Tips for writing a Canadian CV and cover letter

This article was created to help all Canadian job seekers on their journey. The first impression of you is based on a resume and a cover letter — even if your skills are top-level, poor writing can ruin your chances. So, read this piece and enter the Canadian job market 2025 with confidence.

Format of the resume for Canadian jobs

The structure, language and technical details required for the Canadian style resume most likely differ from those in your home country. Here are the first Canadian resume tips for you:

• Your resume shouldn’t exceed two pages. Especially if you’re writing a resume for part-time jobs in Canada with little relevant experience.
• Use Canadian English (check the spelling) or French, depending on the position you’re applying to.
• Don’t attach your photo. Canadians find it silly, naive and unprofessional. Also, excluding pictures eliminates biases: HRs look at your skills, not your face and race.
• Don’t use ‘I’, ‘my’, ‘me’. Just like photos, using personal pronouns can make you look unprofessional and somewhat arrogant.
• Remove hobbies. Note that here you can experiment and add interests related to the position, but it’s not what employers really look at.
• Exclude references and personal information (age, weight, religion, etc). It’ll disturb employers from what’s really important — your work experience.
• Use YYYY-MM-DD date format.
• Choose readable fonts. Keep it simple and serious.
• Save PDFs.
• Use bullets for better structure.

To keep up with the Canadian job market trends, include these parts in your resume:

• Contact information: name, phone number, email, city/country and LinkedIn link.
• Professional summary for experienced applicants. On top of your resume, put two to five short sentences about your job experience, relevant education, and achievements. Imagine you have 30 seconds to convince HRs you’re the one and only for this position — be very specific and mention career aspirations.
• Add your previous experience in a reverse-chronological order (start with the latest position).
• Or choose the functional resume format if you have little experience yet.
• List your skills.
• End with education.

Regarding the format and technical questions, these are the main Canadian resume tips. However, always remember that there is no golden rule to tailoring your resume for Canadian jobs. So, don’t hesitate to make adjustments: remove the professional summary if it feels unnecessary, switch between functional and reverse-chronological formats, or add and remove hobbies as needed. The main goal is to showcase your achievements while keeping the resume clear, well-structured, and easy to read.

Here’s an example of how to write a resume in Canada:

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Dos for the Canadian style resume

Now, let’s talk more about how to describe your work experience in a resume for Canadian jobs.

Share real examples of what you’ve accomplished

Current Canadian job market trends are all about real achievements and an action-driven approach. To you, as a job hunter, it means adding more accomplishments and verbs such as ‘Did this’, ‘Changed that’, or ‘Reviewed processes and increased performance for 12.46%’.

Use real examples and go beyond dry descriptions of your responsibilities. Some people recommend this formula: Problem → Action → Result.

Add numbers where possible

If you know how your actions have affected the business metrics, don’t be afraid to flex it (humbly). Numbers catch HRs’ eyes, and that’s exactly what we need.

Canadian resume tips: Don’t make up numbers. If you can’t quantify your achievements, just leave them as it is.

Use simple grammar and keywords

The perfect Canadian style resume is easy to read and edited for each application using keywords. Understand how your potential employer describes the position and rewrite your text in a similar style. Also, Google general keywords for your profession and blend them carefully into your resume. Why is this important? Your resume is first scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which filters applications based on keywords. You don’t want to miss out just because your experience wasn’t phrased in the way the system recognises. So, use the keywords that fit Canadian job market trends.

Unpaid work and volunteering count, too

If you’ve just graduated or are transitioning to a new professional field, having no full-time experience is normal. If that’s the case, include internships, related university projects and some volunteering experiences you’ve had.

You already know how to write a resume in Canada: highlight your skills and accomplishments. Do exactly the same with unpaid work. You definitely achieved something, so share it with the employers!

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Don’ts in your resume for Canadian jobs

Avoid these mistakes when outlining your Canadian style resume.

Don’t write why you’ve left previous jobs

If an employer is interested, they’ll ask you about your relationships with former colleagues during an interview. For the job resume, your thoughts on previous workplaces are unnecessary, as they don’t add value to your application.

Don’t be offensive

Stating ‘I want to work in a team consisting of men/women/Canadians/etc only’ is immediately a no. Be respectful and open-minded, don’t reveal your political views and keep your writing professional.

Don’t put salary requirements and references

These are the details you’ll discuss in the later stages. Let employers evaluate your skills first.

Note: All the tips listed above suit a resume for part-time jobs in Canada as well.

Cover letter writing tips

Cover letters and resumes often go in pairs. You may use cover letter writing services or compose it yourself if you’re confident. Whatever you choose, proofread the final result, keeping these cover letter writing tips in mind:

Respect the structure

Most Canadian cover letter samples follow similar patterns in order:

1. Your personal information (name, city, phone, email).
2. Date.
3. Employer information (name, department, address, and name and position of a hiring manager if you know it).
4. Greetings.
5. Introduction.
6. Main body.
7. Conclusion.
8. Signature.

Show your personal connection to a company

You may have visited their workshops or been following their updates recently — show why you want to work with them from a personal perspective.

Do your research

Managers should see that you’re invested in their company. Mention recent changes, awards, the company’s mission or anything that fits in your narration and reveals genuine interest. But don’t dedicate the whole paragraph to it, a couple of sentences is enough.

Show the benefits of hiring you

One of the best cover letter writing tips is to think from the employer’s perspective. In the main body, show how your skills will contribute to the business. First, try to convince yourself that you’re the top-1 candidate and then prove it to potential employers with facts, your ambitions and numbers. Be elegant with your wordings, saying ‘I’m the best of the best, believe me’ will only repel companies, use humble but confident sentences and facts-facts-facts.

You can read some Canadian cover letter samples here.

FAQ — Resume for Canadian jobs

Can I pay someone to write my cover letter?

Yes, there are cover letter writing services helping job seekers. Make sure to re-read it and request adjustments if needed.

How to write a resume for part-time jobs in Canada?

It’s similar to full-time job applications. Leave some of your personal information (name, phone, email, city), explain your previous work experience by highlighting your real achievements, mention your education and skills, and you can also add a professional summary and any relevant volunteering experience.

What is the Canadian hiring process?

Apply online by sending your resume and cover letter. If a company is interested, they’ll invite you to a first-round interview to discuss the position and your expectations. The second-round interview focuses more on skills and technical knowledge.

However, the process can vary from company to company.

What is happening in the Canadian job market 2025?

While the unemployment rate is rising, industries like specialised IT, power engineering, healthcare and agriculture are in great demand.

Can foreigners legally work in Canada?

Yes. To move to Canada, foreigners have to adjust their resume for Canadian jobs, secure a job offer and apply for a work visa.

How to send money from Canada?

1. Join Profee.
2. Select countries and currencies.
3. Enter the transfer amount.
4. Choose your payment method.
5. Add the recipient details.
6. Review and confirm.