Career Professionals of Canada News Feed
– By Lori Jazvac and Ksenia Lazoukova – For career development practitioners, fall is a great season to help clients refresh their résumés. Starting with September, the fall season often marks a new cycle—the peak hiring time for many employers and recruiters. Could there be a more perfect time to refresh our clients’ résumés? In Canada, the labour market is tightening under multiple pressures. Statistics Canada reported that the national unemployment rate rose to 7.1% in August 2025—the highest level since May 2016, excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and…
A recent article in Western Built magazine talks about how artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed the employment landscape in Canada. Employers increasingly utilize AI-driven tools to streamline recruitment processes, such as resume screening and candidate assessments, enhancing efficiency and reducing biases. However, concerns persist regarding potential discrimination and the need for ethical AI implementation to ensure fair hiring practices. Job seekers are encouraged to adapt by acquiring digital skills and understanding AI’s role in modern recruitment. Read the full article here.
Recently, a good friend of mine was transitioned out from her long-time corporate employer. Collaborating with her outplacement consultant, my friend created and polished up a new résumé. She then sent it to me and asked what I thought. The new résumé was pretty good, but something didn’t sit right with me, even after reading it over several times. For a couple of days, I tried to figure out why it left me feeling “blah.” Then it struck me. The résumé is BORING. My friend is brilliant, funny, and very…
If you had asked me about résumé writing ten years ago, just as I was starting my career practice, I would have said that it is as much an art as it is a science. Résumé writing requires comprehensive research, forethought, and strategic planning, and an ability to gather the right information. It’s all about presenting the client’s value through high-quality content, yet design and formatting are equally important if you want to catch the reader’s eye. I’d like to share what I’ve learned over the years about how to…
During a recent Advanced Résumé Development (CDP-105) course, students enjoyed a lively and interesting discussion about the pros and cons of clients following up on a job application. The discussion came out of the analysis of a cover letter in which the job seeker closes with the statement “I will try to reach you next week to see if we can arrange an interview or a brief meeting.” Some students took exception to the phrase “try to reach you next week to see if…,” labelling it passive language. But, even…
After receiving a gentle nudge, I decided to submit my résumé work for consideration in CPC’s prestigious Awards of Excellence program last year. Previous résumé award recipients include Canada’s top résumé writers so, as someone fairly new to the profession, my expectations were not high. I figured I had nothing to lose and got busy preparing my submission. Through the process, I discovered benefits that went beyond recognition, and the experience helped me become a better résumé writer. No matter what category of award you submit an entry in, I’m…