Writing your resume

There are two basic types of resume: chronological and functional.

Many Canadian resumes are chronological, and it is what most employers expect. They are easy to scan and provide a clear timeline of your work and experience. This style is useful for most professions, and is probably the type of resume you will want to develop.

Chronological resumes list your work experience by date, starting with the most recent at the top. They can also help demonstrate how you’ve developed in your career, or taken on new responsibilities over time.

Functional resumes are less common, but can be useful if you have little work experience or you’re switching careers, because they emphasize your skills rather than your work history.

In a functional resume, you group your work experience by skill, rather than position. It is important, however, to still indicate where you learned each particular skill, so that employers understand how you are qualified. If you write a functional resume, you should also still include a brief list of positions held, along with the dates you held them.

Combination resumes are another option, using both chronological and functional aspects. 
These are usually only used for high-level executives with a large amount of experience, or individuals with specialized skills.

For more information on these formats, and to decide which is best for you, see below:

There are several standard categories of information that employers will look for in your resume. These are:

• Contact information
• Education
• Work history and experience
• Technical skills
• Other information like relevant awards, association membership, or volunteer experience

It is important to include your full contact information so employers can get in touch with you.

Place your contact information at the top of the page, and write your name in larger font so that it stands out from the rest of the page. Many people put their contact information in the document header, as it looks professional and leaves more room on the page for other information.

Include your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. If you have a professional blog or X account, you can provide a link to that as well, but only if these are current, professional, and related to the job you are applying for.

List the degrees and diplomas you’ve obtained, starting with the most recent. Provide the name of the school, the city where it’s located, your area of study, and the dates of your program or graduation.

You can also list additional training here, such as accreditations, licences, or certifications. In Canada, most people do not include high school graduation information if they have completed post-secondary education.

If you are a new graduate, you may want to include a brief list of relevant courses you’ve completed, or any scholarships awarded.

Include the following information for each relevant job you’ve held:

• Job title
• Name of the company or organization where you worked
• Dates of employment (including just the years is usually sufficient, unless you worked there for a short amount of time)

For each position, also provide a summary of your job responsibilities, functions, and accomplishments. Be as specific as you can, and quantify your experiences whenever possible; for example, if you were a supervisor, list exactly how many people you supervised. This helps the employer understand the scope of your experience.

Include any promotions you received by listing new job titles or additional responsibilities you took on.

Remember to use action words to describe what you’ve achieved.

Do you have any specialized skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for? If so, include them. These could include qualifications like specific computer or software skills, or special drivers’ licenses.

Include any additional information that you think is relevant to the job and helps you stand out from other candidates. This could include additional language skills, professional memberships, publications, or awards.

Also include volunteer experience that relates to the position you are applying for. Employers value relevant volunteer experience, and this is a useful way to show how you’ve gained experience even if you don’t have much work history.

For more information:

In Canada, you do not include personal information in your resume such as:

• Age, place or date of birth
• Marital status
• Immigration status
• Social Insurance Number

You are also not expected to provide a photo of yourself, unless you are applying for work as a model or actor.

Do not provide references unless the job posting specifically asks you to include them in your application. If you do need to provide references, list them on a separate page, rather than in your resume. Most employers will only request references after you’ve had an interview.

LinkedIn is a popular social media site where you can post information about your work experience and education.

Many employers check job applicants’ LinkedIn profiles, and it is a good way to promote your skills online. Employers may also be interested to see who you are connected to professionally, and which organizations or professional associations you are a member of.

Remember that LinkedIn profiles are public, so be sure to keep yours up-to-date and professional. Creating a basic LinkedIn profile is free.
For more information, or to set up a profile, visit the LinkedIn webpage (see below).