1
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
CAREER SERVICES
CAREER ADVISING | JOB SEARCH RESOURCES | RÉSUMÉ REVIEW
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES | DIVERSITY COACHING | WORKSHOPS
COVER LETTER
& RÉSUMÉ
WRITING
HANDBOOK
2
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
How to use this Handbook
This handbook has been created from updated scientific research, and
informed by course materials from the Career Professional Canada
Resume Writing program and CERIC. These organizations advance Career
Development in Canada by funding research with both the academic
community as well as specialized organizational psychologists and other
scientific research associations.
In terms of resume templates and visuals, there is no specific right or
wrong format. Consider the key points highlighted and the advice on how
to frame your experience. You can personalize the look after that. Based
on current research, these tips increase your marketability and ability to
be a “Careerpreneur”.
Your resume is a living document, and you will need to tweak it for each
application. Write every cover letter from scratch for each job you apply
for, but you may keep the closing paragraph the same. It is recommended
that you review the Cover Letter and Resume Checklists.
This handbook contains a lot of information. If you want to find
information quickly, the best approach is to look at the checklists. If you
need more information in specific areas, go to the appropriate section in
the handbook.
3
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Career Services Alberta
It takes more time to find work than to have work, and it is easy to find
yourself stuck on how to start. You may feel your only option is sending
out resumes to job postings. CPA Alberta supports your career success,
and you can obtain further support from Career Services.
CPA Career services oers free services, including:
• Job Search Support, including one-on-one meetings:
o Help to develop your job search strategy
o Cover letter and resume reviews and coaching
o Interview coaching
o LinkedIn profile reviews and tips on how to
eectively use all platform options
o Tips on networking for job leads and informational interviews
o Guidance to become a Careerpreneur and build your brand
o Monthly job search networking events: Monday Meetups
o Free job search webinars and an archive of past webinars
o Job Board and Volunteer Opportunity Board
o Support on breaking through unconscious
bias and barriers in your job search
• Career Development Support, including one-on-one meetings:
o Career coaching
o Career mentorship annual program with mentorship training
o Webinars and an archive of past resumes
o Help in building your career capital and career intelligence
o Coaching on responding to an oer letter,
promotions, and obtaining a salary increase
o Assistance in making career changes, mapping out your
career path, and determining next steps in your career.
o Preparation for dicult conversations with role playing
Additional for-fee services:
• Psychometric assessments
o Emotional Intelligence: EQi-2.0©
o Intercultural Eectiveness (Dealing with dierence): IDI©
o Intercultural Conflict Style: ICS©
• Resume writing
• LinkedIn profile creation/writing
• Extended one-on-one services
Even if you’re still working while searching for a job, you may
experience various cycles of emotions:anger, sadness, elation, grief,
and more. These emotions may become overwhelming and begin to
impede your ability to function or maintain healthy relationships, or
exacerbate mental illness triggers. If you need to access help,CPA
Alberta provides CPAs, CPA PEP candidates, and their immediate
family with health and wellness support through the CPA Assist
Program.
For more information, visit cpa-assist.ca or call 1-855-596-4222. If you
find yourself in crisis, either please call 211. If 211 is not available in your
area, call 780-482-4636.
4
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Cover Letter Checklist
Ensure your contact information is at the top of the
page in the same format as your resume.
Add the job number, advertisement, and/or position, under
the date. Do not refer to it in your opening statement.
Find out the hiring manager’s name instead of
addressing the letter “to whom it may concern”.
The opening paragraph is not to state your interest, but to
demonstrate that you align with the organization and the role.
The second and third paragraphs summarize how you
can solve the organization’s problem and to demonstrate
that you can by detailing your key accomplishments. The
descriptions should be brief; the letter is used to pique their
interest to encourage them to look at your resume.
The last paragraph is a close and a call to action.
Research “presumptive close” for ideas.
Resume Checklist
Name and contact information at top. Include only
phone, email, and LinkedIn URL (if desired).
Targeted header.
Open with your value proposition.
Work experience formatting:
o Appropriate amount of white space (refer to appendix for examples).
o Bullets, no more than two to three lines
per bullet, and no paragraphs.
o Reverse chronological (Most recent experience first).
o Applicant Tracking System (ATS) proof your
resume with appropriate formatting, and save as
a Word doc unless otherwise directed.
o Check legibility and readability.
o Justify your dates to the right.
Work experience content:
o Align resume with job descriptions key words.
o Quantify and qualify work experience duties to read as
personalized and outcome-based; think accomplishments.
o Nothing further back than 10 to 15 years.
Education:
o Ensure it aligns with legal requirements in accordance
with the Chartered Professional Accountants Act.
Refer to CPA Designation use link www.cpaalberta.ca/
Services/Career-Centre/CPA-Designation-Use
Review tips related to potential discrimination (unconscious
or conscious bias), and ensure that there is no content that
could inadvertently result in your resume being overlooked.
Pay close attention to details in your resume: spelling,
grammar, and accuracy of information.
5
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
How Recruiters Look At Your Resume
Screening Process
When writing a resume, recruiters are looking to capture the attention of the audience and create interest.
Your resume is about meeting the employer’s need, not yours. Remember you are solving a problem for them
and you need to demonstrate how and why you can solve that problem. This is how the formula works:
• Job hopping
• Employment gaps without explanation
• Decreasing responsibilities at jobs
• Short-term employment
• Essay-length paragraphs
• Lack of information
• Multiple pages of information
• First-person narratives
• Exaggerated titles/jobs/responsibilities
• Inappropriate email address
• Poor grammar and spelling mistakes
• Flu words
• -isms (such as Ageism, Sexism, Racism)
• Lack of social media
• Resumes with no dates
• Irrelevant content
• Work experience that goes too far back
• A career that has remained plateaued
• Overqualified or underqualified
CANDIDATES
RESUMES
JOB
SCREENING OUT
EMPLOYERS
Marketing
& Sales
Screening
Tools
6
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Write with Intention
Step 1. Make sure your content is meaningful
When you write your cover letter and resume, it is essential that you understand your audience and to write with purpose.
To elaborate on the process chart above, you want to inspire people to:
• know more about you;
• meet you; and
• invite you for an interview where you have to opportunity to move towards an oer letter.
Writing an eective resume requires a lot of thought and research. Before writing anything, it is important to think about
the job in terms of the role’s context:
• Why does the role exist?
• What problems does the role solve?
• What is the current state of the economy and/or the company in this industry?
• What challenges have I faced working for a company during times of economic downturn?
• What accomplishments did I have at this time, or how was I able to retain my job?
• Where does this role fit in the organizational chart?
• How will this role make things easier for my colleagues and my supervisor?
• How does this role contribute to the success of strategic decision-making?
These questions address the bigger picture of the role and manage the buying motivators of the position.
Capture Your
Audience’s
Attention
Create
Interest
Trigger
Buying
Motivators
Call to
Action
One Two Three Four
7
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Step 2. Analyze the job description
When we talk about context and alignment,
sometimes the job description can provide us
with more information than we realize.
