Posted On12 Jul 2018
Updated On01 Apr 2025
So you have decided to settle in Canada. Congratulations! Now, the next step is to get a job with a Canadian employer.
Crafting an Impressive Canadian Resume and Cover Letter
The following discussion will help you gain clarity on the steps you need to take to become a Canadian employee if you are not from Canada. You’ll also learn the tips and tricks to boost your chances significantly and get a guaranteed interview call in 60 days!
How to Search for Jobs in Canada
The rise of the internet has eased the process of job hunting to a great degree. You can start searching for jobs in the following ways:
- LinkedIn: It has fast emerged as the preferred platform for employers to hire the right talent for their companies. Your first step should be to create a compelling LinkedIn profile and start looking for companies in your area of expertise. Find out if they have any vacant positions that you can apply for. Make sure you have filled in your profile details completely and accurately. Add skills, certifications, work experience, and a profile summary in as much depth as possible. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with industry-specific keywords that best describe your job. It’s advisable to contact a LinkedIn Profile Expert if you don’t want to take chances with an unoptimized profile.
- Job Portals and HR Agencies: Job search portals are still a great medium for looking for prospective companies in most countries, including Canada. Try to register on several job portals that have job postings from Canada. Browse these portals to find relevant employers in your industry. Job Bank in Canada is run by the Department of Employment and Social Development (ESDC) and receives more than 2,000 new job posts on a daily basis. You can also get in touch with HR and staffing agencies based in Canada to look for a job for you on your behalf.
- Company Websites: Apart from searching for potential employers on LinkedIn, you can directly search for companies with vacant jobs in Canada that belong to your industry. Although this step is a bit unorthodox, and the chances of getting a call for an interview are fairly low, it’s still worth a try. Thoroughly research these companies’ websites to learn about them and whether they have any positions waiting to be filled. You can also contact them through an email, contact form, or straight-up phone call. Confidence is the key here, and sometimes, it may get you in touch with a senior decision-maker.
- Friends, Family, and Other References: One of the most effective ways to get a job in Canada is through referrals. Companies highly prefer candidates who have been referred to them from a trustworthy source. Many positions get filled even before a vacancy is advertised because they have already received referrals for the right candidates. Moreover, a lot of companies hire only on a referral basis from one of their employees. It’s advised to get in touch with friends, family members, college alumni, professors, or any other people you know regarding your job hunt. Chances are high that someone might know something interesting that may help you out in your search.
Apply for Jobs in Canada
Searching for job vacancies is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to job hunting. Once you have come up with a list of job opportunities that interest you, IT’S TIME TO APPLY!
To apply for jobs, you’ll require the following documents:
Cover Letter
It is simply a short description that states why you are the right fit for that particular job vacancy. Many aspirants ignore the importance of a cover letter and sabotage their chances of getting selected. Most companies consider the cover letter to be even more important than your resume; that’s why a cover letter is the first thing that they see in your application. In a way, the cover letter is the document that creates your first impression on the hiring team. And if your first impression is poor, there is no chance for you to get even shortlisted.
This is because the cover letter allows them to get to know you in detail and evaluate whether you are a good fit for their company. But if you are sending the same generic cover letter as every other job applicant (hello, chatGPT!), you would never be able to convey what specific skills, achievements, and experience you have that make you the perfect fit for that particular company. The result is that you are automatically out of the candidacy race, and no one will ever even see your resume, Let alone shortlist you. So, take sufficient time to study each company’s business, team, and clients, as well as every small detail about their work and ethics, as well as the job description.
Then, write your cover letter using the information that you have gathered. Always address the cover letter to the person responsible for hiring instead of “Dear Sir/Ma'am.” Remember: make your cover letter as personal and customized as possible for every company that you apply for.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A resume is a list of your qualifications, skills, achievements, and work experience. But a good resume doesn't just list off your career experiences; it can (and should) convey what your potential is in the future and how well you can benefit the company that hires you.
Here are certain Do’s and Don’ts for creating the perfect resume for jobs in Canada:
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Be specific and concise. Your resume should not be more than two pages long. Use short bullet points to describe your work.
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Include industry-specific keywords that aptly describe your work experience. Many organizations use an ATS (Application Tracking System) to shortlist candidates out of hundreds of applications. If you are not using such words, you may not get selected even though you have the right credentials and experience.
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Put effort into formatting the document. Make sure people can read it at a glance. Also, resumes with proper formatting look more professional.
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Customize. Modify your resume per the company to which you are applying.
