Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, absolutely! Our basic ATS compatibility scanner is completely free. You can scan as many resumes as you want, as many times as you want. No credit card required, no hidden fees. We offer this free tool to help Canadian job seekers get immediate feedback. If you want detailed written feedback from a professional reviewer, that's when we offer our $99 audit service — but the scanner itself is always free.

Most generic ATS tools don't account for Canadian hiring practices and legal requirements. Our checker is specifically built for Canada with several unique features:

• Canadian Compliance Check: We flag personal information that's prohibited in Canada (photos, age, date of birth, marital status, SIN) based on Canadian Human Rights Act requirements.
• Canadian Context: We understand the Applicant Tracking Systems used by major Canadian employers (Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, and others).
• Format Standards: Our formatting checks are calibrated to Canadian resume standards and employer expectations.
• PIPEDA Compliance: Your data is handled in full compliance with PIPEDA regulations that govern Canadian privacy.

Your 1-100 ATS score is calculated using a weighted algorithm:

• 40% Keyword Matching: How many keywords from the job description appear in your resume
• 30% ATS Formatting: How well your resume will parse through Applicant Tracking Systems (tables, special characters, contact info, etc.)
• 30% Canadian Compliance: Deductions for prohibited personal information that could harm your candidacy in Canada

A score of 75+ is excellent, 50-74 needs improvement, and below 50 needs significant work. Remember, this is just one input — your resume, cover letter, and fit for the specific role all matter to a hiring manager.

An ATS is software that companies use to manage job applications. Here's how it works:

• Your resume is uploaded to the company's ATS
• The system automatically scans and ranks resumes based on keywords and qualifications
• Your resume is scored, and typically only the top-ranked resumes are reviewed by humans
• If your resume doesn't pass the ATS screening, a recruiter never sees it

The reality: Over 75% of resumes never reach a human recruiter — they're filtered out by ATS systems. This is why optimizing for ATS compatibility is critical for Canadian job seekers.

Major Canadian employers use several ATS platforms. The most common include: Workday (used by large corporations), Taleo (Oracle's platform), Greenhouse (focus on enterprise recruiting), iCIMS, and BambooHR. Many smaller companies use LinkedIn's application system or basic email-based systems. Our tool checks for compatibility across all major systems, since the core principles of ATS optimization work across all platforms.

In Canada, including a photo on your resume can actually hurt your chances. Here's why:

• Legal Risk for Employers: Photos can introduce unconscious bias based on appearance (age, gender, race, etc.), which is illegal under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Employers may automatically reject resumes with photos to avoid legal risk.
• Not Expected: Canadian employers don't expect photos on resumes. It's viewed as outdated or unnecessary.
• ATS Issues: Photos can cause ATS parsing problems and make your resume less scannable.

What to do instead: Use a professional headshot on your LinkedIn profile, not your resume.

Age discrimination is illegal in Canada. Here's the guidance:

• Never include: Your birth year, birth date, or age. Don't hint at it by including "graduated in 1995" (employers can do the math).
• Graduation years: For a recent degree (within the last 5-7 years), it's fine to include the year. For older degrees, you can leave the year off — focus on relevant experience.
• Years of experience: You can say "10+ years in software development" but don't include personal age.

Remember: Your value is in your skills and experience, not your age. Canadian employers are legally required to make decisions based on qualifications.

Family status is protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act. Employers cannot make decisions based on marital or family status:

• Never mention if you're married, single, divorced, or widowed
• Don't mention children, caregiving responsibilities, or dependents
• Assume employers know you can fulfill job duties regardless of family situation

If your resume shows you were out of the workforce, you can briefly explain in a cover letter ("completed family leave"), but this is optional and should be neutral.

Never include your SIN on your resume. Your SIN is sensitive personal information used for tax and employment purposes. Including it creates serious security risks:

• Identity theft risk if your resume is shared or leaked
• Unnecessary exposure of sensitive information
• No legitimate reason to include it — employers don't need it until you're hired

If an employer needs your SIN, they'll ask for it during the hiring process after you've accepted an offer.

