume would look something like this:

Sample Canadian resume — functional format

In some cases, you may want to utilize a functional resume instead of a reverse-chronological one, especially if you’re a career changer or a recent graduate. A functional resume highlights your abilities and skills, rather than your career path. 

If you are trying to move to Canada from another country, try to mention any international experience you might have, especially if it's related to Canada in some way. And remember, when formatting your Canadian resume, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s a “highlight reel,” and you should save the detailed information for an interview. And, as always, it’s important to tailor your resume for each job for which you apply. It may take a little extra time, but it will show your potential employer that you’re serious about the position, and not just taking a “scattershot” approach to finding a job. Be clear, concise, and straightforward. Your next Canadian job awaits!

Need some assistance creating the perfect resume? Check out our Resume Writing service to take your job search to the next level.

Key takeaways

1. Canadian resumes, in general, tend to be more concise and basic in format and place more emphasis on achievements and results

2. A reverse chronological format is most common in Canada, but a functional resume might be helpful if you’re a new graduate, changing careers, or have a significant gap in your resume

3. While the formatting of Canadian resumes is similar to most other countries, remember to use the metric system, format your dates as day/month/year, and be aware of alternate spellings of common words.