Resume Writing Tips

A well-structured, tailored resume can really help you land the job you want. That’s why we’ve interviewed some of DSS’s top Recruitment Specialists and Managers to pass along some great resume advice to you.

There’s some information that should always be included on your resume, no matter who you’re sending it to. This includes:

• Skills
• Work history with names of previous employers
• Education
• What you can offer the organization for the position you’re applying for
• Contact information
• Your objective in applying for this job
• Personal and professional interests
• Memberships and affiliations
• Volunteer experience

Always write the resume in a professional tone and in first person. Try to sound both pleasant and enthusiastic to keep the reader engaged and to relate your interest. It’s important to tailor your resume to the position you’re applying for and to be confident in your application.

Just like there are some things that should always be included, some things should never make it onto your resume. These include:

• Social Insurance Number
• Passport number
• Religious information
• Race
• Gender
• Marital status
• Sexual orientation
• Date of Birth
• Pictures

Not every job needs a cover letter every time.

• If you’re applying for a permanent position, your application should have a cover letter.
• If you’re applying for a temporary position, you probably don’t need one.

A cover letter is a helpful tool for giving the Recruiter a better picture of what you’re looking for. It shouldn’t be too long, as often they’ll only be skimmed anyways, but they should do a good job of grabbing attention and getting your point across clearly.

If you’re sending a cover letter and resume, keep the whole document to a three-page maximum, one for the cover letter and two for the resume. Your history and education should be listed from newest to oldest so Recruiters can easily trace a timeline of your activities.

A PDF is a good way to send your resume, that way you don’t have to worry about formatting issues. If you can’t make a PDF, send your file as a Word document. Handing your resume over in person is preferred, and suggested, if it’s possible.