budda

Hi All,

I just wanted to pass on some observations, as almost all the UK resumes I see need lots of work. Resumes in Canada are different

JudyInCalgary pointed out that there is lots of info on the WIKI regarding this.

This is a crucial part of the job finding process. Make sure you get it right to give yourself the best chance. I have shown resumes to colleagues and they wont even look at them as it is so different. It is worth spending time on it. The Wiki is awesome for tips.

Bear in Mind things like date of birth, marital status, photos, NI number, are all not allowed on Resumes here. Resumes are shorter as well.

Also, stay away from british terminology. Spell things out and dont use UK abreviations.

What i have noticed is that the job market is not as candidate driven as the UK and you tend to go into a pile of resumes, so make sure yours looks good to save someone throwing it away for not being able to understand it or its too long, or it has a poor lay out

I hope this helps


John

moondevil

Budda

Although the wiki is fantastic and there is loads of info on there, what woud really help is to see samples of resumes

Any chnce budda of pasting some examples on here for new BE members, i have had OH re-done thanks to a fantastic BE member, but ours was more for the uk market than the canadian market - just an idea

budda

Good call,

let me try and dig one out.

Cheers

John

daft batty

Theses shouldnt be on a UK resume either! A Canadian style resume would be acceptable in the UK so theres no need to have 2 styles once you have an outline sorted out.

Also, You should customise your resume for each job apply for. Tweak it here and there to fit their advert and job description. Its different if you are cold calling and that would show in your covering letter.

budda

Yeah,

Totally agree! The cardinal sin is to put a generic coverletter or at the top the wrong desired job title etc

I said it is not allowed in Canada because even though it is not allowed on a UK resume, people dont realise that. If someone has been in a job for 5 years then they may not have picked up on that. Anyways dont put it.

Alan2005

Not that I would do it, but would an employer really think "hmm, this candidate is perfect in every way, oh hold on the D.O.B is on the resume, can't employ them, lets interview this other guy who isn't as good instead"?

Biiiiink

More likely "hmm, this candidate is perfect in every way, oh hold on the D.O.B is on the resume, she's of childbearing age/he's going to retire in 10yrs (whatever), lets interview this other guy who isn't as good instead"

Alan2005

All the better to add it if you are neither of those things

MarkG

Yeah, but if you took your degree in 1980 or started work in 1970, those are just as much of a giveaway that you're no spring chicken .

Judy in Calgary

Cough, cough.

The Wiki article on Resumes includes a heading entitled, "Sample Resumes."

See:

Sample Resumes.


I don't know how else to put this:

PLEASE READ THE WIKIS !


Read them. Then read them again. When you've done that, read them again.


And, if you can think of a way to make the Wikis clearer, by all means go for it. I've given it my best shot.

altalink

Fine response Judy ... brightened up a cold wet tuesday morning ...

daft batty

Judy the Wikis are fine, more than fine, indeed a fine body of work, a veritable canon of information.

Its just people, we arent perfect- even me and can't remember all of that useful stuff you have put in there. So I say, not only read them again, and again, but make some notes or print them off. Then have them by you when you do the resume. Things will still be forgotten but your hardwork makes every several steps further forwards than before.

budda

Well said Judy,

If you put D.O.B on your resume it forms certain pre-conceptions, as BIIIIIIINK said.

Also, as a recruiter it would surprise what factors get you rejected. As i said there is more competition for jobs here and if somone is going through 30 resumes these things do count, trust me

mc_dub

The koala bear is loose!!

Surrey Expat

It is not that this information is not allowed, you can put whatever you want on a resume. However it is common practice in North America not to include them. It is unusual to include a photograph and may be off putting to a potential employer. Social Insurance number is unnecessary, and is only required for payroll if hired.

An employer can ask questions, however they cannot base a hiring decision or preference purely on gender, religion, age, marital status or disability, ethnicity etc.

The only exception is where the job has specific requirements, such as heavy lifting or a specific sensitivity. A question such as 'is there anything that would stop you being able to perform this job function' is more common. If the candidate is hired and it is later determined they misled the employer, this is just cause for dismissal without notice.

Just cause extends to any misleading information given in securing employment. Discrimination can arise if a bias is proven.

Each province has its own Employment Standards as well as articles in the Charter of Rights.

This is not legal advice, consult the appropriate Employment Standards or consult a legal adviser.