How to write a CV that gets read

Lead every bullet with a verb and end it with a number

“Responsible for reconciliations” says nothing. “Cleared a backlog of 400+ unreconciled items in one quarter” says you can do the job. If you cannot put a number on it, put a scale on it — how many people, how much money, how often.

Two pages, and no more

Recruiters skim. Anything past page two is rarely read, so if it does not help you get this particular job, cut it. Older roles can collapse to one line each.

Match the words in the advert

Many Nigerian employers now screen applications automatically before a person sees them. If the advert asks for IFRS and you have written “international standards”, you may never reach a human. Use their words where they are honestly yours.

Put NYSC status where it can be seen

Nigerian employers look for it, and leaving it off invites the assumption you have not served. Completed, serving, exempted or exclusion granted — state it plainly near the top.

List referees in full for Nigerian roles

“References available on request” is normal in the UK and reads as evasive to many Nigerian employers, who expect names and contact details up front. Ask permission before you list anyone.

Leave out photo, age, marital status and state of origin

Older Nigerian templates include all four. They give an employer grounds to filter you on something irrelevant, and on an international application they look unprofessional. Your work is the argument.

Mistakes that cost interviews

• One CV sent to every employer. Tailor the summary and the top three bullets each time, at minimum.
• An email address like babygirl_finest@ — use firstname.lastname wherever you can.
• Duties copied from a job description instead of what you actually achieved.
• Gaps left unexplained. A one-line note beats a silent year.
• Referees listed without asking them first.
• Typos in the first three lines, which is exactly where attention is highest.

Common questions

How do I write a CV in Nigeria?

Start with your name, the job title you are aiming for, and your contact details. Add a short profile of three or four lines, then your work experience with achievements rather than duties, then education, skills and referees. Keep it to two pages, and put your NYSC status near the top.

Should I put NYSC on my CV?

Yes. Nigerian employers look for it, and leaving it off invites the assumption that you have not served. State it plainly — completed, currently serving, exempted, or exclusion granted.

Do I need to list referees?

For Nigerian roles, usually yes, with names and contact details. “References available on request” is standard in the UK but reads as evasive to many Nigerian employers. Always ask your referees before you list them.

Should I put my photo, age or state of origin on my CV?

No. Older Nigerian templates include them, but they give an employer grounds to filter you on something irrelevant to the job, and on an international application they look unprofessional. The exception is where an employer explicitly asks.

What is the difference between a CV and a resume?

In Nigeria and the UK the words are used interchangeably for the same two-page document. A CV in the American sense is a longer academic record listing publications and research, which is not what an employer here is asking for.

Is my CV stored anywhere?

No. Everything you type stays in your own browser's local storage and is never sent to us. Close the tab and come back and it will still be there; use a different device and it will not, because it never left the first one.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Press Download as PDF, then choose “Save as PDF” as the destination in your browser's print dialog. That produces a proper text-based PDF rather than a picture of one, which matters because many employers run CVs through software that has to read the text.