Mastering Your Resume: Essential Tips to Stand Out in Canada's Job Market

For graduates entering the workforce, crafting the perfect resume is crucial to landing your desired job. Doug Spencer from the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management shares invaluable advice to make your application shine.

Professional Email and LinkedIn Presence Your resume should reflect professionalism, starting with your email. Avoid using outdated or unprofessional email addresses. Similarly, including a LinkedIn profile is now a standard practice. Ensure your LinkedIn URL is clean and professional by customizing it.

Consistent Formatting is Key Consistency in your resume’s formatting aids recruiters in quickly scanning your information. Use uniform headers for sections like "Education" and "Work Experience", and stick to readable fonts such as Cambria, Arial, or Calibri. Attention to detail in spelling and avoiding acronyms can significantly impact your resume’s quality.

Action Verbs Make a Difference Begin each bullet point under your experience with strong action verbs like "developed", "arranged", or "volunteered". This not only showcases your skills but also your ability to communicate effectively.

References: A Shift in Norms The traditional "references upon request" is no longer necessary. Instead, use this space to further highlight your qualifications and experiences relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Tailor Your Resume Align your resume with the job description by emphasizing the skills and competencies the employer is seeking. This tailored approach can significantly advance your position in the hiring process.

Showcase Your Unique Qualities Including a summary of qualifications and highlighting interests or activities can provide recruiters with a glimpse of your personality and well-roundedness, making you a more attractive candidate.

For more resources, visit Telfer Career Centre.