How to use this resume builder
- Fill in your details. The preview shows an example until you start typing, then it shows your own resume as you go.
- Write three to five summary points that match the job, then add your jobs and any volunteer work, newest first.
- Keep it to two pages. The preview counts the pages and warns you if you go over. Compact spacing fits more on a page.
- Download the PDF. We don't keep a copy, so press Save draft if you want to edit it again later.
What goes on a Canadian resume
This builder follows the Government of Canada's Job Bank advice on writing a good resume.
| Part | What Job Bank says |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Your name, address, email and phone number, at the top of the first page. |
| Length | Two pages at most, with the emphasis on your most recent experience. |
| Photo | Not the norm in Canada, and it can lower your chances. This builder has no photo option. |
| Leave out | Your Social Insurance Number (never include it), age, weight, height, marital status, religion and political views. |
| Volunteer work | Include it, especially with a well-known organization or an important cause. |
| References | Keep them on a separate sheet and give them when an employer asks. That's why this builder doesn't add a references section. |
The builder warns you if it spots something like a Social Insurance Number or a date of birth.
How the builder lays out your resume
Your name goes at the top with one line of contact details. Then come clear headings: Summary of Qualifications, Skills, Work Experience, Volunteer Experience, Education, Certifications and Languages. Empty sections are left out. Everything is in one column on Letter-size paper, and the PDF contains real text that employers' software can read.
Worked example
Maya Chen is a bookkeeper in Mississauga, Ontario. Press Load example above to open her resume. It has four summary points, seven skills, two jobs, a volunteer treasurer role, a diploma, a certificate and three languages. With standard spacing it runs just over one page; with Compact spacing it fits on one page. Both are within Job Bank's two-page limit.
Maya's volunteer work shows the same skills as her paid jobs: financial reports and tracking systems. Volunteer roles like this can fill gaps and show commitment to your community.
Tip: if you speak both English and French, say so in your summary points and in the Languages section, with your level in each. Many jobs in Canada ask for it.
Frequently asked questions
Is this resume builder really free?
Yes. There's no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on downloads. The site is paid for by advertising and affiliate links on other pages, never by charging for your resume.
Do you see or store what I type?
No. Your resume is built and turned into a PDF by your own browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved on your device. When you close the page it's gone, unless you press Save draft, which downloads a file to your own device. You can open that file here later to carry on editing.
Should I put a photo on my resume in Canada?
No. Job Bank says photos are not the norm in Canada and can actually lower your chances. This builder doesn't offer one.
Where do my references go?
Job Bank says to keep references on a separate sheet and give them only when an employer asks, which usually means they are seriously considering you.
Is it "resume" or "résumé"?
Both spellings are used in Canada and mean the same thing. Use whichever the job posting uses.
Source (checked 29 September 2026): Job Bank: Write a good resume. ToolNest is not connected to Job Bank or the Government of Canada.