Paying attention to keywords in terms of skills
and responsibilities will always be necessary.
Understanding context through analysis will
still enable you to make powerful statements.
Bullet points address the problems that the
role will be solving for the department and
the company. Additionally, a job description
may answer where a company ranks within its
industry.
Here are a couple of examples of looking at
a job description to answer more significant
questions than what you will be doing:
SSAAMMPPLLEEJJOOBBDDEESSCCRR IIPPTTIIOONNAANNDDCCOOVVEERRLLEETTTTEERRSS
SmytheLLPisseekingahighlymotivatedandteam‐orientedTaxManager,withsolidtaxplanningand
complianceexperiencetojoinourgrowingpracticebasedintheheartofdowntownVancouveroffice.As
akeymemberofourmanagementteamyouwillactivelycontributetothesuccessofthefirmby
deliveringexceptionalclientserviceandleadingandcoachingyourteam.Theid ealcandidatewillbea
teamplayer,withademonstratedabilitytoinfluenceandexecute.
O
O
u
u
r
r
F
F
i
i
r
r
m
m
SmytheLLPisamemberofAllinialGlobal,andisthe8thlargestaccountingfirminBCwith185
employees.Establishedin1980,wearerecognizedforexceptionalworkintheareasofassurance,
taxation,insolvencyandbusinessadvisoryservicesforprivateandpubliccompanies,family‐owned
businessesandnot‐for‐profitorganizations.Wehaveadepthofexperienceandexpertiseinmany
industrysectors,includingrealestateandconstruction,technology,insuranceandnot‐for‐profit
organizations.
T
T
h
h
e
e
O
O
p
p
p
p
o
o
r
r
t
t
u
u
n
n
i
i
t
t
y
y
Asamemberofourgrowing18‐memberTaxGroup,youwillworkdirectlywithclientsandPartnersto
deliverawiderangeoftaxservices,fromcorporatereorganizations,toestateplanningandgeneraltax
adviceforindividualsandprivatelyheldbusinesses.Inthisrole,youwillactasatrustedbusinessadvisor,
workingwithclientstosolveproblemsandhelpthemachievetheirbusinessgoals.
R
R
e
e
s
s
p
p
o
o
n
n
s
s
i
i
b
b
i
i
l
l
i
i
t
t
i
i
e
e
s
s
Manageandcoordinatetaxplanningandcomplianceservicesforprivatecompanyclients
Providepersonaltaxadvisoryandcomplianceservicestohigh‐networthindividualsandcross‐
borderexecutives
Developandapplytechnicalskillsbyremaininguptodateonnewtaxlegislationandcaselaw
Identifyopportunitiesforprovidingtaxplanningandotherspecialservices
Providementoringandtrainingforjuniorstaff
BuildrelationshipswithourclientsandbeatrustedBusinessAdvisor.
R
R
e
e
q
q
u
u
i
i
r
r
e
e
m
m
e
e
n
n
t
t
s
s
Minimum3yearsofrelevanttaxplanningandcomplianceexperience
CompletionoftheCICAIn‐DepthTaxProgram
TaxManagerwithstronganalyticalskills,theabilitytoidentifyandresearchtaxissuesandthe
creativesparktoformulateinnovativesolutions
Strongwrittenandverbalcommunicationskills
Experiencewithtaxplanningforprivatecompanyclients,includingcorporatereorganizationsand
estateplanning
Stronginterpersonalskillscombinedwithapassionateclientserviceorientation.
Key details that
provide information
on where the
company fits within
the industry and
what their goals
are related to the
industry.
What type
of clients is
the company
servicing?
Sample Job Description
8
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Step 3. Know your audience
External recruiters are looking to meet a wide variety of professionals
to respond immediately to client requests. They do not always know in
advance when a role that matches your skills will become available. As a
result, recruiters will not place you if they don’t have a position available
for you.
Corporate recruiters narrow down candidates based on what relevant
information they see. They often spend more time screening candidates
out than in.
Both corporate and external recruiters use a database system similar to
a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, called the Applicant
Tracking System (ATS). These systems are commonly referred to as “the
robot”. The robot is programmed to decline candidates that do not meet
a specific number of requirements. If you are not a fit, a recruiter may not
call you at all.
The first screening of a resume is rapid. Recruiters look to the right-
hand side to scan dates of employment. They do this to evaluate how
long you worked with each employer. They will be concerned if you are
a job hopper or have significant employment gaps. They also screen for
keywords to see if you have enough basic qualifications and skills to be
considered for a pre-screen phone call.
Who has the most knowledge
about the job responsibilities?
Signing Authority
Direct Supervisor
HR/Recruiter
Hiring managers will look at your resume to see if your skills align
with what they need. They will have a clear understanding of their
expectations. A hiring manager may or may not spend a lot of time
looking at your resume. If they spend a lot of time, there will usually be
more opportunities to be critical of your writing abilities. You need to
ensure your grammar makes sense and be able to clearly demonstrate
that you understand what you will be doing in the role.
Remember, it is your job to make the connection between your
experience and the job description. Don’t assume that the reader
understands the work that needs to be done and how it gets done.
You may also need to bridge the gap between industries.
External
(Agency)
Recruiter
Hiring
Manager
Internal
(Corporate)
Recruiter
Final
Decision
Maker
9
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Cover Letter
The cover letter is the first document the recruiter will see. Not every
recruiter has time to read it. Some will ignore it, others will skim through
it, and others will read it thoroughly. If you are shortlisted, this is often
when your cover letter will get more attention.
Never have a generic cover letter. It defies the purpose of a cover letter.
Treat a cover letter as a document that ties you to the employer. It
allows you to create interest for the reader and link yourself to the role
in a personalized manner. You can use personal pronouns (I, me, and
my) in the cover letter.
One-third of recruiters read cover letters, one-third of recruiters do not
read cover letters, and one-third of recruiters will not read your cover
letter but want you to have one. However, 66.7% of recruiters want you
to have a cover letter, and you do not know which recruiter is viewing
your application. Therefore, it is best to have a cover letter.
To address the
company even
more eectively, try
to conduct some
informational interviews
and research the
organization online
before applying.
TIP! TIP!
Cover Letter Tips
• Before writing, highlight key words in the job description, including the
description of the company.
• Use the highlighted words as a checklist for personalizing your cover
letter and resume. Make sure that each word is addressed as best as
possible in your resume.
• Consider the context in which any soft skills will be used. “Good
communication skills” specifically refers to situations where you
demonstrated good communication skills in ways similar to how you
will use them in this position.
• When referring to technical skills in your cover letter and resume, don’t
just state a job description. Illustrate the specifics of you doing the
work, refer to volume, and quantify outcomes.
