Writing a resume for Canada: conventions that matter

Applying in Canada means writing a resume, and Canadian conventions sit somewhere between US and European norms: short and achievement-focused, with a few local habits of its own. This guide collects the conventions that matter most, checked against Job Bank, the Government of Canada's official job service, and the University of Manitoba's career centre resume guide. Where employers differ, we say so.

What Canadian employers expect, in short

A Canadian resume is usually one or two pages, tailored to the posting, and focused on results rather than duties. It carries no photo and no personal details beyond your name and contact information, and it uses clear, uncluttered formatting that both recruiters and screening software can read easily. Federal and bilingual employers may post in English and French; apply in the language of the posting.

One page or two

One page suits students, recent graduates and early-career candidates. Two pages are normal once you have solid relevant experience, and Canadian recruiters are comfortable with two. More than two is rarely right outside academia and federal government applications, which have their own conventions. If you are trimming, cut the oldest and least relevant lines first.

Resume or CV in Canada

"Resume" is the standard job application document. "CV" in Canada means the long academic record used for research, teaching and graduate school. As in the US, sending a multi-page academic CV for an industry job works against you. Follow the wording of each posting.

What to leave off

Job Bank is direct on this: a photo is not the norm in Canada, and including one can lower your chances by shifting focus away from your skills and experience. Also leave off your date of birth, age, marital status, Social Insurance Number and references. Employers ask for references separately, late in the process. City and province are enough for your location; a full street address adds nothing.

The header and contact details

Put your name at the top of the first page with your phone, professional email, city and province, and a LinkedIn URL if your profile is current. Job Bank's advice is blunt: double-check this block, because a wrong phone number or email makes the rest of the resume useless. Skip the objective statement unless you are changing careers; a short summary naming your target role and strongest evidence works better.

Language and tone

Write in the third person without "I", "me" or "my" (the University of Manitoba's guide is explicit about this), start each line with an action verb and end it with a result. Expand acronyms so any reader understands them. Use Canadian spelling (centre, colour, organize) and keep sentences short. For bilingual postings, apply in the language the posting uses; for federal roles, check whether the process expects English, French, or both.

Tailoring and screening software

Canadian employers expect a tailored resume, and large ones often screen with software first. The working method from both sources: identify the keywords in the posting (the exact skills, tools and titles it names) and use them where they truthfully apply. Focus bullets on successes, results and achievements instead of listing duties. Keep formatting simple: one column, standard headings, no tables or text boxes, and the file type the posting requests.

Formatting and white space

White space is not wasted space. Keep margins of at least 2 cm, use one clean typeface, and let formatting highlight rather than clutter. A recruiter should find your strongest evidence in seconds, on paper and on a phone screen alike.

Applying elsewhere? The conventions differ: see writing a CV for the UK, writing a resume for the US and writing a CV for Germany.

Frequently asked questions

Should I include a photo?

No. Photos are not the norm on Canadian resumes and can work against you. The exceptions are acting and modelling, which use headshots anyway.

English or French?

Follow the posting. A French posting expects a French application, an English posting English. For federal government roles, check the language requirements of the process itself.

Do I include references?

Not on the resume. Canadian employers ask for references separately, usually near the offer stage. A line saying "references available on request" is optional and increasingly omitted.