Canadian Resume Format: What Employers Expect.
A Canadian resume looks a lot like a US one: concise, reverse-chronological and focused on results. Human rights laws mean you leave out your photo, age, marital status and other personal details.
- Right format in one click
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The Canadian resume at a Glance.
Canadian employers value local experience, volunteering and language skills. If you're new to Canada, highlight transferable results and your work authorization, and use Canadian spelling.
- Length
- One to two pages
- Photo
- No
- Personal details
- No date of birth, marital status, religion or SIN
- Paper size
- US Letter
- Spelling
- Canadian English: colour, centre, but organize
- Languages
- Mention English and French levels
Sections, in Order.
- 1
Contact details
Name, city and province, phone, email, LinkedIn.
- 2
Professional summary
A short, tailored summary.
- 3
Work experience
Reverse-chronological, with Canadian experience first if you have it.
- 4
Education
Include Canadian equivalency if your degree is from abroad.
- 5
Skills and languages
Technical skills, plus English and French.
- 6
Volunteer experience
Valued by many Canadian employers.
Do This, Not That.
Do
- Show measurable results in every role.
- Include volunteer work, especially in Canada.
- State your work authorization if you're an immigrant.
- Tailor the resume to each job posting.
Avoid
- Adding a photo or personal details.
- Including your Social Insurance Number.
- Using unexplained foreign acronyms.
- Going past two pages.
Pick the Country. We Handle the Rest.
- Pick the Canadian resume format and the layout adapts for you
- Photo, personal details and headings set the way employers expect
- Live ATS checks while you write
- A clean, text-based PDF ready to send
Canadian resume
Questions.
Still unsure? Our team answers every message, usually within one business day.
Contact SupportIs a Canadian resume the same as a US resume?
They're very similar. The main differences are Canadian spelling, more weight on volunteering, and mentioning English and French skills.
Should I include a photo on my resume in Canada?
No. Canadian employers avoid photos and personal details to comply with human rights legislation.
How do I list foreign education in Canada?
List the degree as awarded, and add a Canadian equivalency from a credential assessment service (such as WES) if you have one.
Other resume formats
Also useful: our free ATS resume checker, the resume templates and the AI resume builder.
Write Your Canadian resume Today.
Start free, then switch to the Canada format with Pro. Your content stays the same while the layout, headings and personal details adapt.