- Use data and numbers. Always try to quantify your achievements using percentages and numbers. For example, “Increased monthly sales by 12% in 6 months.”
- Keep the language simple yet powerful. Confusing words and industry jargon may not be able to convey your thoughts accurately to the reader. Also, try to use action verbs like “increased,” “led,” “managed,” etc. If possible, start your work experience bullet points with these verbs.
- Proofread multiple times. Apart from proofreading yourself, share it with friends and family for their opinion. Grammatical and spelling mistakes are unforgivable in a resume.
- Keep the resume updated. Try to include the latest information about you in the resume.
- Share a professional email address and a cell phone number.
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Don’t list work experience that is unrelated to the job profile you are applying for.
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Don’t include your picture on the resume.
- Don’t include your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or any other unrelated personal details like height, weight, marital status, etc.
- Don’t include hobbies and interests unless they are related to the job profile.
- Don’t be dishonest when specifying your information. You may get blacklisted from applying ever again if you are caught lying on a resume.
Prepare for the Interview
If you have diligently followed the steps mentioned above and are consistently applying for jobs, chances are you may land an interview fast. Getting shortlisted for an interview means that the hiring committee believes you might have the right potential to become a part of their organization. Now, you just need to convince them that you are the best choice for them out of all the other shortlisted candidates. You can view our Interview Tips or read about the 10 Most Common Interview Mistakes, 10 Most Asked Job Interview Questions, or What to Bring to An Interview.
How to Boost Your Chances of Getting Hired in Canada
Besides implementing the steps mentioned in the above sections, there are specific additional steps you can take to further boost your chances of getting a job in Canada.
Get a Professionally Made Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Profile
As discussed earlier, your cover letter, resume, and LinkedIn profile are three critical assets that you have in your pursuit of a Canadian dream job.
You can’t afford to slack in preparing these documents in the best possible way. Moreover, they should be personalized for each job that you apply for and must be optimized to contain industry-specific keywords. Without this, your application would not be able to clear the ATS (Application Tracking System) and you might not land even a single interview call. If you don’t want to take chances, go for a professional resume writing service. At Resumeble, we are committed to preparing the perfect resume and cover letter for you that will fetch you a guaranteed interview call in 60 days.
That’s not all. Our expert team will analyze your LinkedIn profile and provide you with suggestions to optimize it - free of cost! You can avail of our Professional Resume Package for expert resume writing here.
Stay Fresh
No, we don’t mean that you should take a shower multiple times a day. Job portals tend to promote the profile of active candidates on the top. So, if you don’t seem to be active on their interface, they’ll automatically assume that you are not interested in a job anymore. And if your profile doesn’t show up on top, employers might easily ignore you.
The solution is to keep updating your resume and cover letter in your profile. Even if you don’t have any significant changes, adjust a few small words here and there without changing the meaning. This way, your profile will never be pushed down in terms of results.
Network, Network, Network
Not all jobs are advertised on portals or LinkedIn. You must try to leverage and grow your professional network to learn about such opportunities and get a shot at applying for them.
Build Some Volunteer Experience in Canada
Canadian companies highly value volunteer experience, especially if it is in Canada. You must mention your volunteer experience in a resume to get an advantage over other candidates.
Working as a volunteer in Canada is beneficial for a lot of other reasons, too:
✅ You get to have the experience of working in Canada. It doesn’t matter if it’s unpaid.
✅ You get to develop your language and communication skills in English as well as French.
✅ You get to know Canadians, make new friends, and grow your network. They can also act as references for your job application.
✅ It will give a positive sign to the employers that you are dedicated and willing to work hard.
Just search “volunteer” followed by the city name in which you want to do volunteer work on Google or any other search engine to learn about opportunities and apply. You can also visit the Volunteer Canada website.
Enroll in Bridging Programs
Canada has several bridging programs that can help you get a job in your field. With the help of these programs, you can get a license or certification and seamlessly integrate into the Canadian workplace. As part of these programs, you can undertake various courses, skill assessments, workplace experience, prepare for certificates, language training, and more.
Summary
Canada has emerged as the ideal destination to work and live in. Thanks to Canada’s high quality of life, liberal culture, helpful people, and a vast pool of opportunities. So, moving to Canada and starting a new life can be a major turning point in your life. To fulfill your dream, you must become an integral part of the Canadian workforce by getting a decent job. Just keep in mind the steps discussed in this article, and you are good to go. Best of luck on your journey towards success!