Common Cover Letter Mistakes
1. Using the same cover letter for every job.
2. Making a cover letter about you and not the employer.
3. Being too generic.
4. Addressing it “To whom it may concern.”
5. Highlighting irrelevant information.
6. Failing to correct grammatical and spelling errors.
7. Including too much information.
8. Exceeding one page in length.
• USE LINKEDIN, THE COMPANY WEBSITE, OR CALL IN TO RECEPTION
TO FIND OUT THE NAME OF THE HR PERSON OR HIRING MANAGER.
• IF YOU WERE REFERRED FOR THE JOB FROM SOMEONE ELSE,
INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION IN YOUR FIRST PARAGRAPH.
• ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE.
• ALIGN YOURSELF WITH THE ORGANIZATION OR ROLE.
10
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Cover Letter Structure
Four years ago, I left public practice with the short-term goal of gaining
industry experience and client perspective to support my long-term
ambition – becoming a partner in an accounting firm. Two years later, I
returned to public accounting as a Senior Tax Accountant and began the
CPA In-Depth Tax Program. I have completed Levels I and II of the tax
program, and I’m currently enrolled in Level III, which I expect to finish in
March 2018.
I am enthusiastically putting myself forward for the Tax Manager position
with Smythe LLP recently posted on LinkedIn. Having reviewed the
responsibilities and qualifications for the role, I am convinced that I
possess the qualities and skills to thrive in the Tax Manager role.
First Paragraph:
This first paragraph should focus on aligning your experience and
interests to the role and/or the company.
Second/Third Paragraph:
This section is not a substitute for the resume. It highlights key
information to encourage the reader to look at the resume.
Sample 1. (Cover letter with bullets)
On the next page, highlight some key areas identified in the job
description. Focus on relaying information using a bulleted list that
highlights specifically what the you feel is the most relevant to do the
job eectively.
Sample 2. (Paragraph based)
Paragraph form makes the most sense when a role requires extensive
writing. In this context, a cover letter is an opportunity to demonstrate
the quality of your writing.
Write your header to look the same as your resume
Instead of your opening your the letter with “I am applying to…”
save space and refer to the role here.
Do not use “To Whom It May Concern” either
skip altogether or use Dear Hiring Manager.
Do not use Mr., Ms., Mrs., Miss. Unless, you don’t know the correct
preferred pronoun/gender identity it is better to skip altogether.
Write your header to look the same as your resume
Instead of your opening your the letter with “I am applying to…”
save space and refer to the role here.
Do not use “To Whom It May Concern” either
skip altogether or use Dear Hiring Manager.
Do not use Mr., Ms., Mrs., Miss. Unless, you know the correct
preferred pronoun/gender identity it is better to skip it entirely.
NAME CPA
CITY | PHONE | EMAIL | LINKEDIN
{Date}
{Company}
{Address}
{Additional Contact Information}
{Job Posting number and Title}
Dear Hiring Manager:
11
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
NAME CPA
CITY | PHONE | EMAIL | LINKEDIN
Date
Job Posting #
Dear Mr. Spence:
Four years ago, I left public practice with the short-term goal of gaining industry experience
and client perspective to support my long-term ambition – becoming a partner in an
accounting firm. Two years later, I returned to public accounting as a Senior Tax Accountant
and began the CPA In-Depth Tax Program. I have completed Levels I and II of the tax
program, and I’m currently enrolled in Level III, which I expect to finish in March 2018.
I am enthusiastically putting myself forward for the Tax Manager position with Smythe LLP
recently posted on LinkedIn. Having reviewed the responsibilities and qualifications for the
role, I am convinced that I possess the qualities and skills to thrive in the Tax Manager role.
To summarize:
• 3+ years tax experience: I have been in my current Senior Tax Accountant role with KRS
in Calgary for just over two years, and gained an additional two years tax advisory and
compliance experience as a sta accountant with HSJ in Vancouver. In that time, I have
provided advice and written instructions to lawyers on tax implications for corporate
reorganizations. I have completed personal and corporate returns and post-mortem/
pipeline planning on several estate planning files.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and client service orientation: I
completed the Dale Carnegie communication course on communicating eectively with
clients and seeing issues from a client perspective. Industry experience as a Controller
has given me a real-world understanding of client business motivations and cost
considerations in corporate decision making.
• Mentor and train junior sta: As a financial controller, I led a three-member department,
delegating daily tasks, reviewing work of junior accountants, and providing coaching,
mentoring, and performance feedback.
My resume outlines how I have used my accounting knowledge, analytical and research skills,
and creativity throughout my career to add value for my clients and employers in solving
problems and achieving business goals. I look forward to meeting with you in an interview
to discuss how I can contribute to success with my enthusiasm, out of the box thinking and
endless energy.
Sincerely,
NAME CPA
CITY | PHONE | EMAIL | LINKEDIN
Date
Job Posting #
Dear Mr. Spence:
Smythe LLP has demonstrated its commitment to the community since 1980, growing to
become the eighth-largest accounting firm in British Columbia. An organization that has
been able to grow and increase their reputation over the last 40 years to such a broad
number of industries and organizations demonstrates not only commitment to excellence,
but to being innovative, modern, and results-driven. These values align with my own and the
progression of my career since I obtained my CPA.
I have worked in Tax for four years in public practice in Alberta and BC. My professional
experience has encompassed tax advisory services, researching tax implications for
corporate reorganizations, and post-mortem/pipeline planning on several estate planning
files. I have done compliance for personal and corporate tax returns of non-profit, privately
owned, and publicly traded organizations in a wide variety of industries (construction, real
estate, property management, agriculture, financial services). I also briefly worked in industry
as a controller, giving me a thorough perspective of a client and their motivations as well
as cost considerations in corporate decision making. During this time, I led a three-member
department, delegating daily tasks, reviewing work of junior accountants, and providing
coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback.
My resume outlines how I have become a trusted advisor to my clients by using my tax
accounting knowledge gained from hands-on experience, remaining up to date on tax
issues, completing the CPA In-Depth Tax Program I & II (III in progress), and completing the
Dale Carnegie communication course. I look forward to meeting with you in an interview to
discuss how I can contribute to the success of your team and the growth of your firm.
Sincerely,
Sample 1. (Cover letter with bullets)
Sample 2. (Paragraph based)
The content here focuses on relaying
information in a bulleted manner that
highlights specifically what the author feels is
the most relevant to do the job eectively.
This section is not a substitute for the resume.
It is a highlight of key relevant information to
encourage the reader to look at the resume.
The content here focuses on relaying
information in a bulleted manner that
highlights specifically what the author feels is
the most relevant to do the job eectively.
This section is not a substitute for the resume.
It is a highlight of key relevant information to
encourage the reader to look at the resume.
The content here focuses on relaying
information in a bulleted manner that
highlights specifically what the author feels is
the most relevant to do the job eectively.
This section is not a substitute for the resume.
It is a highlight of key relevant information to
encourage the reader to look at the resume.
Unlike sample 1, This is a paragraph. A role that
requires a significant amount of writing
should be in paragraph form:
1. Succinct and coherent
2. Grammatically correct
3. Use of appropriate industry terminology
Final Paragraph:
Use a presumptive close, which is a sales technique where you
assume you are moving to the next steps. I highly recommend you
research the term and read a couple of dierent types, pick your
own preference, and change it into your own words.
