Moving to Canada as an international student is an exciting step filled with new opportunities. One of the most important steps in your career journey is to have your resume ready to apply for jobs.
Whether you’re applying for a part-time job, full-time job or post-graduation position, crafting a resume that meets Canadian standards is key.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through practical tips and key considerations to help you build a strong, Canadian-style resume that highlights your strengths,and help you get your first job.
1. Include a professional summary or objective
This is a short paragraph at the top of your resume (2–3 lines) that explains who you are and what you’re looking for. Keep it specific and focused on your strengths.
✅ Example:
Motivated digital marketing student with international experience and strong communication skills, seeking a part-time position to apply my communication and design abilities in a customer-focused role.
2. Understand the Canadian resume format
Canadian employers prefer resumes that are:
- 1–2 pages long (ideally one page for students or recent grads)
- Reverse chronological in format (your most recent experience first
- Clear, concise, and easy to scan
- Do not include photos, date of birth, marital status or nationality
- Focus on qualifications, professional experience, volunteer experience, certifications, and skills
3. Tailor your resume for each job
Standard resumes won’t stand out. Customize the resume for each role. Here is how you can do it:
- Use keywords from the job posting
- Highlight relevant experience and skills that aligned with the job description
- Match your achievements with the job requirements
- Remove the experiences that are not aligned with the job posting
Tip: Use free tools like Jobscan to compare your resume against the job description.
4. Emphasize transferable skills
As an international student, it is possible that you don’t have Canadian work experience yet, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have valuable skills.
Include:
- Volunteering in Canada, club participation, or school projects
- Language skills (especially if you speak more than one language)
- Soft skills such as communication, adaptability, time management, or intercultural awareness
- Portfolio
Use bullet points that start with action verbs and numbers to quantify your achievements whenever possible.
✅ Example:
Collaborated with a team of 3 people to execute and present a marketing strategy that increased event attendance by 30%.
5. Use the right sections
Here’s a basic structure:
- Contact information (Name, phone, email, LinkedIn)
If you’re applying for a job in a specific city and you live there, make sure to include your location.
- Professional summary or objective
- Education
- Work/volunteer experience
- Skills
- Certifications, languages, or projects (Optional)
If you’re applying to roles in tech, marketing, design, writing, photography, architecture, UX/UI, or any other creative or project-based field, consider adding a link to your portfolio.
6. Keep your language clear and confident
Avoid filler words or long paragraphs. Use clear and professional language. And remember: Avoid saying “I am a student with no Canadian experience.” Instead, show what you have done in your home country, even in small roles.
7. Use a clean, simple design
- Stick to a basic, professional font (like Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri)
- Use bold and bullet points to make sections easy to read
- Avoid colourful designs unless applying for creative roles
You can use templates from tools like Canva, Zety, or Novoresum.
8. Consider the ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)
Make sure the layout is ATS-friendly (Applicant Tracking Systems) . An ATS-friendly resume is one that can be easily read by ATS software used by many Canadian employers to screen applications. These systems can’t read fancy graphics, images, or unusual fonts, so it’s important to use a clean, simple format with standard headings and clear text. This helps ensure your resume makes it through the initial screening and into the hands of a recruiter.
9. Proofread and ask for feedback
Typos can hurt your chances. Always:
- Use a tool like Grammarly for spelling and grammar
- Ask a career advisor at your college or a friend to review your resume
- Tailor your resume before submitting
Final thoughts
Building a strong resume as an international student in Canada may feel challenging at first, but it’s absolutely possible. With a bit of research, customization, and confidence, you’ll be ready to impress Canadian employers and take the first steps in your new career.
Don’t forget to also work on your cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and interview skills. All of them play a role in getting hired, as well.
