How to Craft the Best Canadian Résumé

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 craft the best Canadian résumé.

There is Strategy Behind the Best Canadian Résumé

From a strategic perspective, the résumé is like a footprint or a snapshot of the client’s past and their present, while shedding insight on where they are going. A résumé can reveal unsightly employment gaps, along with strengths and even weaknesses, if one looks closely enough. You can spot interesting patterns and strategies that the candidate has taken to drive results. You can also note changes in the candidate’s path and the way their unique brand has evolved. As career professionals, we must ensure that our résumé writing skills are exemplary if we want to position jobseekers for their next career move in this competitive and ever-changing labour market.

Recruiters and employers are inundated with many résumés. In today’s competitive labour market, it can be hard to reach the top of the pile. However, with the right master-level strategy and a client approach that involves leveraging the hidden job market, creating a stellar résumé is possible through résumé brand engineering.

Gathering Facts to Craft the Best Canadian Résumé

We can gather the right information by asking the client relevant questions in a creative and compelling way.

The Challenge-Action-Result (CAR) method is an effective method of coaching our clients on gathering accomplishments.

Start by asking the client about:

• (C) The challenge or situation they were presented with and what they were tasked with achieving.
• (A) The actions they initiated to solve the situation or achieve the target goal.
• (R) The end result – how did their employer, team, customer, or key stakeholders benefit from the actions taken?

I suggest that clients use a Career Milestones Journal to track their accomplishments using the CAR method.

However, the Challenge-Action-Result method is just one way. You can also use metaphors to unlock your client’s career narrative.

Other Methods of Drawing Out Accomplishments

With clients who have difficulty in charting out their challenges, actions, and results – or say they have “no accomplishments” – I use visualization or a mind map with keywords to help draw out their career milestones.

For example, I may inquire what they thought their greatest achievement was with their most recent employer. In other words, what kind of legacy did they leave behind?

To get my clients thinking about their unique value and milestones, I ask in-depth questions. For example:

• If you could describe one interesting quality about yourself that sets you apart professionally, what would it be?
• What problems did you solve?
• How did you go above and beyond to achieve strategic goals?
• Did you leverage any specific opportunities?
• Were you tasked with leading projects that paved the way for incredible results or process improvements?
• Did you generate an increase in revenue, productivity, operational efficiency, or market share?
• Did you introduce any opportunities for cost savings or internal improvements?
• How did your performance measure up against your peers?
• What kind of feedback did you receive in regards to performance (performance reviews)?
• What are your most valuable strengths?
• If you were not present at your job for one week, what noticeable differences would occur?
• Did you earn any honours or awards for your contributions?

Okay! Time to Start Writing the Best Canadian Résumé

Once I have gathered enough information on the client, their goals, particular brand, their value and accomplishments, as well as the precise message they want to convey, I begin crafting their career narrative.

You can access my helpful tip sheet on creating a C-U-S-T-O-M résumé on the Job Search Vault page of my website.

To learn more about résumé writing and to take your skills to the next level, consider taking CPC’s Advanced Résumé Development Program or CPC’s other leading edge résumé writing courses, Résumé Writing Essentials and Résumé Writing for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). You can also work toward your Certified Résumé Strategist (CRS) or even the MCRS (Master Certified Résumé Strategist) designation. Boost your expertise and your credibility today!

Lori Jazvac is a passionate, award-winning Master Certified Résumé Strategist and Certified Employment Strategist through Career Professionals of Canada. As a multi-certified Master Résumé Writer and Certified Career Transition Coach, she specializes in helping clients navigate challenging career transitions. In 2013, an empowering vision inspired Lori to launch Creative Horizons Communications, a holistic career services firm where she virtually supports jobseekers around the globe to embrace their next career milestone. In her spare time, Lori enjoys dance, blogging, watching comedies and reality shows, yoga, and taking long walks in nature.

Image by iqoncept on 123RF