12
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
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Cover Letter/
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How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Résumé
Résumé Writing
Always remember the purpose of the resume: it is
your marketing document. It expresses your value
proposition and proves you can do the work and
shows the outcome of your work. The purpose
of including this information in your resume is to
encourage your reader to pick up the phone and
speak with you.
Marketing
Marketing is the social process by which individuals and organizations
obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging value
with others. The process by which companies create value for customers
and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from
customers in return.
Kotler and Armstrong (2010)
The CIM definition looks not only at identifying customer needs, but also
satisfying them (short-term) and anticipating them in the future (long-
term retention).
THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF MARKETING (CIM). ACCESSED 2012
www.marketingteacher.com/what-is-marketing-2
13
><
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Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
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Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
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Résumé
Formatting
How to market yourself
Developing your own marketing plan and positioning statement is the
foundation of how you will distinguish yourself from your competition
and further your career. Not just when you are looking for a job, but when
you are asking for a raise, a promotion, or a career change. Creating a
strong value proposition and understanding the buying motivators of your
audience is key to implementing your marketing plan.
Value proposition
When you apply for a job, you are marketing yourself to a company. You
are marketing yourself as the solution to a problem. To develop your
Value Proposition, here are the steps, based on marketing principles. The
suggestions below provide information to create eective resume content:
1. Your objective: What would you like to accomplish, and why?
2. Market research: Networking, LinkedIn, conferences, informational
interviews, agencies, economic projections, business news.
3. Branding: What promise you can make to an employer on what they
can expect from you?
4. Direct Marketing: Cold calls, applications, interviews, and job boards.
5. Competitive Research: LinkedIn, informational interviews.
6. Salary (Pricing): Salary surveys, informational interviews, personal
salary.
7. Social Media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, blogs,
etc.
8. Public Relations: Networking, references, work relationships,
volunteerism, recruitment agencies, social media connections,
employment relationships.
Sample Value Proposition
Possesses an innate ability to transform complex topics and communicate them using
narrative and easily understood, engaging, and adaptable presentations. A subject
matter expert with complex datasets from various ERP database systems. Use of multiple
techniques, including field manipulation, joining data tables using fundamental values,
duplicate detection, stratified or monetary unit sampling methods, and creating custom
queries using various functions and operators.
• Data analysis
• Storytelling
• Agile
Recruiter resume disqualifiers
JOB HOPPING
EMPLOYMENT GAPS
DECREASE OF RESPONSIBILITIES
A CAREER THAT HAS REMAINED
PLATEAUED
POOR GRAMMAR &
SPELLING MISTAKES
GENERIC ADJECTIVES
LACK OF SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE
RIDICULOUS EMAIL ADDRESS
INFORMATION
ESSAY LENGTH PARAGRAPHS
IRRELEVANT CONTENT
WORK EXPERIENCE THAT GOES
TOO FAR BACK
DATES
OVER QUALIFIED OR
UNDER QUALIFIED
LACK OF INFORMATION
FIRST PERSON NARRATIVES
Buying motivators
Knowing when and how to use your value proposition, you need to
understand what the buyer wants and needs. What will motivate them
to “buy” you over another candidate? Buying motivators address why
an employer needs to hire you. The steps to understanding the buying
motivators of a potential employer include:
1. What “problem(s)” does the role solve for the organization?
2. How can you solve the employer’s problems?
3. How will the skills in a job description be used?
4. What are your supporting qualifications to demonstrate you can
solve the issue?
5. What is your added value?
14
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
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Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
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Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Recruitment professionals refer to the ATS as “the robot”. It screens resumes
using keyword search algorithms so only the resumes that match a specific
number of words with the job posting make it to the recruiter. The recruiter
only has to examine those most closely aligned resumes, saving them and
the company time, and reducing the amount of time to hire.
When a job is posted on a company website through the ATS, a recruiter will
enter keywords into the system and a value. It will then tell the system to not
forward any resumes that are below a score of X. This is why it is important
to make sure the exact words in the job description are in your resume.
Some systems will actually add more points according to how often a word
shows up, and others will only score a word once. Keep in mind that just
because a resume has the right keywords, it will be discarded if it is written
in a meaningless or nonsensical way.
Here is an example of what a recruiter sees when they look at new
applicants in an ATS:
Older systems New systems
Can’t read:
• Headers and footers
• Tables or columns
• Fancy formatting
• Images and logos
• PDFs
Can read the
information that
you enter into your
resume in which ever
format you submit
your resume.
How do you choose
which format to use?
Unless you know for
certain, you should
always format for an
older system.
15
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
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Recruiters and
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Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
So what are the important things to know? New and updated systems
can read any document. They are the gift of analytics to companies.
They use this information to make strategic decisions about where to
post their jobs to attract the types of applicants they are looking for.
Older systems may not able to provide the depth of analysis or read
every type of document. The problem is, you don’t know what type of
system you are applying to.
Some websites will give you instructions on the types of files and
formats they want to receive. If not, default to using Microsoft Word.
Organizations like the City of Edmonton will even tell you how they
want your resume written. It is important to follow the instructions and
be very exact in what you submit. Think of it as a test of how well you
follow instructions and navigate technology.
However, if there are no instructions, you are safer using a plain resume.
No fancy file formats, no headers, footers, tables, boxes, or columns.
Any information that you put in them will not appear in the system,
or if they do, they will appear illegible. For example, if you name is in
a header, they will not know who applied or how to contact you. If it’s
a PDF, they will get no data at all. The same goes for images—not just
pictures, but if you are using features that make your resume look like
an infographic, they won’t see anything at all.
Don’t forget spelling! Don’t rely on spellcheck to catch spelling errors.
For example, if you meant to use complied and instead spell compiled,
spellcheck will not flag it as a spelling mistake. Being precise with your
wording is important too. “International Financial Reporting Standards”
or “IFRS” could both be entered into the ATS algorithm, but they
may not. If they use IFRS, use IFRS. You can use both, but you should
definitely use the long form in case the acronym is not included.
TIP!
PROOFREAD
16
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
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Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Make your resume easy to read
Every recruiter and advisor has their own opinions and thoughts on
formatting. Their information is based on their experience and can
provide you with good input for the industry they are specifically
working in. The information in this guide has been developed from
research, specialized training, and input from recruiters.
The first time around, a recruiter is only going to glance at your resume
for an average of 7.4 seconds. Use your real estate wisely and frame
information in the right way. Here are some tips to live by:
1. Reverse chronology. That means the most recent work experience
first, then work your way backwards.
2. Progression. If you have worked at one employer for a long time,
make sure to show you have progressed during that tenure. For
example:
Imagine the Best LLC 2012 – Current
Manager (2016 – Current)
• Bulleted Description .............................................................................................................................
Senior Accountant (2014 – 2016)
• Bulleted Description .............................................................................................................................
