If you’re job-hunting in Nigeria, you need more than just a CV. You need a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted. This means a CV tailored to the Nigerian job market, formatted correctly, using the right language and showcasing what employers in Nigeria care about.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted: from format and structure to wording, keywords and proofing.
What Makes a CV “Nigerian-Style” and Why It Needs to Get Shortlisted
A Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted takes into account the local job market expectations in Nigeria: clarity, correct format, relevance to the job, good grammar, and showing real results. A strong guide says: “In Nigeria’s hyper-competitive market… a concise, keyword-rich CV that front-loads quantified achievements is the surest route to more interviews and offers.”
Because many applications flood in, recruiters in Nigeria often decide within seconds whether to keep or discard a CV. According to one site: “Recruiters only spend 6 seconds reading a CV.”
So writing a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted means making sure your CV grabs attention right away, uses the right format, highlights your value, and is tailored to the role.
Key Elements to Include in a Nigerian-Style CV That Gets Shortlisted
To create a strong Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted, include these sections and use best practices.
1. Contact Information
At the top, clearly show:
- Your full name.
- Professional title (if you have one).
- Phone number.
- Professional email address (avoid informal ones).
- Location (e.g., Lagos, Nigeria or your state).
- LinkedIn profile or portfolio link (if applicable).
A good CV guide for Nigeria emphasises: “Start with your name as the header … Use a professional email address …”
2. Professional Summary or Objective
A short paragraph (3-5 lines) summarising who you are, your main skills and what you aim to bring to the employer. For example:
“Results-oriented Sales Executive with 5 years’ experience in FMCG in Lagos, skilled at driving growth, building teams and delivering revenue targets. Seeking to contribute to XYZ Company’s regional expansion.”
This helps your CV get shortlisted because it gives the reader a quick picture of your value. Use the keyword phrase briefly if possible: your CV is a “nigerian-style cv that gets shortlisted”.
3. Key Skills
List your strongest skills relevant to the job and the Nigerian market. Use bullet points. Use both technical and soft skills. Examples:
- Sales forecasting & budget management
- Customer relationship building
- MS Office & CRM tools
- Team leadership & training
Also, use keywords from the job advert so your CV fits what the employer is looking for. This helps you write a Nigerian-style cv that gets shortlisted by passing any screening filters.
4. Work Experience
For each role:
- Company name, location, dates (month/year).
- Your job title.
- Use bullet points to show what you did and what you achieved. Focus on results (e.g., “Increased sales by 30% in 12 months”).
- Use action verbs (managed, developed, increased). A CV guide for Nigeria recommends this.
Ensure your results are clear and relevant. In Nigeria, employers appreciate numbers and impact. That is how you make a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted.
5. Education & Certifications
List your educational background: degree, institution, year. Then any extra certifications or training relevant to the job. For fresh graduates, academic achievements may go up earlier; for experienced professionals, keep this section concise. As one guide says: “Always start with your most recent qualifications or job roles”
6. Achievements & Awards
If you have recognitions, awards or special projects, include them. Nigerian employers value extra-mileage achievements. This adds real value and helps your CV stand out as a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted.
7. Additional Sections (Optional)
Depending on your situation, you may add:
- Volunteering or community service.
- Professional memberships.
- Languages you speak.
But keep them relevant to the job.
8. References
You can write “References available on request”. If you include referees, include name, title, organisation and contact details. However, it’s optional and many Nigerian guides say you can omit detailed references to save space.
How to Format Your Nigerian-Style CV That Gets Shortlisted
Formatting matters. A poorly formatted CV may not get shortlisted even if you have strong experience. Here’s how to format your CV:
- Use simple, professional fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman.
- Font size: heading around 14–16pt, body text 10–12pt.
- Use bullet points, not long paragraphs. Bullet points make scanning easier.
- Use consistent layout, headings and spacing.
- Save your CV as a PDF with a clean file name such as “Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf”. This helps hiring managers.
- Limit length: many Nigerian sources say 1-2 pages is ideal unless you have very extensive experience.
- Use a professional colour scheme if you add design (subtle). But for conservative industries keep it simple.
When you format your document well, you increase chances of being a Nigerian-style cv that gets shortlisted.
Tailoring Your CV for the Job (Key to Getting Shortlisted)
A big part of writing a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted is tailoring it to the role you’re applying for. Generic CVs get ignored. Here’s how to tailor:
- Read the job advert carefully. Identify keywords and skills the recruiter wants.
- Match your CV to those keywords. Use them in your summary, skills, and work experience. This helps your CV pass filters.
- Highlight relevant experience. If the role is in sales, emphasise your Sales role, results, skills. Less relevant jobs can be shortened or omitted.
- Use action and result statements. Example: “Led team of 8 to increase customer retention by 15% within six months.”
- Avoid irrelevant details. If you have old jobs or hobbies not related, you can omit or shorten them.
- Proof your CV. Errors cause you to be overlooked. Accuracy signals professionalism.
By tailoring your CV in this way you improve its chance to become a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Nigerian-Style CV That Gets Shortlisted
To ensure your CV gets shortlisted, avoid these mistakes:
- Typos, spelling or grammar errors. These undermine your credibility.
- Using an unprofessional email or phone number.
- Including too much irrelevant information (e.g., full biodata with items like height, weight). While some traditional Nigerian formats include this, modern employers prefer relevant professional data. Some sources advise against bulky biodata.
- Using too much jargon, clichés like “hard-working team player”. Instead, show what you actually did.
- Using too many pages: a long and unfocused CV may be ignored.
- Not tailoring for the job: sending the same CV to every role.
- Poor formatting: hard to read, inconsistent fonts, missing headings, poor layout.
Avoiding these mistakes helps you produce a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted.
Example Structure for a Nigerian-Style CV That Gets Shortlisted
Here’s a simple outline you can follow:
- Contact Information
- Professional Summary
- Key Skills
- Work Experience (most recent first)
- Job Title | Company | Dates
- Bullet points of achievements/results
- Education & Certifications
- Achievements & Awards
- Additional Relevant Information (optional)
- References (optional)
Tip: For each job you list under Work Experience, use 3-5 bullet points focused on results. Quantify where possible.
Final Checklist Before You Submit Your CV
Before you hit “Send”, run through this checklist to ensure your CV is a nigerian-style cv that gets shortlisted:
- Have I tailored the CV to the specific job?
- Does my professional summary clearly show value to the employer?
- Are my skills relevant and highlighted?
- Do I have measurable achievements (e.g., “increased revenue by X%”)?
- Is the format easy to read (font, layout, bullet points)?
- Is it error-free (spelling, grammar)?
- Did I use relevant keywords from the job advert?
- Have I kept the CV to 1-2 pages (if appropriate)?
- Saved and named the file professionally (e.g., “Jane_Doe_CV.pdf”)?
- Included updated contact information and professional email?
Ticking all these means you have a CV ready to stand out and get noticed.
Conclusion
If you want a Nigerian-style CV that gets shortlisted, you need a combination of good format, relevant content, clear results, and careful tailoring. Don’t rely on generic templates that send you nowhere. Instead, do the work: format it right, match your skills and experience to the role, use real achievements, and proof carefully.
Start right now by choosing one job advert, reading it carefully, then rewriting your CV to match that role. Use the example structure above. Make sure you highlight how you help the employer achieve their goals. With that approach your CV becomes more than just a document, it becomes your ticket to being shortlisted for an interview.
Also Read:How to Introduce Yourself: Make Your Intros Unforgettable
