Resumes - Help/advice
 

Hi Folks

Looking for some help/advice please. I am in the process of 'Canadianizing' my CV and have read lots of info (here and on the web) on how resumes/CVs differ, from various sources (probably read too much and now brain is frazzled). I am apply for a specific job, so it's not a mailshot resume, but I was wondering if anyone either has or can tell me a website where I can source an actual Canadian resume that I can have a look at. It seems that you go to the sites, get so far and then they was cash.

I need to know how to word it (if that makes sense), e.g. do I use bullet points, should it be conversational,etc.

I know you have to have an objective and, as with a CV education/experience, etc, but I'd just like to see one to make sure I'm going along the right track. :confused: Trying not to blow it at resume stage! (but as brain is frazzled, it's a possiblity) :)

Thanks in advance

Bazrat

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Hi Bazrat

I do know that someone has raised this point before and Judy in Calgary offered to help that person. Sorry cant remember the thread but if you search the forums for her name then I am sure you will be able to find the particular thread.

Good Luck

Gaynor

xx

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

many thanks

bazrat

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Hi Bazrat
If you got to www.jobbank.gc.ca look at the links on the lefthand side for Resume Builder, click on that, then register you can look at samples of resume styles, cover letters etc and more. I also found the local library a great place for books with samples of resumes and cover letters. Good luck.

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Thanks for that Snowgoose,

Fingers crossed!

Bazrat

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Here is a website called Susan Ireland Resumes that provides some pretty good-looking resumes. You don't have to register or pay to view the sample resumes.

Some points:

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Yet again Judy comes up trumps :D

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Like I said to Bazrat - Ask Judy.

Think we should have a web link to her pc for her let us have info !!

:D :D

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

I don't want to waste bandwidth by quoting Judy's reply, which apparently is helpful.

I guess I've been away too long, but that mostly (OK all) seems bleeding obvious.

Humour me, someone, please, by posting guidelines for a UK CV.

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Hi,

Best of luck in your job hunting.

Judy's advise is really great, I'd just like to add a few tips.

When describing your acomplishments do so in bullet points (easier to scan/read quickly) and format them as CARs:

Challenge - the challenge you had to face
Action - what you did
Result - how it was wildly successful

for example, your responsibility was sales for North America:

Challenge - Increase sales in the North American market
Action - leveraged network
Result - sales increased 200%

so you could write this in your résumé as:

• Leveraged my extensive network to enter the highly complex North American market increasing group sales by 200%

If you can't quantify, find something else that came out well.

This approach is valid of course in both European and Canadian CVs & Resumés!!

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Thank you again to all who have taken the time to read/contribute to my thread, especially Judy and Canada 2006. Your advice certainly helps. Now I need to get down to some serious resume writing!

Happy New Year to all when it comes!!

Bazrat

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

I was just about to post my Canadian CV tips and then Judy went and covered them all in one go *lol*

Well just to re-itterate, one big difference between Canadian and UK CV's is that in Canada age/sex/race being advertised could be construed as possibly racist be employers picking your CV. So you're best off not mentioning your birth date/race or sex on your CV for Canada where as it's more acceptable in to have on in the UK.

Other then that, follow Judy's tips as they're spot on... only thing I can think ofthat she didn't mention is that networking is very important in the Canadian workplace whcih highlights the reason for leaving employers on good terms in Canada.

Employees have certain basic rights that the law in Canada provides for, so if your worried that you may be taken for a ride, read up on the respective "Normes du travaille" workers rights websites for the province you are considering moving to so that you are aware of what basic entitlements are accrued to ALL employees by federal or provincial law and what are actually 'company' based benefits/incentives.. ie; private healthcare and/or pension schemes.

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Theres not a great deal of difference between the content of a UK resume and a Canadian one, The differences are in the terminology and in the style. for instance in the UK you often need to be less "assertive" and show some "modesty" when listing your acheivements. What a Briton might called boasting is whats expected in Canada. Resumes are never more than 2 pages long- for either country.

Resume style short synopses are common now in the UK, with a detailed CV sometimes asked for after reading a resume. Some jobs must have a CV, medicine for instance. A CV has much more detail and can be several pages giving lists of publications, papers etc. A CV can also be asked for in Canada, but its called a detailed resume. It depends on the profession/trade.

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Thanks daedra and batty. One problem I'm having (same as a lot of people, I'd imagine) is that it's too long, especially in the work experience section and I've 'combined' as much as I can. Oh the joys!! It'd be so easy just to give the relevant qualifications for the job and your experience in that field.

Oh well, onwards and upwards !

Thanks again (especially the worker's rights tip) :)

Happy Hogmanay !!

Bazrat

Re: Resumes - Help/advice
 

Well, wouldn't stating your name or titulation be rather obvious what gender you are?

Also, wouldn't a long list of work experience be a dead give away on age?

In my business (touring in the music industry) it is quite common to be employed by many many different employers in a short period of time, unless you are constantly with one band or one company.

I have 24 years worth of it. I'm only listing down to 1991 (as I had a break and did other things including being a common-law partner not working, changed career after that and just over 4 years ago, got back in it again) and still my resume is quite long. As I understand it, the standard is 2 pages including cover letter, mine is a quarter of a page more than that.

However, thanks for the tip on US format. And also about pdfing it (not a hard thing to do on a mac). Makes it so much easier to format the resume with nice fonts and making it look good as what I am looking for is design, media and marketing in the entertainment sector. Now I can really show off what I can do.

Cheers