Sta Accountant (2012 – 2014)
• Bulleted Description .............................................................................................................................
Imagine the Best LLC January 2019 – Current
Manager (Contract)
• Bulleted Description .............................................................................................................................
Only the Best May 2017 – December 2018
Senior Accountant (Contract)
• Bulleted Description .............................................................................................................................
3. Dates. Make sure to keep all dates justified to the left so that a
recruiter can quickly skim for tenure. If you have a number of dates
due to freelance or contract work, consider writing “contract”
under the dates. This answers questions about multiple dates
quickly. For example:
4. White space. Increases the scan-ability, and broader margins leave
room for interviewers to take notes. Don’t cram your resume and
cover letter with text; it is hard to skim and write notes. Margins
should be at a minimum of 0.75” on each side.
5. Bullets. Increases the scan-ability of a resume and the sentences.
Don’t use paragraphs. Try to use two to three lines, maximum.
6. Colour. Use colour sparingly, and it is recommended to choose a
colour consistent with one used by the organization.
Resume Fonts
TO USE
• Calibri
• Gill Sans
• Cambria
• Constantia
• Helvetica
DO NOT USE
• Times New Roman
• Arial
• Courier
• Brush Script
• Comic Sans
Fonts: What is acceptable today
will change as the availability of
fonts increase and the eyes of
readers become sensitized.
17
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
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Resources
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Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
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Formatting
7. Legibility and Readability. Limit the use of colour, and focus on
legibility and readability. The legibility of a typeface is a product of
its design, and relates to the ability to distinguish one glyph from
another when reading. Factors contributing to a typeface’s legibility
include x-height, character width, weight, design traits, stroke
contrast, counters, serifs or lack thereof.
A grasshopper began to chirrup in the
grass, and a long thin dragony oated
by on its brown gauze wings. Lord
Henry felt as if he could hear Bazil
Hallward’s heart beating, and he
wondered what was coming.
A grasshopper began to chirrup in the grass, and a
long thin dragonfly floated by on its brown gauze
wings. Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Bazil
Hallward’s heart beating, and he wondered what
was coming.
A grasshopper began to chirrup in
the grass, and a long thin dragonfly
floated by on its brown gauze
wings. Lord Henry felt as if he
could hear Bazil Hallward’s heart
beating, and he wondered what
was coming.
A grasshopper began to chirrup in
the grass, and a long thin dragony
oated by on its brown gauze wings.
Lord Henry felt as if he could hear
Bazil Hallward’s heart beating, and
he wondered what was coming.
A grasshopper began to chirrup in
the grass, and a long thin dragony
oated by on its brown gauze wings.
Lord Henry felt as if he could hear
Bazil Hallward’s heart beang, and
he wondered what was coming.
A grasshopper began to chirrup
in the grass, and a long thin
dragonfly floated by on its
brown gauze wings. Lord Henry
felt as if he could hear Bazil
Hallward’s heart beating, and he
wondered what was coming.
A grasshopper began to
chirrup in the grass, and a
long thin dragonfly floated
by on its brown gauze wings.
Lord Henry felt as if he could
hear Bazil Hallward’s heart
beating, and he wondered
what was coming.
A grasshopper began to chirrup
in the grass, and a long thin
dragonfly floated by on its
brown gauze wings. Lord Henry
felt as if he could hear Bazil
Hallward’s heart beating, and he
wondered what was coming.
Readability is related to how the type is arranged, or typeset,
and therefore is controlled by the designer. Factors aecting
type’s readability include: type size, type case, line spacing,
line length, colour, and contrast.
For more information: creativepro.com/legibility-and-readability-whats-the-dierence
x-height: This term refers to the height of the lowercase in proportion to the
caps. The taller the x-height, the more legible the typeface tends to be.
Character width: The easiest type designs to read are those that have an ‘average’
overall width. Very condensed as well as extended designs are less legible.
Line spacing (aka leading): Tight line spacing impacts readability negatively.
The amount needed to improve readability will depend on the size and design
of a typeface as well as its x-height.
Weight: Extremely light and heavy weights are more dicult to read. Book
weights (also called Regular) tend to be the most legible.
Some examples of resume font styles are below.
The examples on the right in each box are easier to read.
18
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
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How Recruiters look
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Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Additional resume content tips
Each recruiter has an opinion and they will dier from each other content
matters most. There is no one template that is more eective than another
is. Here are highlights based on cumulative data from various recruiters
and researchers.
1. No buzzwords, AKA “flu”or cliché
If flu words are in the requirements and you want to address them,
point out where you have demonstrated these skills. For example:
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills
by publishing six articles in the Diversity magazine and the
Government of Alberta newsletter. Presented as a guest speaker
and panellist at 35 events in the last 10 years.
• Increased sales by 20% year over year for consistently for the
last three years demonstrating results-driven attitude/behaviour/
personality trait/ etc…
2. 7.4 seconds. A recruiter will take 7.4 seconds to give your resume a
quick once-over. To gain extra time in the first scan seconds, interrupt
the scan with numbers from your quantifiable results. For example, we
can write two million, 2 million, or $2,000,000. More numbers force
the eye to stop a couple of milliseconds longer. Anything more than
nine digits should not be numerical. For example, $200 billion, not
$200,000,000,000.
3. Action Verbs. Open each bullet with an action verb, but don’t
continually reuse the same word. (Refer to the appendix for a list of
actin verbs).
4. Business “jargon” is great to use if you are using the same jargon you
see on the website. Like hires like.
5. Adjectives. Use adjectives very carefully and not too often. It’s
important to ask yourself whether the adjective is meaningful or just
an embellishment, flu, or a filler word.
6. Quantify as much as you can, put numbers or percentages towards
the beginning of your bullet, not the end. These numbers separate you
from your peers and play on the psychology of the reader. They are
“prove it” statements.
Weak: Managed a budget to plan large-scale events for students.
Strong: Managed a $12,000 budget to plan large-scale events for
2,500 students.
Weak: Compiled a pitch deck for buyout of automotive company.
Strong: Compiled a 44-page pitch deck for buyout of a $53 million
automotive company.
Weak: Wrote articles on entrepreneurship and technology.
Strong: Wrote eight articles on entrepreneurship and technology,
generating 107,000 page views, 8,003 likes, and 3,723 retweets.
6. First-person “I” or “me”. Only use personal pronouns in your cover
letter, not your resume.
7. Acronyms. When using an acronym at least once in your resume, spell
it out as well. For example, accounts payable (a/p). Don’t assume the
acronym is known. If only an acronym is used in the job description,
don’t assume the recruiter will know what it stands for. Use both.
8. Value Proposition. Substitute the “objective” with your brief value
proposition. We don’t use objectives anymore.
Excellent communication skills
Organised
Team player
Quick learner
Results-driven
Highly qualified
Hard worker
Punctual
People person
19
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
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at your Résumé
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Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
9. E and F formats. Formatted resumes are looked at longer
than resumes that have centred headings.
