The 12-Second Rule: Why Most International Résumés Fail in Canada

In the highly competitive Canadian labor market, your résumé is not a biography; it is a marketing document. Research consistently shows that recruiters spend an average of 12 seconds scanning a profile before deciding its fate. For international professionals, failure often stems from "Cultural Mismatch"—using formats and language that do not align with North American hiring logic. Understanding the difference between a simple translation and a strategic "Canadian-style" alignment is the single most important factor in moving from an applicant to a candidate.