Nationality and ethnic origin are protected grounds — employers cannot discriminate based on these:

• Don't include: Your nationality, ethnic background, or country of origin
• Work authorization: If relevant for the role (some employers need Canadian citizens), you can briefly state your status: "Canadian citizen", "Permanent resident", or "Valid work permit (expires 2025)"
• International experience: Focus on translating your experience in Canadian context, not your nationality

Your $99 expert audit includes:

• Full Resume Review: Complete analysis of your content, format, and presentation
• ATS Keyword Alignment: Specific recommendations for incorporating keywords from your target roles
• Canadian Formatting Compliance: Detailed review ensuring your resume meets Canadian hiring standards
• Prohibited Details Removal: Identification of any personal information that shouldn't be on a Canadian resume
• LinkedIn Profile Review: Specific recommendations to optimize your LinkedIn for Canadian recruiters
• Detailed Written Report: Professional feedback from an experienced Canadian resume reviewer with actionable recommendations

You'll receive a comprehensive written report (typically 2-3 pages) with specific examples and suggestions tailored to your resume and target roles.

We promise delivery within 48 hours of your order. This is a delivery timeline, not a guaranteed job outcome. Here's what this means:

• Your order is assigned to a reviewer within 24 hours
• The review and report writing takes 1-2 business days
• You'll receive your report within 48 hours (we typically deliver faster)
• Weekend/holiday orders may take slightly longer but still within 48 hours

48 hours is our maximum window to ensure we maintain quality while delivering quickly. Most clients receive their reports within 24 hours.

Yes. If you're not satisfied with your audit within 7 days of delivery, we offer a full $99 refund — no questions asked. We're confident our reviewers provide valuable feedback, but your satisfaction is guaranteed. Simply contact us within 7 days with a request.

Absolutely. When you order, let us know about the types of roles you're targeting. Our reviewer will provide recommendations that work across your different target opportunities. For example, if you're applying to both "Software Engineer" and "Technical Program Manager" roles, we'll recommend keywords and examples that strengthen your candidacy for both.

No. We can't guarantee job offers — that depends on many factors including your experience, skills, fit with the company, market conditions, and luck. What we can guarantee is a thorough, expert review of your resume and actionable recommendations to improve your ATS score and presentation. A stronger resume significantly improves your odds of getting past initial screening and into the hands of a hiring manager. The rest is up to you and the interview process.

For the free scanner, your resume is used to generate your instant score and is not stored. For the paid audit:

• Your resume is securely stored only as long as needed for your audit (typically 2-3 days)
• Our reviewer accesses it to create your written report
• After your audit is complete, your resume and submission data are retained for 30 days in case you need follow-up
• Exactly 30 days after submission, your resume is permanently deleted from our systems

We never: Share your resume with third parties, use it for training without permission, or retain it beyond 30 days.

Yes. We are fully compliant with PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act), Canada's federal privacy law:

• Your personal information is collected only for the stated purpose (your audit)
• Data is stored securely with encryption and access controls
• We never use your data without consent
• You can request access to your data or request deletion at any time
• We have a data retention policy: 30 days after submission, your data is permanently deleted

Your privacy is not negotiable. If you have questions about how we handle your data, contact us.

No. We never sell, share, or transfer your personal information or resume to recruiters, employers, or any third parties. Your resume is for your use only. We respect the confidentiality of your information.

Your email is used for:

• Sending your PDF report and audit results
• Following up with information about the paid audit service (if you used the free tool)
• Responding to any questions you have about your results

We never send unsolicited marketing emails. If you opt out of emails, just let us know. You can unsubscribe from all communications at any time.

Yes! ResumeScore Canada is specifically designed for newcomers and internationally trained professionals. Here's how we help:

• Credential Translation: Our Canadian Compliance Check helps you understand how to present international credentials in Canadian context
• Format Adaptation: We show you exactly what Canadian employers expect in terms of resume format and content
• Cultural Differences: International resumes often include information that's prohibited in Canada (photos, personal details). We flag these.
• Expert Review: If you order the audit, our reviewers have experience helping newcomers adapt their resumes to Canadian hiring practices

Canadian employers need context for international credentials. Here's the approach:

• Be specific: Include degree name, institution name, country, and graduation year
• Clarify structure: If your degree differs from Canadian norms (e.g., 3-year vs. 4-year), note it: "3-year Bachelor's (equivalent to 4-year Canadian degree)"
• Add credentials: If you've done credential evaluation (ECA, WES), note it on your resume
• Translate experience: Don't assume job titles translate. Describe what you actually did and the outcomes

Major Canadian employers use: Workday (large corporations), Taleo (Oracle), Greenhouse, iCIMS, and BambooHR. Many smaller companies use LinkedIn or email-based systems. Our tool is calibrated for all of these, since the core optimization principles are universal.