10. Address. Including an address can lead someone to disqualify
you based on travel time. Decide for yourself if you are willing
to travel, not others.
11. Don’t bold words in the middle of sentences. This was a trick
used briefly by some, and it did nothing but annoy recruiters
and slows them down while reading the resume.
12. Job responsibilities are seen to be the same as a job
description. Quantifiable results demonstrate how you used
each technical requirement and what the outcomes were.
13. Headers. Try to only have three or four headers. For example,
Work Experience, Volunteer Experience, Education. You don’t
need a separate header for certifications.
14. Personal Interests have expired in terms of usefulness and
can trigger unconscious bias. They only apply if they are
going to give you a competitive edge. Playing sports for an
Olympic team would make swimming more interesting and
valuable due to the traits that would be required to swim at
that level.
15. “References available upon request”. This statement is
redundant and is no longer required. It takes up unnecessary
space in your resume.
16. Technology. Recruitment agencies will want to know every
piece of technology that you are capable of using such as
capable of Power BI, Analytics, Tableau, or advanced Excel
functions. Companies, on the other hand, want you to be
familiar with the same technology that they use.
17. Testimonial. A one-line testimonial from a performance review
or a recommendation from a hiring manager strategically
placed in your resume can influence a “buying” decision.
Sample resume opening #1 – Experienced Professional
Sample resume opening #2 – Entry level or transactional
Name Lastname CPA
PHONE | EMAIL | LINKEDIN
Accomplished Corporate Finance Leader
Financial Strategist | Trusted Advisor to Leadership | Managing Treasury Operations
A financial leader with expertise in the ABC industry. Highly eective in managing and driving
organizational change and maintaining strong relationships in politically charged environments
and during times of financial strain. Acted as a trusted advisor by leveraging the ability to lead
teams, conduct sophisticated financial analytics, and deliver financial reports in a succinct yet
comprehensive manner to executive management and investors.
• Enterprise Corporate Finance Leadership
• Implementing Financial Systems
• Leading Financial Risk Management
• Expertise in Treasury Operations
• Experience in Multiple Industries such as Financial, Service and Manufacturing
“Captain Underpants is highly competent and strategic, which I should emphasize helped navigate
our organizational change and downsizing.” —Excerpt from Performance Review
Name Lastname
PHONE | EMAIL | LINKEDIN
HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
• CPA student, completed core 1 & 2
• Accounts Payable (A/P) and Accounts Receivable (A/R)
• Journal Entries
• Month-end and Year-End
• Experienced with JD Edwards, Great Plains and Intermediate Excel (formulas, V-Lookups,
H-Lookups and Pivot Tables)
20
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
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booklet
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Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Control Your Narrative
Addressing recruiter triggers and overt and unconscious bias
Tips for addressing work gaps
Extended Maternity Leave or Compassion Leave: Address it in a manner
that demonstrates responsibility and skill development.
A great example from monster.ca:
Brown Family, Toronto, Ontario 2004 - present
Homemaker
• Charged with caring for two female children currently ages 3 and 4 allowing
spouse to pursue continuing education and career goals as a Project Manager
with CBC.
• Provide support, empathy and guidance to children; coach and educate them to
excel in their schooling and extracurricular pursuits.
Other reasons:
• If you took a leave to address physical or mental health reasons, you
can call it a “personal sabbatical.”
• Fill with volunteer positions.
• If it is because for economic change, use the header Relevant Work
Experience
Lack of work / low economy
Fill the space with volunteer work and refer to courses and self-
improvement—anything you have done while searching for work.
 
Tips for Ageism
Under the Alberta Human Rights Act (the Act), age is a ground that is
protected from discrimination. The Act defines age as 18 years of age or
older, which means that individuals 18 and older are protected from age
discrimination.
Older: Don’t include your graduation date or work older than 10 years
on your resume. Include only relevant information. Demonstrate that you
have been committed to continual learning, and make sure you are up to
date with technology. Demonstrate that you have energy and can work
under pressure and meet tight deadlines. Look youthful on social media.
Make sure your hairstyle is up to date, your photo shows you professionally
dressed and with a clean background. Ensure your language is consistent
with modern terminology. Often people are concerned that someone isn’t
going to stay with them very long.
Younger: Don’t be ashamed of summer jobs and part-time jobs—pull
out those jobs skills that are relevant and phrase them accordingly.
For example, customer service = client service. Inventory counts, cash
handling, balancing, etc. Talk about school projects if you have a GPA
of 3.5 or higher, and any scholarships you have received. Include details
about your volunteer work or sports that you have participated in. Make
sure if someone Googles your name, your youthful private life is private
and cannot be seen. You want to prove you are responsible. Speak the
employer’s language.
21
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
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Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
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Résumé
Formatting
Tips for New Immigrants
Name: Use your preferred first name. You do not need to use your full legal
name except on your hiring documents and you can inform HR what your
preferred name is. Please note if you go by your first name, you do not
need to change it unless you want to. Your name is your personal identity.
For example,
Omosalope = Sola
Xing = Alice
Robert = Bob
Last Name: For some individuals whose family names are particularly
long and very dicult to pronounce or if you are a refugee with protected
status, you can choose to use the first letter with a period; for example,
Sarah O.
Country of Origin: This falls under protected status under the Alberta and
Federal Human Rights. However, in some cases it can be hard to prove.
Rather than using your country of origin, use the colonial term Overseas
for your location of employment and education. You can also chose to
omit the location as well. Remember on the resume, omission is not lying.
Unfamiliar companies: If the company is a national or local company write
a brief description of the organization. If the company is a subsidiary of an
international company you have two choices:
Shell (ABC company subsidiary)
Or
ABC company (a Shell subsidiary)
Education: For location, use overseas, if they want to look up the location
they can choose to do so. Make sure to put an asterisk * next to the degree
and write “recognized by International Qualifications Assessment Services
(IQAS) or World Education Services (WES)”, and, and write out what
the acronyms are. Many organizations do not know who IQAS and WES
assessments are. You can also write recognised
Omissions: Do not include a photo, marital status, information that can be
used for identity theft (SIN, age, parental status, etc.) or languages, unless
it is relevant to the job you are applying to.
Religion and politics
Do not include any information that can disclose what political party or
religion you identify with.
 
22
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
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Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
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Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Legally represent your CPA or candidacy in resumes,
social media, and business cards
Presenting CPA credentials in resumes, cover letters, and on LinkedIn can
be confusing for members (designated CPAs), candidates (those enrolled
in the Professional Education Program, or PEP), and students (those
enrolled in pre-requisite courses through the CPA Western School of
Business).
The description of CPA credentials and status is governed through Part 1,
Section 7 (pages 16, 17) of the Alberta Chartered Professional Accountants
Act, which deals with protected words and abbreviations. It is unethical to
misrepresent your qualifications and credentials; particular care must be
taken to do this accurately and honestly.
There are three sections of the resume (and LinkedIn) where credentials
are typically described. These include after one’s name in the header, the
profile (or summary) section, and the education section.
