Canada Cover Letter Format & Resume 2023: Tips & Templates!

Fun Fact: Did you know, if your resume is longer than 2 pages, it’s most likely to get rejected. Resumes are the first step to securing a job. However, studies show that at least 70% candidates get rejected in the resume stage. Unprofessional email addresses, silly fonts, bad grammar and spelling can all be the reason why your resume does not get selected.

Finding work in Canada as soon as possible is a top priority for many newcomers. Resume is a crucial starting point, and it is vital to get it right.

In this article, we will go over some helpful hints and provide templates to help you stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of recruiters, employment agencies, and employers for the job posting.

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a brief document created in response to a particular employment opportunity and addressed to the organization or person in charge of the position’s hiring. It should supplement the material on your resume and reintroduce you to the business as a viable candidate.

It contains information on why you are applying for the job, a short summary of your career background, and what qualifies you for the role. While some employers may need a cover letter as part of the application process, others may make it optional or even prefer that you not send one.

Canada Cover Letter Tips

Most Canadian firms will require you to follow a specific cover letter structure. Here are some pointers:

• The cover letter must not exceed one page in length.
• Your cover letter’s typeface should be consistent throughout, and you should use a professional-looking font. When printing your cover letter, make sure the font size is large enough to read well.
• The spacing in the cover letter must be proper. The major body of the paper should be single-spaced, with enough space between every paragraph and section.
• Personal information like your full name, residential address (current), email address, and contact number.
• Then, put the date when you will be mailing your cover letter below your personal information.
• Also include contact details for the person, department, or firm you are sending the cover letter to underneath the date.

Canada Cover Letter Format

• To begin your letter, use a polite greeting. If you are aware of the name of the person who makes recruiting decisions, use their prefix and full name to address them. Use a polite, generic greeting like ‘To whomsoever, it may concern” if you do not know the person’s name.
• The main content of your cover letter is divided into three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.
• You should introduce yourself in the first paragraph of your cover letter. You might include the position you are interested in, as well as your qualifications and also how you encountered the job search. If you have a contact within the company that introduced you to the job, you should mention their name and position in your cover letter. Make sure you do not introduce yourself in more than two to three lines of the paragraphs.
• In the following paragraphs, you must persuade the company that you are the strongest candidate. Explain to them why they must put their money into you.

If you are unsure what to add, consider the following questions.

Information to Add to a Cover Letter

• What projects do you have experience with that are related to the position? What did you take away from it? What makes you a better candidate as a result of this?
• What relevant responsibilities have you undertaken in the past that apply to this position? What did you take away from it? What makes you a better candidate as a result of this?
• What are your plans if you are decided to be hired? What is the value to the employer in hiring you over someone else?

The body of the cover letter should be at max two paragraphs long.

• The conclusion is the last paragraph of your cover letter’s primary material. It is your chance to express your excitement about the prospect of working for the organisation, appreciate the company for the opportunity to pursue it, and ask them to respond to your approach. It should just be up to four sentences long.
• Add your signature: The closing line and your complete name are the two elements of your cover letter signature.
• A suitable closing line must be included in your cover letter. This is the line immediately preceding your name.
• The final line includes your entire name. Because most job applications are made electronically, it is not required to print and sign your cover letter.

Cover Letter Template

Here is a common template for a Canadian cover letter which you can take ideas and inspiration to create your own:

Ms. Iliana Schneider

Metrolance Systems Canada

10153 King George Hwy,

British Columbia, V3T 2W1

Therese Anne Peters

(800) 667-2215 | theresepeters@gmail.com

February 23, 2023

Re: Application for Junior Sales Associate at Metrolance

Dear Ms Schneider,

I am submitting my resume to apply for the position of Junior Sales Associate at Metrolance Systems Canada. I came across your listing on LinkedIn, and after going over the mentioned requirements, I believe I fit the profile well.

Apart from my specialization course in Sales, I have worked in 2 hands-on B2B Sales positions for the last 3 years. My interest in human psychology and the skills I have developed helped me build strong, lasting relationships with clients, address their issues and offer them solutions.

Working with over 12 diverse clients across industries in my last profile has taught me time management, professionalism, persuasiveness, and persistence – skills that will greatly benefit the organizations I work with in the short and long term.

Metroland’s values of connection and conviction resonate deeply with my work style and seeing this opportunity lightened up my day. I hope to be able to contribute my bit towards the smarter future that Metrolance is building and truly add value to the clients I will work with.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Therese Anne Peters

Resume Format and Tips

If you have a Canadian-style resume, Canadian recruiters will pay greater attention to it. While there are many distinct forms of Canadian-style resumes, there are some commonalities that you should be aware of. In Canada, a photo is never included on a resume, and personal information is limited to your name and contact information.

• Having a generic resume and sending it to multiple employers for various positions/roles may not get you the greatest results. You must customise your resume for each position you apply for. Work experience, talents, and other information should all be tailored to the post.
• Many job applicants make the error of focusing on roles and responsibilities rather than accomplishments. On resumes, recruiters and hiring managers desire to see quantitative achievements. The ‘CAR’ method is useful for structuring individual sentences: The letters C, A, and R stand for Challenge, Action, and Result, respectively.
• Lastly, a cover letter should always be included.

Never do the following since none of these things is thought to be important in a job search:

• Give your age, ethnicity, or cultural background and describe your physical characteristics.
• Indicate whether you are married or have children, as well as your sexual orientation or preferences.

Resume Template

This is a sample resume for the above-mentioned profile of a candidate.

Therese Anne Peters

Junior Sales Associate

(800) 667-2215 | theresepeters@gmail.com

linkedin.com/ca/thereseanne

A dynamic Sales professional with a keen interest in human psychology and relationships. I create long-lasting sales relationships with clients based on problem-solving and honesty that yield benefits to my organizations in the short and long term.

EXPERIENCE

Junior Sales Associate Skiles & Sons, Toronto, ON

February 2019-Present

• Responsible for closing and onboarding 12 hospitality clients for Skiles & Sons with the sales team.
• Assisting through end-to-end B2B sales journey, including providing product demos, understanding the requirement, answering doubts and questions and resolving initial onboarding challenges.
• Helping the team chalk out the sales plan of action and identify high-value clients to prioritize.
• Creating and maintaining growth reports and presenting these to the team on a weekly basis.

Sales Intern

Champlin Ltd., Toronto, ON

March 2018-February 2019

• Worked closely with the team to understand clients on a case-to-case basis and conduct cross-sells and upsells.
• Attended sales meetings with senior sales associates, presented observations, and offered ideas for the next steps.

EDUCATION

Bachelor Of Business Administration in Marketing Management

Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver, Canada

Graduated 2017

Certified Sales Rookie by Canadian Professional Sales Association

Awarded in 2018

SKILLS

• Interpersonal Communication
• Time Management
• Empathy
• Persuasion
• Persistence
• Conflict Management

Conclusion

A resume is a sales tool utilised for one purpose: to obtain an interview. In contrast, a cover letter introduces you and your resume to a potential employer. It is the first document that an employer sees, serving as a first impression. It also allows the employer to receive a more in-depth insight into who you are and why you are qualified for the job.

As this will be your first impression of Canadian firms, you need to make sure you are well-versed in the Canada cover letter and resume format. For more details, reach out to experts at LeapScholar.

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