A Canadian resume is one to two pages, written in English or French, with contact details, a short summary, work experience with measurable results, education, and skills. Leave out a photo, date of birth, marital status and your Social Insurance Number. Use Canadian spelling, tailor keywords to each posting, and list international experience with the employer's country and a short description.
These are common practices, not legal rules, and employers differ. Every example is fictional; replace each [bracketed] detail with your own, and follow the job posting when it asks for something specific.
What a Canadian CV usually includes
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Name, city and province, phone, email, LinkedIn |
| Summary | Three lines aimed at the posting |
| Work experience | Reverse chronological, with achievements and numbers |
| Education | Degree, institution, country and year; note credential assessment if you have one |
| Skills | Technical skills and tools from the posting |
| Volunteer experience | Valued in Canada, especially for newcomers |
What to leave out of a Canadian resume
- Photo, date of birth, age, marital status, religion, nationality.
- Social Insurance Number (give it only after you are hired).
- References (say "available on request" or leave out).
- Salary history.
Canadian CV template (sample to copy)
Canadian resume sample (fictional)
[Your Name] — [Target role]
[City], [Province] · [phone] · [email] · linkedin.com/in/[user]
SUMMARY: [Role] with [years] years in [industry]; [result with number].
EXPERIENCE: [Title], [Company], [City, Country], [Month Year]–Present — [achievement]; [achievement]
EDUCATION: [Degree], [University], [Country], [Year] (ECA completed, if applicable)
SKILLS: [tools] · LANGUAGES: English ([level]), French ([level])
VOLUNTEER: [Role], [Organisation], [Year]
Tips for newcomers to Canada
Explain foreign employers in a few words ("[Company], a 500-person logistics firm in [country]"). If you have an Educational Credential Assessment, mention it. Job Bank, the Government of Canada's job site, lists vacancies and resume advice. Work authorization depends on your immigration status; check it before applying.
- What is the Canadian resume format?
- A one-to-two-page resume with contact details, summary, results-focused experience, education and skills, without a photo or personal details like age or marital status.
- Is a CV different from a resume in Canada?
- In most jobs they mean the same document. In academia, a CV is a longer record of research and publications.
- Should I include references on a Canadian resume?
- No. Prepare them separately and share when the employer asks.
For Australia, see the Australian resume format; for the UK, the UK CV format. Compare other countries in the CV format by country guide. Copy the template above for free, or build yours in the CV builder: creating and previewing is free, and the PDF download is part of a paid plan.
