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How to write a CV for jobs in Nigeria

A clear structure for fresh graduates and early-career job seekers.

A CV has one job: to get you an interview. Recruiters often scan it in under a minute, so it must be short, clear and match the role.

The order that works

  1. Contact details. Name, phone number, a professional email address and your city. Skip your date of birth and religion unless the advert asks.
  2. Profile. Two or three lines saying who you are, your course and what you are looking for.
  3. Experience. Jobs, internships, NYSC and volunteering, newest first, with bullet points that start with action words.
  4. Education. Degree, school, year and class of degree if it is a strength.
  5. Skills and certificates. Software, languages and short courses that match the advert.
  6. Referees. Two people who can speak about your work, or “available on request”.

Write results, not duties

Instead of “Responsible for customer service”, write “Served about 40 customers a day and cut complaint time by agreeing a follow-up routine”. Numbers make claims believable.

Tailor it for every job

Read the advert and use its keywords where they truthfully describe you. Many companies use software to filter CVs, so plain headings and a simple layout help.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Spelling errors and an email like “sweetboy2000”.
  • Long paragraphs, small fonts and decorative layouts.
  • Listing every course you ever took.
  • Sending a Word file that changes on another computer. Save it as PDF.

Build yours with the CV Builder, add a cover letter and use the job application checklist before you send.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a CV be?

One page for fresh graduates, two pages at most with experience. Employers read quickly, so keep only what supports the job you want.

Should I include a photo?

Only if the employer asks. Many employers prefer no photo, and some Nigerian employers still expect one. Follow the advert.

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Free tools you may need

CV Builder

Build a clean CV in minutes. Nigerian, international and simple templates. Download as PDF or Word.

Cover Letter Generator

Paste the job description and get a tailored cover letter draft you can edit. Download as PDF or Word.

Document Checklist

A tick-off list of the documents usually needed for admission, scholarships, visas, jobs and NYSC.

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