Write a Canadian resume for one job

Job Bank says a good resume shows your background, skills, and qualifications, and that you should tailor it to the job by highlighting relevant accomplishments. Their “stand out” page adds that a resume should not be one size fits all. Recruiters are not helped by generic, dated, or irrelevant information.

Alis gives six steps. After you have a master resume (Lesson 4), you pick a type, tailor it, choose careful words, make it look professional, and proofread. For wording, alis notes that some employers use tracking software that looks for the same words and phrases as the posting. If the ad says “manager” and you only write “management,” the software may not treat that as a match. Study the posting and use the same keywords honestly. Do not stuff in words for work you did not do.

Keep the version you send short. Alis says 1 to 2 pages at most. Put the strongest, most relevant qualifications near the top. Use point form, a simple readable font (alis mentions examples such as Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Courier), wide margins, and bold only to highlight a few facts such as an award. Alis says to avoid tables or columns because some screening software cannot read them well.

If the posting allows it, alis suggests submitting a Word file (.doc or .docx), because some screening software cannot read PDF files. If the posting asks for a PDF, follow the posting. *Microsoft Word Basics* can help you save or export; this lesson will not repeat those click-paths.

Alis describes three common layouts:

• A chronological resume lists work and education from newest to oldest. It is a good choice when the job is similar to work you have done and your history is fairly consistent.
• A functional resume focuses on skills. It may help if you have gaps in paid work — for example after travel, raising a child, or an illness — because it highlights what you can do rather than every date.
• A combination resume leads with skills, then gives a short work history. Alis says this works well if you are changing fields.

Job Bank’s Resume Builder (opened 10 November 2026) currently describes two templates after you sign in: a traditional template for people with several years in their field and a fairly consistent history, and a template for youth or recent graduates who are starting out or have limited paid work. You pick a template, fill in the blanks (you can select pre-defined skills and duties), customize with your own words, and save more than one resume. You need a Job Bank account to use the builder; Lesson 7 covers accounts. You can also type a resume from our outline without the builder.

Be honest in every layout. Alis says not to exaggerate or misrepresent yourself — employers may check. If a template offers a duty you did not do, do not tick it just because it sounds strong. The builder is a convenience, not a reason to borrow someone else’s work history.

Alis says a typo or messy formatting can be enough for an employer to pass you over. Read the page out loud. Use spell check, but read its suggestions: it may not know *it’s* from *its*, or *check* from *cheque*. Ask a trusted person to read it.

For the Sampletown posting, keep lines that show greeting the public, reliable weekend attendance, and setting up a room. Leave out a long story about unrelated work unless it teaches a matching skill. A two-line summary at the top can use the posting’s own words — “weekend attendant,” “greet visitors,” “community events” — if those words are true for you.

Canadian spelling belongs on a Canadian application when you are writing in your own sentences (*centre*, *practise* as a verb). Job titles and quoted posting phrases should match the employer’s wording.

Do not include a photo unless the posting clearly asks for one (this sample does not). Do not include your SIN. Save the file with a clear name such as YourName_Sampletown_resume. Then look at the page the way a tired reader would: is your name easy to see, is the most relevant work near the top, and did you leave enough white space? If a paragraph looks crowded, turn it back into short bullets. A second read the next morning, or a read from a trusted person, often catches a missing date or a repeated verb that spell check will not flag on its own.

1. Open the resume outline and your master-skills worksheet.
2. Write or type a 1- to 2-page resume for the Sampletown posting only.
3. Use at least three words from the posting that you can honestly support.
4. Avoid tables or columns. Proofread out loud.
5. Save with a clear name. Do not send it to a real employer.

Which three words from the Sampletown posting would you keep on your first page, and why?