Visas & Advice Detail
Refining your Candian resume
About to apply for a Canadian job? Victoria Sprott shows you how
We've all heard the phrase, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." During the Canadian job-search process, nothing is truer. lso should list any certificates you earned at conferences or seminars.ave long wished to work for a particular firm and are willing to relocate in order to do so. Or you may say that you will soon move to the city where you are seeking employment (if so, include a move date, so employers know you are serious).
With intense competition for each opening, you have only one shot to show the hiring managers that you're the right person for the position. And there's no better way to do so than to submit a well-crafted resume and cover letter. These documents are your first opportunity to make your case for why you should be hired and can lead directly to an employment interview.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your resume.
The heading
The heading should include your name, mailing address, telephone number and email address. Be sure that everything is accurate and up to date. A hiring manager is not going to track you down if he or she can't reach you.
Professional summary
The summary is an optional element that briefly explains upfront who you are and what you bring to the table. It has largely replaced the objective as a way for hiring managers to get a quick sense of your qualifications without wading through the entire document. Generally, the summary focuses on your professional background – the type of work you do and for how long you've been doing it.
Experience
The section of your resume that explains your skills and experience is the most important part. Here you list the jobs you've held and the companies you've worked for, as well as your dates of employment, general responsibilities and accomplishments. Start with a general statement that describes your overall responsibilities, then follow it with points about your specific contributions and achievements.
Mind the gap
Lengthy employment gaps in an applicant's resume raise red flags for most Canadian employers, according to new data. A survey developed by staffing service Office Team in conjunction with an independent research firm asked 100 randomly selected senior executives across Canada "How concerned are you about a candidate's fit for a job when his or her resume shows involuntary employment gaps?" Almost nine out of ten (88 per cent) replied that they would either be very concerned or somewhat concerned by work absences – regardless of whether that person has been out of work through no fault of their own. Seeking out temporary assignments while you're looking for a full-time job, or volunteering for a nonprofit or volunteer organisation is highlighted as one way to fill an employment gap; it also demonstrates that you've been productive while seeking full-time work.
Education
The amount of detail you include in this section depends on how many years you've been out of school and how relevant your educational background is to the position you're applying for. In general, the further along you are in your career, the less emphasis you should put on your education.
Cover letter
No resume is complete with an accompanying cover letter. In fact, 93 per cent of Canadian senior executives surveyed by Office Team said cover letters are invaluable when evaluating job candidates. Even if you submit your resume over the Internet, it's a good idea to include a cover letter as well.
A cover letter is usually the first thing the person who screens your resume looks at, so it's your first chance to make a good impression. A well-focused cover letter allows you to direct the reader's attention to those aspects of the resume that are likely to push the right buttons and allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and its industry.
The opening paragraph should announce the purpose of the letter and give the hiring manager a compelling reason to continue reading. Take this as an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the company by working in a fact or observation that is not common knowledge. The body of the letter should consist of two or three paragraphs that briefly explain your current employment situation and why the open position interests you.
Tell the reader directly what qualities you can bring to the job.
The customised approach
Perhaps the most important step when crafting your resume and cover letter is to target your content to each company and position.
Rather than creating standard documents for use with every opportunity, customise your application materials so they speak directly to a potential employer's unique needs. That may mean highlighting different accomplishments on your resume, for instance, or going into greater detail about certain contributions in your cover letter.
Doing so might take a little extra time and effort, but submitting a targeted resume and cover letter will help set you apart from other job candidates.
Relocating
When relocating to a new country, there are few key steps you can take to help facilitate your job search:
1. Consult your network: Being thousands of miles away from the job opportunities you seek can put you at a significant disadvantage to local candidates. Having a strong professional network can help level the playing field, however. Not only might your contacts uncover additional job opportunities, but they also could provide valuable referrals to hiring managers contemplating whether to invest the extra time and effort in considering a long-distance applicant.
2. Be upfront. Explain in your cover letter why you are searching for a job outside your immediate area to address the first question every hiring manager will have. You might note, for instance, that you have long wished to work for a particular firm and are willing to relocate in order to do so. Or you may say that you will soon move to the city where you are seeking employment (if so, include a move date, so employers know you are serious).
3. Register with a large staffing firm. Working with a staffing firm can be valuable when conducting a long-distance job search because these firms often have offices in other cities. When registering with your local branch, mention that you are interested in relocating. Your representative can share your resume with colleagues in Canadian locations, and you'll be able to tap their knowledge of the ins and outs of the employment markets in their local areas.
In today's competitive job market, it's never been more critical for you to put your best foot forward. Following these simple guidelines can make all of the difference when it comes to securing an interview.
For more information:
The Office Team
To return to the Bonus Content page, click here
Back to Emigrate magazine home