How to Write a Professional CV That Gets You Hired in Nigeria (2025 Edition)
How to Write a Professional CV That Gets You Hired in Nigeria (2025 Edition)
In Nigeria’s competitive job market, a well-crafted CV can be your golden ticket. Whether you’re a fresh graduate or an experienced professional, writing a professional CV that grabs attention is crucial. This guide will show you step-by-step how to write a CV that gets you hired in 2025.
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What Is a CV?A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a summary of your academic background, work experience, skills, and achievements. It’s the first impression you give to employers — and in most cases, it determines whether you get called for an interview.
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Key Sections of a Nigerian CVLet’s break down the essential parts of a CV that Nigerian employers expect:
1. Contact Information
At the top of your CV, include:
Full name (bold and larger font)
Phone number
Professional email address
LinkedIn profile (if available)
Location (City, State)
Avoid: Including your age, gender, religion, or a passport photo (unless specifically requested).---
2. Professional Summary
This is a 2–4 sentence overview of your career goals and highlights.
Example:
> Results-driven accounting graduate with 2 years of internship experience in financial analysis and reporting. Passionate about improving business efficiency through data-driven strategies.
Keep it short, clear, and focused.---
3. Core Skills / Competencies
List 6–10 skills relevant to the job.
Example for a Digital Marketer:
SEO & SEM
Social Media Management
Google Ads & Facebook Ads
Analytics & Reporting
Email Marketing
Content Creation
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4. Work Experience
List your jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Include:
Job title
Company name
Location
Duration (Month/Year – Month/Year)
3–5 bullet points of responsibilities or achievements
Example: Social Media Manager
Tech360 Nigeria, Lagos
Jan 2022 – Present
Grew Instagram followers from 5K to 50K in 12 months
Increased engagement rate by 35% using interactive campaigns
Ran Facebook Ads that led to 15% increase in conversions
Use action verbs like managed, developed, created, led, increased, etc.---
5. Education
Again, list in reverse order. Include:
Degree (B.Sc., HND, etc.)
Course of Study
Institution Name
Year of Graduation
Example: B.Sc. in Computer Science
University of Lagos
2019
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6. Certifications & Trainings
Only include relevant certifications.
Examples:
Google Digital Marketing Certificate – 2023
PMP (Project Management Professional) – 2024
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) – 2022
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7. Volunteer Experience (Optional)
Especially helpful for students or fresh graduates.
Example:
Volunteer Tutor – Slum2School Initiative (2021)
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8. References
Use:
> Available on request.
Unless the employer specifically asks you to include contact details.
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Tips to Make Your CV Stand Out in Nigeria1. Tailor it to the job: Customize your CV for each job by using the same keywords in the job description.
2. Keep it short: 1–2 pages max. Nigerian employers don’t want long CVs.
3. Use bullet points: Makes it easier to read.
4. No grammar errors: Use tools like Grammarly or ask someone to proofread.
5. Use a professional format: Microsoft Word or PDF (preferably PDF).
6. Avoid lies: Don’t exaggerate your experience or skills — it backfires.
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What Recruiters in Nigeria Really Look ForRecruiters want to see:
Relevant experience
Practical skills
Clean formatting
Career progression
Achievement-oriented bullet points
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Sample CV Format for Nigerian Job SeekersHere’s a clean and effective layout:
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NAME
Phone | 
Email | 
LinkedIn | 
Location---
Professional Summary
Short paragraph summarizing your experience and goals.
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Core Competencies
Skill 1
Skill 2
Skill 3
...
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Work Experience
Job Title
Company, Location | Dates
Responsibility/Achievement
Responsibility/Achievement
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Education
Degree | School | Year
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Certifications
Course | Institution | Year
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References
Available on request.
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Common CV Mistakes to AvoidTypos or bad grammar
Fancy fonts or colors
Using "CV" as a file name (use your full name instead)
Listing every job you've ever had (stick to relevant ones)
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Final ThoughtsIn 2025, getting hired in Nigeria requires more than just qualifications — you need to present yourself professionally, and your CV is the first step. With the right formatting, clarity, and customization, your CV will move from being ignored to shortlisted.
Start today. Rewrite your CV. Get that job.
