Canadian employers say "resume" where Nigerians say "CV" - but they mean roughly the same document. The Canadian version has specific quirks around length, address, and work authorisation.
Length
One to two pages. Canadian employers lean more one-page than UK employers, especially for roles under five years' experience.
Address and location
If you are applying from Nigeria, do not list a Canadian address you don't have. State your location honestly:
- Still in Nigeria: "Lagos, Nigeria (relocating to Toronto, March 2026)" or "Lagos, Nigeria (open to relocation)".
- Already in Canada: list your Canadian city.
Work authorisation
Mandatory on Canadian resumes. One of:
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident - best outcome.
- Open work permit holder - PGWP, spousal, etc.
- Will require LMIA / employer sponsorship - signals you need help.
- Express Entry applicant / profile in CRS pool - if you are in the process.
Put this line in your summary at the top. Canadian recruiters filter aggressively on it.
Education
Translate your Nigerian degree with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) note if you have one:
B.Sc Computer Science, Second Class Upper, University of Ibadan, 2021. Canadian equivalence: Four-year Bachelor's degree (WES-assessed, 2024).
Section order
- Header + professional summary with work-auth line
- Technical skills (short list, keyword-dense)
- Work experience (reverse-chronological, achievement bullets)
- Education with ECA note
- Certifications
- Projects (for graduates / developers)
- Volunteer / community work (Canadian employers weigh this more than Nigerian ones)
Save and send
PDF, named "Firstname Lastname Resume.pdf". Keep the file size under 1MB - some ATS systems auto-reject larger files.
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