How you present your designation credentials depends on whether
you have completed your education and designation through the CPA
Professional Education Program (PEP), with one of the legacy designation
bodies (Chartered Accountant, Certified General Accountant, or Certified
Management Accountant), or through a Mutual Recognition Agreement
(MRA), Reciprocal Membership Agreement (RMA), or Memorandum Of
Understanding (MOU) with a designation body outside Canada.
Members
Members who earned their designation through PEP should append their
names with “CPA.”
Those earning membership through an MRA/RMA or through an MOU and
partial completion of PEP should use the designation indicated in their
acceptance letter from CPA Alberta. In some cases, it will be CPA, and
in others will follow the rules for legacy members. Overseas accounting
credentials should not be listed after the member’s name as they are not
ocially recognized in Alberta.
The following are acceptable:
PEP/CPA route: John Smith CPA
Legacy route:
• Jenny Smith CPA, CA; Jenny Smith CA;
• John Smith CPA, CGA; John Smith CGA;
• Jenny Smith CPA, CMA; Jenny Smith CMA
After July 1, 2025 the CPA designation can be used on its own, adding a
third option.
• John Doe CPA
Members who hold more than one legacy designation and choose to “tag”
should only use the CPA designation once.
For example:
• John Doe CPA, CMA, CGA, CA
Members holding the Fellow legacy designation status (FCMA, FCGA,
FCA) automatically receive the FCPA designation.
23
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Members who hold a CPA designation from the United States and
have been approved by CPA Alberta to indicate that designation
must do so in the following manner: Name, Canadian Designations,
US CPA Designation (State, USA).
• John Doe CPA, CMA, CPA (New York, USA);
• Jane Smith CPA, CGA, CPA (Texas, USA);
• Richard Roe CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois, USA)
Profile/Summary
It is not necessary to include membership in a profile, as the
designation acronym is included after the name in document
header.. If you do wish to highlight this again, it can be done as
follows:
PEP/CPA route: Member of CPA Alberta since (Month, Year)
Legacy route: Designated as a (legacy designation) since (Month,
Year) and member of CPA Alberta since (Month, Year).
Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, CPA Alberta 2016
• Completed Common Final Exam (CFE) in September 2015.
Chartered Accountant (CA) designation, ICAA 2003
• Recognized with fellowship (FCA) in 2014.
• Granted CPA designation (FCPA) on unification of Alberta
accounting bodies in July 2015.
Certified General Accountant (CGA), CGA Alberta 2016
• Granted CPA designation concurrently after unification of Alberta
accounting bodies in July 2015
Certified Management Accountant (CMA), CMA Alberta 2016
Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA), Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants 2009
• Granted CGA designation in Alberta through Mutual Recognition
Agreement (MRA) in 2012.
• Granted CPA designation on unification of Alberta accounting
bodies in July, 2015
Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), CIMA 2012
• Granted CPA, CMA through Mutual Recognition
Agreement (MRA) in 2017
Education
The education section should describe the professional education
program you completed and the provider. Program and designation
dates are not required, but if you choose to highlight them, only the
year designation was granted is necessary. You can indicate additional
information such as designations earned through unification of the
Alberta legacy bodies in July, 2015, or through MRA/RMA/MOU in bullet
points with your education description.
For example:
24
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Candidates
PEP Candidates need to be careful about how they represent their
status so they don’t confuse the general public about their professional
accounting qualifications. The term “CPA Candidate” is not well
understood outside the accounting profession and could be misleading, so
it should not be used.
After name
The Act prohibits use of any CPA-related titles after a candidate’s name.
You may present all and any completed qualifications, but overseas
accounting credentials should not be listed as they are not ocially
recognized in Alberta. The following are acceptable:
• Jenny Smith MBA, BCom (Accounting)
• John Smith BSc (Accounting and Finance)
• Jenny Smith MPAcc
Profile/Summary
Candidacy for the CPA designation is certainly a desirable quality for
employers, and you will want to present this clearly at the top of your
resume or LinkedIn profile. As stated, it is important not to misrepresent
your qualifications. In a paragraph or bulleted list, you can describe
education and designation status as follows:
• Currently enrolled in the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP)
with designation expected in 20XX.
• Completed educational requirements of the CPA Professional
Education Program (PEP), with designation expected on completion of
Practical Experience Requirements (PER) in Month, 20XX.
Education
How you describe your CPA education will depend on whether or not you
have completed the Professional Education Program. Describe education
and CPA standing as follows:
CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) Jan. 2018 - Present
CPA Western School of Business
• Registered to write Common Final Exam (CFE) in
September 2018.
• Designation expected in spring 2019.
Or
CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) Jan. 2016 – Sep. 2017
CPA Western School of Business
• Passed Common Final Exam (CFE) in September 2017.
• Designation expected on completion of Practical
Experience Requirements (PER) in fall 2018.
25
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Students
Students enrolled in CPA prerequisite course work need to be careful
about how they represent their status so they don’t confuse the general
public about professional accounting qualifications. The term “CPA
Student” is misleading, so it should not be used.
After name
The Act prohibits use of any CPA-related titles after a student’s name. You
may present all and any completed qualifications, but overseas accounting
credentials should not be listed as they are not ocially recognized in
Alberta.
The following are acceptable:
• Jenny Smith MBA, BCom (Accounting)
• John Smith BSc (Accounting and Finance)
Profile/Summary
Enrollment in CPA prerequisite courses is certainly a desirable quality for
employers, and you will want to present this clearly at the top of your
resume or LinkedIn profile. As stated, it is important not to misrepresent
your qualifications. In a paragraph or bulleted list, you can describe
education and designation status as follows:
• Currently enrolled in CPA prerequisite courses through CPA Western
School of Business, with expected entry to the CPA Professional
Education Program (PEP) in 20XX.
• Currently enrolled in CPA prerequisite courses through MacEwan
University, with targeted entry to the CPA Professional Education
Program (PEP) in 20XX.
Education
How you describe your CPA-related education will depend on which
educational institution you are/were enrolled with for your courses.
Describe education and CPA standing as follows:
CPA Prerequisite Courses Jan. 2017 – Jul. 2018
CPA Western School of Business
• Completed all 13 courses required for entry to
CPA Professional Education Program (PEP).
• Registered for first CPA PEP module, with classes
beginning in January, 2019.
Or
Accelerated Accounting Certificate Jan. 2016 - Present
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
• Completed 10 of 13 CPA prerequisites to date.
• Expected enrollment in Professional Education
Program (PEP) in September, 2019.
