The Perfect Canadian Resume Format (& Free Templates)

If you want to make a lasting impression on Canadian employers and land a job, you’ll need a well-written resume that follows Canadian HR standards. We’ll explain what those are, provide examples, and walk you through the step-by-step process of making your Canadian resume.

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Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

What’s the difference between the American and Canadian resume formats?

American and Canadian resumes are structured the same, with only a few small differences:

• American resumes tend to use the one-page format, while Canadian resumes often include 1-2 pages (depending on the individual’s experience and qualifications).
• Your Canadian resume should use Canadian spelling rather than American spelling.
• Since French is an official language of Canada, make sure your resume matches the language of the job description and includes your proficiency in French and English.

For both Canadian and American applications, follow these basic resume formatting guidelines:

• use a standard 10-12 pt font
• set your margins to 1”
• leave out personal information and photos
• set your document to US letter size (not A4)
• include your contact information, resume summary, professional experience, education, and skills

And, whether you’re applying for work in the US or Canada, remember to carefully adjust your resume according to the:

• industry you’re applying for
• requirements from the job description

Free Canadian resume templates

Excited to find job opportunities in Canada but unsure where to start? Use these Canadian resume examples and templates to fill in your own information.

Use this downloadable Canadian resume template to give yourself a head start on the resume writing process:

Download This Free Canadian Resume Template

Resume highlights

• The candidate uses two separate skills sections, allowing them to demonstrate their proficiency in specific technical skills with skill bars.
• In the professional experience section, the candidate uses a timeline to demonstrate their career progression and show employers how much they’ve grown over the course of their sales career.

The best resume templates for 2024

One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

View Resume Templates

Here’s an example of a student resume for an entry-level position:

Download This Free Canadian Resume Template

Resume highlights

• Despite having little formal work experience, the candidate demonstrates a strong blend of academic knowledge and practical experience by describing coursework along with hands-on internships and projects. This showcases their ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world environmental challenges.
• This candidate uses their education section to highlight relevant coursework, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities, showing employers how knowledgeable, motivated, and capable they are.

Here’s an example of an experienced restaurant manager resume:

Resume highlights

• This restaurant manager clearly demonstrates leadership skills and operational expertise by detailing specific achievements (such as reducing turnover and operational costs), providing tangible evidence of their impact on the restaurant’s success.
• The candidate showcases a balanced skill set by highlighting both technical abilities (like inventory management and financial planning) and essential soft skills (like team leadership and customer service excellence), making it clear to potential employers that they’re capable of driving both staff performance and customer satisfaction.

This example showcases a candidate’s nursing experience:

Resume highlights

• The candidate demonstrates advanced clinical expertise by emphasizing their experience in conducting accurate assessments and managing complex patient cases to improve patient outcomes and effectively handle the responsibilities of a nurse practitioner.
• They highlight a commitment to patient-centered care by showcasing their skills in patient education and counseling, along with successful collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.

How to write a Canadian resume in 6 steps

Whether you’re applying for your first job at Tim Hortons or one of the Big 4s, here are six key steps for highlighting your resume and standing out as a candidate:

1. Begin by listing your contact details on your resume header

Start your resume with an attention-grabbing resume header that quickly showcases your contact information to potential employers.

Include these essential contact details on the header of your resume:

You can also add these optional details:

Here’s an example of an applicant’s resume header:

2. Write a compelling resume objective

Your resume objective (or career objective) is an important section that follows your resume header and is your opportunity to explain why you’re a top candidate for your target role.

Keep your resume objective between 3–4 sentences so it concisely:

• summarizes your relevant experience (if you have any)
• highlights your key skills
• lays out your education details and career goals

This is an example of a resume objective from a Canadian applicant:

In addition to traditional work experience, the relevant experience you include can be something you’ve accomplished through education or other activities — just as long as it’s related to the job.

3. Add numbers and accomplishments to your work experience section

The work experience section of your resume is a crucial element that Canadian recruiters and employers will pay close attention to, so ensure you get it right.

If you have multiple jobs in your work highlights section, list your most recent position first and older positions afterward.

For each work experience, list the following information:

• job title and the dates of employment
• company name, location, and province or territory (e.g., ON or BC)
• 3–5 bullet points describing your top achievements and responsibilities

Don’t forget to quantify your resume with numbers (e.g., percentages, dollar amounts) and specific accomplishments to provide employers with context and showcase the impact you made in your previous roles.

Additionally, to further highlight your resume achievements, start each bullet point on your resume with an action verb. Action-oriented words like “Produced” or “Led” give hiring managers a positive impression of your work ethic and initiative.

For instance, our applicant’s achievements in their work experience section include action verbs and numbers (highlighted in bold):

4. Describe your educational background

You should always include your education details on a Canadian resume, but the placement depends on your level of experience:

• If you have limited work experience or are currently a student, list your education section closer to the top of your resume
• If you have several years of work experience, list your education details after your work history section

When listing your education, you should only include your highest degree. If you didn’t attend college, include your high school diploma instead.

Here’s what to include in the education section of your resume:

• degree name
• institution name, location, and province
• graduation date (if within the last 15 years)
• relevant coursework (if it pertains to the job or the company’s needs)

Have a look at our Canadian applicant’s education details:

5. Emphasize your top hard and soft skills

When preparing your Canadian resume, consider the various skills you’ve acquired through work, classes, extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports — and then include the most relevant ones in your resume’s skills section.

You should highlight both hard skills, such as proficiency in specific software or technical abilities, and soft skills, like communication and problem-solving abilities, that are highly valued by employers.

Here’s a list of the top hard and soft skills for a Canadian resume in 2024:

Here are some of the top trending skills for 3 key Canadian sectors:

6. Finish by adding any other relevant resume sections

To enhance your Canadian job application, consider including additional sections that highlight your relevant experiences and skills.

Here are some extra sections you can include on your resume:

Frequently asked questions and answers about Canadian resumes

Interested in learning more about Canadian resumes? We’ve got you covered.

Here are three commonly asked questions and answers related to Canada’s resume writing process:

1. Which fonts and margins are the best for Canadian resumes?

When it comes to the best resume font choices for your Canadian job application, use a font that’s easy to read, professional, and consistent throughout your document.

Some popular font choices for Canadian style resumes include Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia, and Verdana.

Generally, stick to a font size between 10–12 and avoid using overly fancy or decorative fonts that might make your resume difficult for employers to read.

Finally, use 1” resume margins to distribute your information evenly throughout the page.

If necessary though, you can adjust your margins within a range of ½”–1″.

2. What shouldn’t be included on a Canadian resume?

Here’s what shouldn’t be included on a Canadian resume:

• a photo of yourself
• personal information such as your age, birth date, passport information, SIN number, marital status, race, and religion
• your salary requirements
• your references (put them on a separate page instead and submit them later if you make it further in the job process)

3. Do Canadians say CV or resume?

Canada uses both the terms resume and CV, but for different purposes.

To clarify the answer — in Canada, a “resume” is a brief document that’s used for entry-level or mid-career positions and contains your most recent experiences and qualifications.

By contrast, a Canadian “CV” is a lengthy, detailed document used for academic or research positions and contains information about your education, work experience, publications, and other academic accomplishments.

4. How do you spell resume in Canada?

In Canada, “résumé” is the correct spelling, but it’s also commonly written as “resume,” and both versions are acceptable.

5. Can a Canadian resume be 2 pages?

Yes, a Canadian resume can be 2 pages long, especially if you have significant work experience or a lot of relevant accomplishments. However, it’s important to include only relevant information and keep the content concise and focused.