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RESUME WRITING TIPS

Having a resume that stands out is one of the top concerns for most job seekers when applying for a new position. A strong resume with proper formatting and content will often give you an advantage over other candidates that apply for the same position, especially in today's competitive job market.

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that will guide you to create a professional and effective resume so that you can get noticed by employers.  

DO'S

DONT'S

Your resume should be organized, neat, clean, and consistent if you want the employer to immediately see that you are qualified for the position you are applying for.

State your achievements and work experience that are connected to the position you are applying for. You can start by reviewing the job description and the employer's website.

Take note that Canadian recruiters or employers anticipate receiving resumes that are only 2 pages or less. Ensure that you eliminate experiences from more than 10 years ago so that the employers/recruiters can focus on the most recent and relevant information on your resume.

Canadian recruiters or employers evaluate applicable professional qualifications and achievements. State what you have accomplished in your work experience.

It is never a good idea to lie on your resume. You do not want to overemphasize your skills or achievements and mislead the recruiters or employers. Always be confident and honest about what you can really offer

If possible, add numbers to quantify your achievements, as this helps recruiters/employers really picture the impact you’ve made in your position. This will also make your resume look more impressive. For instance, in your work as a supervisor or officer, how many people directly reported to you? If you were a part of a sales team, how much sales did you bring to the company during the time that you worked there? Or as a factory worker, how many products did you assemble every week?

Apply clear and simple words and easy-to-understand language. Complicated wording may create miscommunication. Use keywords that show up in the job posting on your resume, as many employers now rely on applicant tracking systems that look for keyword matches.

If you do volunteer work and it is related to the job that you are applying for, include this volunteer experience on your resume. Skills obtained from volunteer work can be very relevant to the job that you are applying for.

This includes your full name, email, and phone number. Always double-check that your information is accurate, or else the employer won't be able to contact you.

Before sending in your resume, make sure that you double-check details such as company names, job titles, and dates to ensure that everything is accurate. Also, look for grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

Ensure that your email is easy to read and that it is professional and non-offensive. Generally, your email address should be based on your name. Avoid using any nicknames, numbers, or special characters.

Do not include your personal details such as date of birth, age, weight, height, marital status, religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other personal details not related to the job. As per Canadian law, recruiters or employers cannot discriminate based on the above factors and should hire candidates based on their qualifications and experience.

Unlike other countries, Canadian employers do not expect to see candidates’ photos on resumes. Having the photo on the resume may divert a recruiter or employer's focus from reading the relevant information or may make them unconsciously discriminate against your application based on how you look. Therefore, it is best not to include photos.

Make your resume easy to read by limiting the number of bullets under each work experience. Usually, 5-7 bullets will be enough for employers/recruiters to see your capability and potential. Keep the information listed in each bullet relevant and concise.

To make the resume look more professional, avoid using words such as “I," "my," or "me". Always make sure that whenever you write your resume, you are writing for a third person, as if it's being written by someone else.

It will never be enough to just list your job responsibilities. Remember, recruiters or employers will look forward to seeing the impact you’ve made, rather than just seeing a list of your responsibilities. Highlight your achievements by putting a personal spin on your job duties and providing specific examples.

Statements on your resume should be relevant to the position you are pursuing. Take note that even if you have the best experience, it may not be related to the position that you are applying for, and your resume will not get noticed.

Don’t fill up the resume completely with wall-to-wall text. Having a very busy resume will be very hard to read. Keep to a simple font and use the same font throughout the resume. Use 11-12pt font size for normal text, 14-16pt font size for section titles and headers.

Canadian recruiters and employers do not expect you to put reasons for leaving your previous jobs on your resume. You may be asked about why you left a certain job in an interview, and you can answer then, but remember not to talk negatively about a previous or current employer during the interview.

Employers usually contact the references after an interview when they want to hire you, so this does not need to be included in the resum,e where it is more important to show your achievements and experiences.

RESUME TEMPLATE

Having the proper format and organization of your resume is very important to look professional. Here is the simple and effective resume template if you are starting from scratch.

DOWNLOAD RESUME TEMPLATE


Preparing for an Interview

An interview is a vital step in making a good impression and it allows you to demonstrate why you deserve the job. Here are some tips on how you can prepare for an interview.

1. Learn about the company

Make sure that you thoroughly research the company and position before applying. Knowing about the company that you are interviewing with will allow you to ask the right questions, showing the employer that you are truly interested in their company.


2. Dress appropriately

Although we all want to dress to impress, it is also important to avoid overdressing for an interview. Wear something that your are comfortable and confident in.

Take off anything that can distract the interviewer. Research into the industry to see what the typical working attire is and if you are unsure, you can ask the person setting up your interview about the appropriate outfit to wear. Many work places are now scent-free, so do not wear perfume or cologne.


3. Prepare your answers to  commonly asked interview questions

Familiarize yourself with commonly asked interview questions and practice how you will answer there questions. Compile a list of your skills and key assets.

Know your work-related weaknesses. Prepare one or two stories that show how you are improving or have overcome some of your weaknesses. Practice answering these commonly asked interview questions in a mock interview with a friend or family member.


4 . Things to bring

For in-person interviews, bring with all you the necessary documents such as resumes, references, work samples, and other documents that have been requested.

For Zoom interviews, have these files easily accessible on your computer in case you are asked for them. Prepare a few questions that you want to ask the employer.


5.  Be ready and on time for the interview

Plan your route ahead of time to arrive at the interview at least 10-15 minutes early if you are having the interview in person. This will give you spare time to settled in and will also give you a chance to observe the dynamics of the company. Remember the first impressions last so don't be late.

For Zoom interviews, make sure you check out your webcam, microphone, and speakers before the interview time to make sure everything is working. Also, make sure that the room that you are doing the zoom interview in has a good lighting.

Things to do:


1. Make eye contact and remember to smile

2. Listen to the questions carefully and answer directly

3. Give a firm handshake

4. Have a good posture while sitting

5. Be yourself and confidently state your strengths

6. Include details about specific accomplishments

7. Turn off your cellphone or put it on silent

8. Use appropriate language

9. Speak clearly at the right volume

10. Ask questions that show you have researched into the company and that you have been listening during the interview

Things to avoid:


1.  Lie about your education, experience, or skills

2. Fiddle with items on the desk, or with your hands and feet
3. Glance at your watch or the clock during your interview

4. Check or answer your phone during the interview

5.  Appear bored, or yawning during the interview

6. Talk negatively about current or past employers

7. Eat candy, chew gum, or drink coffee/tea in the interview room

8. Share too much personal information

9. Interrupt the interviewer while they are speaking

10. Answer a different question than the one you were asked


Here are the list of commonly asked interview questions.

You can take certain steps after an interview to enhance your chances of being called back for a second interview or getting an offer for the position you have applied for.

Here are 5 specific steps that you can take:

                1. Secure the interviewer email address and contact number (if available)


                2. Send the interviewer a thank you note


                3. Send additional supporting documents if requested by the interviewer


                4. Evaluate your own performance and list out things that need improvement


                5. Be available and contactable throughout the entire recruitment process

 


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