CV Writing Tips That Actually Help You Get Shortlisted in Nigeria

A CV's job is simple: get you an interview. Here's what tends to work, and what quietly gets applications ignored.

Structure Matters More Than Design

A clean, easy-to-scan CV consistently outperforms a heavily designed one. Recruiters (and increasingly, automated screening software) often spend seconds, not minutes, on a first pass — a CV that's hard to scan quickly gets skipped, regardless of how good the content actually is.

What a Strong CV Typically Includes

1. Contact information — full name, phone number, professional email address (avoid unprofessional handles), and LinkedIn if you have one.
2. A brief professional summary — 2-3 sentences summarizing your experience/skills and what you're looking for, tailored to the specific role where possible.
3. Work experience, most recent first, with brief bullet points focused on what you achieved or handled — not just a list of duties.
4. Education, most recent/highest qualification first.
5. Skills relevant to the role — be specific (e.g. "Advanced Excel: pivot tables, VLOOKUP" rather than just "computer literate").
6. Certifications or training, if relevant to the role you're applying for.

Common Mistakes That Get CVs Skipped

• One generic CV for every application — tailoring your summary and highlighted skills to each specific role, even slightly, noticeably improves response rates.
• Listing duties instead of achievements — "Responsible for sales" says less than "Grew monthly sales by managing a portfolio of 40+ clients."
• Spelling and formatting inconsistencies — inconsistent fonts, spacing, or tense (mixing past/present tense) reads as carelessness, even when the content is strong.
• Including outdated or irrelevant information — a CV should generally not exceed 2 pages for most early-to-mid career applicants; keep only what's relevant to the roles you're targeting.
• Unprofessional email addresses or missing contact details — small details, but they're often the very first thing a recruiter sees.

A Note on Photos and Personal Details

Practices vary — some Nigerian employers still expect a passport photograph on a CV, particularly for certain sectors, while international or more corporate employers increasingly prefer CVs without photos to reduce unconscious bias. When in doubt, check the specific job advert or company norms rather than assuming either way.

Don't Forget the Cover Letter

Where one is requested (or even optional), a short, specific cover letter — explaining briefly why you're a fit for this role at this company — meaningfully increases your chances over a CV submitted alone.