What to include
Contact details
Your name, phone number, email address and city. A full street address isn't necessary.
Availability
Many hourly jobs are built around shifts. Say which days and times you can work, and whether you're available for nights, weekends or holidays. For many roles, this matters as much as experience.
A short summary
Two lines on who you are and what you're looking for. For example: "Reliable team member with two years of retail experience, looking for a full-time warehouse role. Available nights and weekends."
Experience
List your recent jobs with the employer, your title and the dates. Under each one, add two or three short lines about what you did, using numbers where you can: "Handled 100+ customer transactions per shift," "Trained four new team members."
No formal work experience yet? Include volunteering, school projects, sports teams or helping in a family business. They show reliability and teamwork.
Skills and certifications
Add skills that matter for the job: cash handling, point-of-sale systems, inventory, forklift certification, a food handler card or a second language.
What to leave out
- A photo, your date of birth, marital status or your SSN/SIN. These aren't expected on resumes in the USA or Canada.
- Long paragraphs. Short lines are easier to scan.
- "References available on request." Employers will ask if they need them.
Format and length
For most hourly jobs, one page is enough. Use a simple layout with clear headings and a standard font. Many large employers use online systems that read your resume automatically, and plain formatting works best with them.
Save it as a PDF with a clear file name, such as "Maria-Lopez-Resume.pdf," and keep an editable copy so you can adjust it for each job.
Quick check before you send it: phone number correct, availability included, no spelling mistakes, fits on one page.
Written by the JobNook Hub editorial team. We write practical, plain-language guides for hourly job seekers and check facts against official sources. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
