Canadian résumé format: length, what to leave off, and tips for newcomers

A Canadian résumé is usually one or two pages. Put your name and contact details at the top, then your experience, education and skills. Leave off your photo, date of birth, marital status and Social Insurance Number (SIN). Keep references on a separate sheet until an employer asks. Newcomers should check whether their occupation is regulated.

By Paul and the c-v.ai team, drawing on years of hiring across industries and of writing CVs professionally. Published 10 November 2026.

Résumé or CV in Canada?

In Canada, “résumé” (often written “resume”) is the usual word for the document you send with a job application. A CV is the longer academic version, used for teaching, research and graduate school. The University of Alberta’s Career Centre puts the difference simply: résumés are generally limited to two pages, while a CV can be as long as it needs to be to hold all your academic work.

If an ad outside a university asks for a “CV”, read the rest of the ad to see what it expects. For how the two words are used in other countries, see CV vs résumé.

How long should a Canadian résumé be?

Two pages at most for most people. Job Bank, the Government of Canada’s job site, says to limit your résumé to two pages and focus on recent experience. It suggests cutting or shortening jobs from more than 15 years ago.
One page if you are starting out. Settlement.Org says one page suits junior candidates and recent graduates. Most people have two pages, and up to three can be acceptable for experienced candidates.
Short sections. Job Bank suggests five to seven bullet points per section, written without “I”, “my” or “me”.

What to leave off a Canadian résumé

Job Bank says to leave out personal details that could lead to bias. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) lists what employers in Ontario should not ask for on application forms. Together they give a clear list.

Leave off	What the source says
Photo	Job Bank says a photo is not the norm in Canada and can lower your chances. The OHRC says employers should not request photos.
Date of birth and age	The OHRC says employers should not ask for date of birth. They may ask whether you are 18 or over.
Marital status	Listed by Job Bank. The OHRC says no questions about marital status are permitted.
Social Insurance Number (SIN)	Job Bank says never to include it. The Government of Canada says you do not have to give your SIN to fill out a job application.
Weight, height, religion, political views	Listed by Job Bank as details to leave out.
Place of birth	Listed by the OHRC as something application forms should not ask for.

Settlement.Org sums it up as no personal details other than your name and contact information.

What goes at the top

Job Bank says your name, address, email and phone number belong at the top of the first page, and they must be accurate. After that, most résumés follow the order in how to write a CV: a short profile, work experience, education and skills.

Spelling matters. Job Bank warns that a simple spelling mistake can give the employer a negative impression, and suggests asking someone else to read your résumé. Use one spelling style throughout. Setting your spell checker to English (Canada) and matching the spelling in the job ad keeps it consistent.

References

Job Bank says not to include references on your résumé. Keep them on a separate sheet and give them when an employer asks. Employers usually ask once they are seriously considering you, so tell your referees in advance that a call may come.

If you are new to Canada and all your referees are abroad, that is fine. The OHRC says employers in Ontario should not ask for local references only.

Tips for newcomers: Canadian experience and credentials

Canadian experience

The OHRC’s policy on the “Canadian experience” barrier says a strict requirement for Canadian experience is, on its face, discrimination. It tells employers to consider all relevant work experience, wherever you gained it. So list your experience abroad in full, with the same detail you would give a Canadian job.

Credential recognition

Check whether your occupation is regulated. The Government of Canada says that for regulated occupations and compulsory trades, you need a licence or certificate before you can work in the job. Use the Foreign Credential Recognition Tool on Job Bank to check.
Contact the regulator early. The same page says to contact the regulatory authority for your occupation in the province or territory where you want to work, ideally before you arrive.
Get your education assessed. Job Bank says you will need an assessment to show whether your education is recognised in Canada.
State your work status. Job Bank says to include whether you have a valid Canadian work permit, because most employers will not hire you without one. Under OHRC guidance, an employer may ask whether you are legally entitled to work in Canada.

Worked example: an overseas job, rewritten for Canada

Before:

Senior Accounts Executive, Mehta & Co., Pune, 2019 – 2025. Handled GST and month-end.

After:

Senior Accounts Executive, Mehta & Co. Chartered Accountants, Pune, India, 2019 – 2025
Accounting firm of about 40 staff serving small manufacturers.
• Closed monthly books for 12 client companies, each within five working days.
• Prepared quarterly sales tax (GST) returns and answered tax office queries.
• Trained two junior staff on the firm’s accounting software.
Work status: Permanent resident of Canada.

The rewrite explains the employer in one line, spells out a local term (GST), shows results with numbers from the job itself, and states work status. This example is fictional.

French and bilingual applications

For a French-language job, especially in Québec, send your CV in French. The Office québécois de la langue française gives guidance that matches the English-language advice above: keep the CV to two pages, put your name, address, phone and email at the top, and leave out your social insurance number, age, date of birth, marital status and nationality. It also says not to add a photo unless asked, and that references are usually given on request, so there is no need to list them.

If you speak both languages, add a Languages section and state your level in each. Send one version, in the language of the ad.

Building a Canadian résumé in c-v.ai

In c-v.ai, each CV has its own language and job-market setting, which the AI wording and advice follow. Choose Canada, pick US Letter or A4, and leave the photo off. To match each application, tailor your résumé to the job ad, then check your PDF reads cleanly with the steps in ATS-friendly CVs. The AI can make mistakes, so you approve every change before it goes in.

Questions

Should I put a photo on my Canadian résumé?

No. Job Bank, the Government of Canada’s job site, says a photo is not the norm in Canada and can lower your chances. The Ontario Human Rights Commission says employers should not request photos of applicants.

How long should a résumé be in Canada?

Job Bank says to limit it to two pages. Settlement.Org says one page suits junior candidates and recent graduates, and up to three pages can be acceptable for experienced candidates.

Do I put my SIN on my résumé?

Never. Job Bank says never to include your Social Insurance Number in your résumé, and the Government of Canada says you do not have to provide your SIN to fill out a job application. Your employer needs it after you are hired. See ID numbers on a CV, country by country.

Should I list references on a Canadian résumé?

No. Job Bank says to keep references on a separate sheet and give them only when an employer asks, which usually happens when they are seriously considering you.

Is a CV the same as a résumé in Canada?

Not quite. A résumé is the short document for most jobs. A CV is the longer academic record used for teaching, research and graduate school. See CV vs résumé for how the words change by country.