Canadian CV guide – dos and don’ts for 2025

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PATH TO CAREER SUCCESS
Canadian CV guide – dos and don’ts for 2025

Resume expert Adrienne Tom from Career Impressions has just outlined the CV trends we’re leaving in 2024 and what we’re taking with us in 2025.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

What we’re leaving in 2024

❌ Overusing AI
Submitting a resume filled with generic phrases like "Results-oriented professional seeking to leverage skills for company success" without tailoring it to the job.

❌ Canva templates
A resume that’s heavy on graphics, icons, and formatting but hard to scan quickly for key information.

❌ Listing responsibilities without context
Writing “Managed a team of five” instead of “Led a team of five to develop a new onboarding process, reducing employee ramp-up time.”

What to take to 2025

✅ Showcase authenticity
Instead of just writing “Strong team player,” write a bullet that demonstrates this with specific examples: “Organized weekly brainstorming sessions to encourage open dialogue, where team members could voice concerns, share ideas, and collaborate freely.”

✅ Customize for different audiences
If the job description says: “Seeking a marketing specialist with experience in analytics and campaign strategy.”

Write a resume bullet like this: “Revitalized engagement with 10,000 inactive users by launching a targeted email campaign informed by Google Analytics insights. Crafted personalized messaging segments, resulting in a 40% increase in re-engagement.”

CAREER COACH Q & A

Q: Why isn’t my LinkedIn profile helping me make contacts or attracting recruiters?

A: Here are five reasons your LinkedIn profile may not be effective according to Meg Guiseppi from Executive Career Brand:

• Lack of relevant keywords. Without strategic keywords, your profile isn’t showing up in search results.

• No personal branding. Profiles that don't reflect your personality and values miss the chance to create chemistry with potential employers.

• Insufficient or generic content. A sparse or generic profile won't stand out to recruiters or show the full value you offer.

• No professional photo. A profile without a photo can seem untrustworthy or incomplete.

• Outdated content. Not regularly updating your profile can make it less relevant to your current career goals.

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Newcomer Friendly Job Listings

• Electrician, Maple Ridge, BC

• Marketing Coordinator, Toronto, ON

• Data Scientist, Scarborough, ON

• Transport and Communications General Manager, Burnaby, BC

• Truck Driver, Brampton, ON

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LEARN THE LINGO
Storytelling techniques for your job search

One of the most important aspects of job searching is getting good at talking about what you do. What does that mean exactly? It means sifting through all your skills and experience and crafting a story that will resonate with the person you’re speaking to.

Here’s how you can elevate the STAR method for powerful stories.

S – Situation
🎬 Set the scene with a compelling hook

Instead of: In my last role, I worked on process improvements.

Try: Our team was spending 30 hours a week on manual tasks that should have taken five.

T – Task
📍Show what was at stake

My goal was to reduce inefficiencies so our team could focus on high-impact strategic projects, not repetitive manual work.

A - Action
🔧 Show how you problem-solved and achieved the result

I researched and pitched software to automate the most time-consuming tasks. After approval, I led training sessions to ensure my team felt confident with the new system.

R - Result
🚀 Your result should be memorable

By introducing automation, we saved over 1,000 hours a year—time that transformed how the team worked. Beyond the metrics, it was rewarding to see my colleagues less stressed and more engaged with meaningful projects.