26
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
APPENDIX 1
Additional Resume and Cover Letter Resources
Website Resources:
Employment gaps raise red flags, but they can be overcome
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/employment-gaps-raise-red-flags-but-they-can-be-overcome
Pre-pandemic vs. Now: Top Resume Survey Reveals What Recruiters Really Care About https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/press-2020-10-20
Transferable Skills Series https://www.myperfectresume.com/career-center/special-reports/coronavirus/view-all-transferable-skills-series-articles
City of Edmonton Tips: https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/jobs/webinars
Resume Trends
Executive Resume Trends for 2021 - https://careerimpressions.ca/executive-resume-trends-for-2021/
11 Impactful Ways to Update Your Resume for 2021 https://www.jobscan.co/blog/update-resume/
Resume Statistics 2021: What Job Seekers Need to Know https://www.zippia.com/advice/resume-statistics/
One foot out the door? How to write your resume in 2021 https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/people-managers/pages/resume-writing-for-managers.aspx
52 Resume Statistics in 2021 Should Know https://www.resume-now.com/job-resources/jobs/resume-statistics
Cover Letters
Are cover letters necessary in 2020? Survey Says - https://blog.careerbeacon.com/are-cover-letters-necessary-in-2020-survey-says/
List of 600 Personality Traits https://liveboldandbloom.com/02/self-awareness/list-of-personality-traits
10 of the Worst Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/cover-letter-mistakes
Resume Scanning Services
Zipjob: https://www.zipjob.com/free-review/
TopResume: https://www.topresume.com/resume-review
Jobscan: https://www.jobscan.co/
27
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
APPENDIX 2
Powerful Action Verbs
Accounting Action Words
Accounted
Acquired Adjusted
Administered
Aged
Allocated
Analyzed
Answered
Appraised
Approved
Assembled
Assessed
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Capitalized
Captured
Cashed
Categorized
Certified
Charged
Claimed
Classified
Closed
Collected
Coded
Collected
Compared
Compiled
Complied
Conducted
Condensed
Configured
Consolidated
Controlled
Constructed
Converted
Corrected
Credited
Depreciated
Deducted
Determined
Directed
Distributed
Entered
Estimated
Examined
Expended
Evaluated
Examined
Experimented
Explored
Filed
Financed
Fixed
Forecasted
Generated
Identified
Interpreted
Inventoried
Investigated
Invoiced
Justified
Logged
Maintained
Managed
Measured
Merged
Migrated
Paid
Posted
Prepared
Processed
Projected
Received
Reconciled
Recorded
Recovered
Registered
Reported
Researched
Reviewed
Searched
Setup
Solved
Specialized
Standardized
Studied
Submitted
Taxed
Traced
Tracked
Updated
Validated
Verified
Project Related Action Words
Accelerated
Appointed
Arranged
Assigned
Began
Benchmarked
Brainstormed
Built
Chaired
Championed
Charted
Conceptualized
Controlled
Coordinated
Crafted
Created
Deciphered
Detected
Dierentiated
Discovered
Deployed
Designed
Developed
Devised
Drove Established
Executed
Fabricated
Focused
Formalized
Formed
Formulated
Gathered
Headed
Implemented
Incorporated
Initiated
Innovated
Installed
Instituted
Introduced
Launched
Mapped
Observed
Operated
Orchestrated
Ordered
Organized
Oversaw
Piloted
Pioneered
Planned
Produced
Qualified
Quantified
Resolved
Spearheaded
Synthesized
Targeted
Tested
Thwarted
Tracked
Troubleshot
Visualized
28
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
You Saved the Company Time or Money
Combined
Conserved
Decreased
Deducted
Diagnosed
Exploited
Fortified
Lessened
Leveraged
Located
Optimized
Pinpointed
Realigned
Rectified
Reduced
Reserved
Retrieved
Safeguarded
Terminated
Thwarted
Yielded
You Increased Eciency, Sales, Revenue, or Customer Satisfaction
Accelerated
Achieved
Advanced
Amplified
Bolstered
Boosted
Considered
Delivered
Elicited
Embraced
Enhanced
Expanded
Expedited
Focused
Furthered
Gained
Grew
Handled
Improved
Incentivized
Lifted
Maximized
Monetized
Optimized
Outpaced
Seized
Stimulated
Strategized
Surpassed
Sustained
Unleashed
Won
You Changed or Improved Something
Adapted
Catapulted
Centralized
Clarified
Constructed
Converted
Customized
Decided
Deployed
Eliminated
Embraced
Fortified
Grew
Influenced
Integrated
Intensified
Modified
Normalized
Overhauled
Propelled
Realigned
Rectified
Redesigned
Refined
Refocused
Reinvented
Remodeled
Renewed
Reorganized
Replaced
Restored
Restructured
Revamped
Revised
Revitalized
Routed
Simplified
Specialized
Standardized
Streamlined
Strengthened
Succeeded
Surpassed
Terminated
Transformed
Transitioned
Upgraded
Team and Stakeholder Relations
Advised
Advocated
Aided
Aligned
Appointed
Arbitrated
Arranged
Assisted
Assigned
Bolstered
Coached
Collaborated
Compelled
Conferred
Considered
Consulted
Cooperated
Contracted
Contributed
Cultivated
Decided
Directed
Educated
Empowered
Enabled
Encouraged
Engaged
Enlisted
Facilitated
Fielded
Forged
Fostered
Guided
Harnessed
Hired
Informed
Inspired
Instilled
Interacted
Leveraged
29
><
Appendix 2:
Action Verbs
Appendix 1:
Additional
Resources
Control Your
Narrative
Legally represent
your CPA or
Candidacy
How to use this
booklet
Career Services
Alberta
Cover Letter/
Résumé Checklist
How Recruiters look
at your Résumé
Write with
Intention
Cover Letter
Recruiters and
Hiring Managers
Job Description Résumé
Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS)
Résumé
Formatting
Maintained
Mentored
Mobilized
Monetized
Motivated
Navigated
Negotiated
Originated
Partnered
Presided
Prioritized
Propelled
Proposed
Provided
Recommended
Recruited
Rectified
Referred
Reinforced
Renewed
Restored
Reinforced
Regulated
Secured
Shaped
Solicited
Supervised
Taught
Trained
Tutored
Unified
United
Utilized
You Wrote or Communicated
Addressed
Advised
Articulated
Authored
Briefed
Campaigned
Crafted
Co-authored
Compelled
Composed
Contacted
Conveyed
Convinced
Corresponded
Counseled
Critiqued
Debated
Defined
Described
Dierentiated
Discussed
Documented
Drafted
Edited
Emphasized
Explained
Expressed
Formulated
Illustrated
Judged
Lobbied
Outlined
Persuaded
Presented
Promoted
Publicized
Responded
Reviewed
Showcased
Specified
Spoke
Suggested
Summarized
Targeted
Transmitted
You Oversaw or Regulated
Approved
Authorized
Blocked
Considered
Delegated
Dispatched
Enforced
Ensured
Inspected
Instructed
Intervened
Itemized
Maintained
Minimized
Monitored
Normalized
Routed
Scheduled Streamlined
Screened
Scrutinized
Strategized
Systematized
Verified
You Achieved Something
Attained
Awarded
Completed
Demonstrated
Earned
Elicited
Exceeded
Obtained
Outperformed
Reached
Showcased
Succeeded