Resume Tips

• Full name
• Home address
• Phone numbers (residential and business)
• E-mail (if applicable)

Do not include age, marital status, health or social insurance number.

Include one or two short sentences describing the career opportunity for which you are looking.

This section may include:

• Short-term and long-term career goals
• Position you are targeting if applying for a specific job opportunity
• Preferred work environment

Examples:

An experienced Customer Service Representative with demonstrated strengths in customer service and problem-solving is pursuing a career in Financial Services as a Personal Financial Advisor. (Example of short-term and long-term career goal.)

Position of Product Manager in Electronic Commerce/ Cash Management Services Division. (Example of a position you are targeting.)

Targeting a work environment that promotes customer service, cost-effectiveness, productivity, innovation and teamwork. (Example of preferred work environment.)

Outline 3-4 positions you have held that are relevant to the job opportunity you’re seeking.

Start with your most recent position and work back in date order. Include your company and business/division name, as well as employment geographical location.

For every employment experience listed, include a few short sentences (“one-liners”) explaining the tasks you performed. The best sentences are those that highlight your achievements and contributions. Use action verbs! (e.g. directed, expanded, developed, etc.)

Examples:

Organized and conducted monthly information sessions on various products and services.

Increased an assigned portfolio of high-value clients by 20% while actively promoting and cross-selling a complete range of financial products and services.

Developed long-term relationships with client contacts to better understand the areas of risk and emerging trends in the client’s business (e.g. functional differences, complexity, centralization, automation, etc).

Starting with the most recent degree you have received, enter your educational experiences and qualifications in reverse chronological order (e.g. 2001, 2000, 1999, etc.).

Include ongoing business-related continuing education courses contributing to your professional development.

Examples:

• B.Comm
• M.B.A, Finance
• H.B.A, Business Administration
• Certificate in Human Resources
• Personal Financial Counselling Designation (PFC)
• Personal Financial Planning Designation (PFP)
  

Describe your marketable computer skills. This area is very important and helps you to promote your technical skills. Include information that is relevant to the desired position.

You may also wish to include other technical skills. These could be, for instance, knowledge of systems applications required to complete statistical analysis.

Examples:

Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint
HTML Language and JAVA Script
Knowledge of DB2 application used for statistical analysis

In reverse chronological date order (e.g. 2001, 2000, 1999, etc.), enter your professional and personal achievements. These could include:

• Professional Achievements/ Affiliations
• Community Involvement
• Volunteer Experience
• Publications
• Awards and Honours

Examples:

Licensed Mutual Fund Representative
Community Giving Program Member
Block Parent Program of Canada Volunteer

It is acceptable to state “References Available Upon Request,” but many employers prefer to have your references clearly indicated on your resume.

If you do put your references on your resume, be sure to include the names, titles, business addresses, and telephone numbers of two or three references. The best references are your past/present employers/immediate supervisors. It is important that a person you choose to be your reference will provide your prospective manager with a description and assessment of your job-related transferable skills.

Make sure you ask your references in advance if they are willing to be listed on your resume.

Examples:

Mr. John Smith
Branch Sales Manager
Retail Distribution
TD Bank Financial Group
3500 World Street
Waterloo, Ontario
L3L 0L3
(519) 888-8888

Ms. Jane Smith
Librarian
Kitchener Public Library
335 King Street
Kitchener, Ontario
N2G 4X2
(519) 884-0000