Resume for Applying Abroad: What to Include, What to Leave Out
In this guide
Quick answer: A strong resume for applying abroad is short, specific and local. Keep it to two pages, lead with your contact details and work experience, back every claim with a number or a concrete example, and leave out personal details, photos and reasons for leaving past jobs if the destination country does not expect them. Canada’s official Job Bank gives clear rules, which we use below as a verified example. Always check the norms of your target country before you send anything.
Most people who apply for jobs abroad make the same mistake: they send the resume that worked at home. In some countries a photo and your age are normal. In others they can work against you. The safest approach is to learn the local rules first, then rewrite your resume to match. This guide shows you how, using Canada’s government job service as a reliable reference, and gives you a sample structure you can adapt.
Why does a resume for applying abroad need to change?
Employers read resumes quickly and compare them with local norms. If yours looks unfamiliar, it is easy to set aside. A resume for applying abroad also has to answer a question the employer cannot easily check: how does your experience translate here? That is why specifics beat general statements.
We have only verified one country’s official guidance for this article: Canada’s. We have not verified official UK or other country rules, so treat the Canada list as an example and check your destination’s own careers service. If you are still choosing where to go, our moving abroad checklist helps.
What does Canada’s official job service recommend?
Canada’s Job Bank, a government service, gives these points for a Canadian resume:
| Topic | Job Bank advice |
|---|---|
| Length | Two pages. Cut or minimise roles more than 15 years old. |
| Top of page one | Name, address, email and phone number. Check they are accurate. |
| Achievements | Put them in the work experience section. |
| Volunteer work | Include relevant unpaid work under work experience or a volunteer section. |
| Bullets | Limit each section or subsection to 5 to 7 bullet points. |
| Voice | Third person. Avoid “I”, “my” and “me”. |
| Language | Plain words and action verbs such as handled, managed, led, developed. |
| Numbers | Quantify achievements: people supervised, sales volume, percentage increases. |
| Tailoring | Read the job description and employer website and adapt your resume to each role. |
| Honesty | Be honest about skills and results. |
| Proofreading | Proofread several times and ask someone else to review it. |
| Use a professional address based on your name, without nicknames, numbers or special characters. |
What should you leave out for Canada?
- Personal details such as age, height, weight, marital status, religion and political views.
- Your Social Insurance Number. Job Bank says never to include it. Our guide to the SIN for newcomers explains when you do need it.
- A photo. It is not the norm in Canada.
- Your reasons for leaving previous jobs.
- References. Keep them on a separate sheet and give them only when asked.
- Hobbies or interests, unless they relate to the position.
A sample structure you can adapt
- Header: full name, city and country, email, phone, LinkedIn if relevant.
- Short profile (2 to 3 lines): your job title, years of experience, and the kind of role you want.
- Work experience: job title, employer, city and country, dates. Under each, 3 to 5 bullets that start with an action verb and end with a result.
- Education and credentials: degree, institution, country, year. Add a plain-English note if the qualification name will be unfamiliar to local employers.
- Skills: only skills that match the job description.
- Languages and right to work: if you hold a work permit or are eligible to work, say so briefly. See Canada work permit types or our UK right to work guide.
Example bullet, before and after
Before: “Responsible for customer support.” After: “Handled 40 to 60 customer queries a day and cut average response time from 12 hours to 4 hours.” The second tells the employer what you did and how well. Replace the numbers with your real ones.
How do you adapt your resume for another country?
- Find the official careers or job service of your target country.
- Read what it says about length, photos, personal details and references.
- Study three real job adverts in your field for the words they use.
- Rewrite your resume to match, and keep a separate version for each country.
For where to search, read how to find a job abroad before you move.
Common mistakes
- Sending one resume to every country.
- Listing duties instead of results.
- Including sensitive personal details the local norm leaves out.
- Writing in the first person when the local style is third person.
- Not checking whether the job offer is real. Read how to avoid visa and job offer scams.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CV the same as a resume?
The words are used differently in different countries. We have not verified official UK guidance on CV format for this article, so check your destination’s careers service.
Should I include a photo?
For Canada, Job Bank says a photo is not the norm. For other countries, check local guidance.
Should I list references on my resume?
Job Bank advises keeping references on a separate sheet and giving them only when requested.
Key takeaways
- Learn the local resume norms of your target country before writing.
- Canada’s official advice: two pages, third person, action verbs, quantified results, no photo or personal details.
- Tailor every application to the job description.
Related guides
- How to find a job abroad before you move
- Avoid visa and job offer scams
- Canada work permit types explained
- Express Entry explained
- Moving abroad checklist
This page is general information, not employment or immigration advice. Local norms change. Last updated: October 2026.
Sources
- Job Bank (Government of Canada): Write a good résumé