🇨🇦How to Write a Resume for Canada

Quick facts: CVs in Canada

These are common practices; they vary by employer and industry. If a job ad asks for something specific, follow the ad.

What to include

What to leave off

• A photo — Not expected; employers avoid photos because of anti-discrimination norms.
• Age, marital status or religion — Personal details that are best left out.
• Your SIN — Your Social Insurance Number is sensitive; never put it on a resume.
• A long, Middle-East-style CV — Many pages and personal details look out of place in this market.
• Unfamiliar job titles — Use the closest title Canadians recognise, while staying truthful.

ATS and CVs in Canada

Many mid-size and large Canadian employers, as well as banks and public bodies, use applicant tracking systems or online application portals. The software compares your resume with the job posting, so if your skills are not written in roughly the same words, your chances drop even when your experience fits. This matters especially for newcomers whose experience comes from abroad.

• Use a single-column template such as Executive or Minimal.
• Keep section headings clear and date formats consistent.
• Use the posting's wording for skills you genuinely have.
• Avoid sidebars and tables.
• If the job is in French, write the whole resume in French, not half of it.

Check your ATS score with the CV checker and compare against the posting with the job-description matcher.

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CV example

Examples by job

Applying for jobs in Canada

Applications in Canada usually go through LinkedIn, Indeed and Job Bank, the government's job site. Networking and informational interviews help a lot, particularly for newcomers.

• Canadian experience: some employers ask about local experience. Volunteering, short courses and Canadian certifications can help bridge that gap.
• Credential recognition: regulated professions such as engineering, nursing and accounting often require recognition from a provincial professional body before you can use the title.
• References: employers often ask for two or three and call them late in the process.
• Notice period: around two weeks is common, but it varies by contract and province.
• Work permits: if you need a permit or immigration status, rules change, so always rely on official Government of Canada sources.

See the civil engineer example and compare with the US guide.

Many settlement organisations also offer free resume reviews and interview practice for newcomers, so look for one in your city.

CV language

Canada has two official languages. In most provinces work happens in English, and many employers use Canadian spelling, which mixes British forms (colour, centre) with some American ones; just stay consistent. In Quebec, French is usually the main working language, and some federal and bilingual roles require both.

Our builder outputs resumes in English or French, so you can create both versions from the same details. Have a fluent French speaker review the French version before you send it.

CV or resume?

In Canada the common term is resume: the short document you use for most job applications. CV usually refers to the longer academic document used for university, research and medical positions. In Quebec you will hear CV in French for an ordinary resume. The name changes, but the idea is the same: one or two focused pages about your experience.

Cover letters in Canada

Cover letters are common in Canada and expected for many roles; some postings make them mandatory. Keep it to one page, polite, friendly and direct, and explain why you are interested in the company and how your experience transfers, even if it was gained outside Canada. If you apply in French, write the letter in French too. Our cover letter generator works in English and Arabic, so review any French version yourself.

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