5 Mistakes Newcomers Make on Their Resume

When you're new to Canada's job market, creating a resume that stands out can feel overwhelming. Many newcomers unknowingly make mistakes that reduce their chances of getting interviews. Here are the five most common errors and how to avoid them.

1. Including Personal Information That Isn't Needed

Unlike resumes in many other countries, Canadian resumes should not include photos, age, marital status, nationality, or social insurance numbers. Employers focus solely on your qualifications and experience.

What to do instead: Keep it professional and focused. Include only your name, phone number, email, and location (city and province).

2. Using a Generic Resume for Every Application

Sending the same resume to every employer is one of the biggest mistakes. Canadian employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for keywords matching the job description.

What to do instead: Tailor your resume for each position. Use keywords from the job posting and highlight relevant experience that matches the role.

3. Listing Duties Instead of Achievements

Many newcomers simply list their job responsibilities rather than showing the impact they made. Canadian employers want to see what you accomplished, not just what you were supposed to do.

What to do instead: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Before: "Responsible for sales"
• After: "Increased sales by 25% over 6 months through targeted email campaigns"

4. Formatting Issues and Length Problems

Overly complex formatting, multiple fonts, or resumes longer than 2 pages can hurt your chances. Canadian employers prefer clean, scannable documents.

What to do instead:

• Use a simple, professional font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman)
• Keep it to 1-2 pages maximum
• Use consistent formatting and clear section headers
• Save as PDF to preserve formatting

5. Not Highlighting Transferable Skills

If your Canadian work experience is limited, many newcomers fail to emphasize transferable skills from their home country or show how international experience is valuable.

What to do instead: Create a strong "Skills" section that highlights abilities relevant to Canadian employers:

• Bilingual or multilingual abilities
• Cross-cultural communication
• Technical certifications
• Software proficiency
• Leadership and team management

Final Thoughts

Creating a strong Canadian resume takes time and research, but avoiding these common mistakes will significantly improve your chances of landing interviews. Remember: your resume is your first impression — make it count.