Resumé Tips for International Students

Cover Letters and Resumés are key job search documents that have to catch an employers eye, represent you as a professional, and show your knowledge of industry and the job.

Your schoolwork is the #1 priority, but if you plan to look for part-time work while you study in Canada, you’ll need to create a Canadian resumé and cover letter so you can apply to jobs. Not sure what you should include on these documents? At Fleming College, we’ve created a list of tips to help you prepare your Canadian resumé and cover letter before you arrive.

Keep it short

Did you know that typically employers take only one minute to review each resumé? That means your resumé needs to be short! Employers are hesitant to look at resumés longer than two pages, so your resumé should be no longer than two pages.

It’s also recommended that your cover letter be no more than one page, single-spaced. Make sure you include paragraphs to make it easier for the employer to glance over your key skills.

Change your resumé for each job

If you’re applying to different job titles, you need to change your resumé. Different jobs will have different skills that they prioritize, so you want to make sure you highlight the right experience for each job. You want to make sure your resumé is specific to the position you’re applying for.

Include volunteer work

Employers like to see that you are active in the community. Any volunteer experience is good; it doesn’t matter if it’s not relevant to the job. Listing your volunteer experience helps give employers a sense of your interests and values.

Make sure you format correctly

You may not be familiar with Canadian resumés and cover letters, but here are some common tips you should include in your documents. Make sure you use headings to organize your information. Headings ensure your information is presented in a neat and consistent manner.

Your resumé should have consistent font and spacing throughout the whole document. When everything has the same font, font size, and line spacing, your document has a professional look. Your resumé and cover letter should both use the same font.

Your cover letter should complement your resumé

The main purpose of your cover letter is to tell the employer why you want the job and what skills you can bring to the company. You want to avoid talking about things that are already included in your resumé.

You should write a different cover letter for every job you apply to. Each custom cover letter should include key points and words that relate to the job. A good rule of practice is to include key words from the job posting in your cover letter!

Only include relevant information on your resumé and cover letter

Did you know that there is some information you do not include on resumés? Make sure your resumé doesn’t have any of the following:

• Photos
• Your date of birth or age
• Your gender
• Physical characteristics like height, weight, etc.
• Hours available to work
• Statement certifying truth of information
• Information about your relatives

Be aware of false and fraudulent job offers

Unfortunately there are people out there that make fake job offers to collect your personal information. They can do this in many different ways. For example, some may ask you to enter a cheque they send in the mail to deposit to your account. Please be aware of fraudulent offers and avoid those that ask you to deposit cheques — they are false offers and you will lose money after accepting them.

What’s next? Once you’ve checked to make sure your resumé and cover letter meet Canadian guidelines, you’re ready to start applying for jobs! Or, you can get more help and resumé samples from Fleming’s Career Services.