Do you want to put your CV together for a job hunt but you don’t know where to start? And a CV writer is even asking you for a fee to do it for you but you prefer to do it yourself. If you are looking for a guide that would help you get this done, then you are reading the right article. Whether you are applying for a teaching role, financial services or any other role, employers have some general expectations when it comes to your CV.
Your CV (curriculum vitae) is usually the first touchpoint your potential employer has with you. It summarises your qualifications, education, achievements and every other thing that makes you the best candidate for that job. But most importantly, it is an opportunity to make a great first impression.
In this article, I will explain how you can go about putting together a great CV in Nigeria. We will explore important questions about CV writing. If this is something that interests you then join me on this article.
How do I write a good CV in Nigeria?
Let us start with the basics. The first thing you should have in mind when putting together your CV is that it is not really about you even though it appears so. It is actually about what your prospective employer wants.
Take the time to brainstorm around why they are looking to hire for this position. Obviously it would have been cheaper to leave this role vacant but for some reason the hiring company felt that it would be better for their business to hire a new employee. Your job is to find out that reason by brainstorming.
If it is an analyst role, for example, ask yourself ‘why does the company need an analyst at this time?’ Your answer would inform you on how best to sell yourself. This is probably the most important element in crafting a winning CV.
What is the correct CV format?
The best way to arrange your CV can slightly vary but there are general standards that most people agree on. I will go over the various sections a standard CV should have.
Personal details
Your Cv has to bear important details like your full name, Location, email address and your phone number. Some important points to note while putting out your personal details include;
- Be careful not to go into too much detail about your exact address. This precaution is to be taken because of security concerns we have in Nigeria. The goal is to demonstrate your proximity to the office, not to invite HR over for lunch.
- Ensure you use a professional email. Ideally, your email should bear your first and last name or something close. Don’t have something like hedithsexxy@*****.com. Unless sexxy is your surname.And even if sexxy is your surname, first impression matters. Also ensure your email is active and you can easily access it.
- Use your own phone number. You would look irresponsible if HR tried to reach out to you and another person picked the call.
An Overview section
This section often referred to as ‘career summary’ is crafted to give your employer a general idea of what your CV is all about. Some important points to note when writing this section include;
- Don’t be too keen to use buzz words especially if you don’t understand what they actually mean. You may come off as inauthentic at first glimpse.
- Remember to keep this section simple and it shouldn’t deviate from the rest of your CV instead it should adequately summarise it.
How to describe yourself in your CV
When describing yourself, it is important to come off as confident, smart and authentic.
Make sure you are making verifiable claims and you Know what you are writing
Skills
In the skills section, you have to put your best foot forward, revealing the areas where you shine. There is one important tip you should be mindful of.
- Ensure your skills are relevant to the job you are currently applying for.
Professional experience
This is probably the most important aspect of your CV. You see, professional experience is valued greatly in Nigeria. Most companies are looking to hire people who have achieved something in the past. A few hints while crafting this section.
- Focus on work experiences that are related to your current job application. You don’t have to detail your entire life in this section.
- Don’t Just write Job titles, go into the details of what exactly you did while on these jobs especially the ones that are related to the role you are currently applying for.
- Go beyond detailing what you did at your previous jobs and explain what results those activities led to. Make your achievements stand out.
Some people often ask what if I don’t have experience? Well, experience is experience. In most cases people have experience without even realising it. Have you volunteered somewhere Worked at an informal organisation like an association or even worked in church? If any of such activities is related to the role you are applying for then you can subtly add it as part of your experience.
A word of caution though, only use this if you have absolutely no other tangible corporate working experience and remember you must show how such experience gives you an edge over other applicants.
Education
This is probably the most straightforward section. Simply fill in your educational history with dates of attendance. Some hints to note;
- You don’t have to detail your entire schooling life from Nursery to Ph.D. Ideally, state your history from your undergraduate degree to any relevant postgraduate degrees you have.
- Unless asked, don’t state your GPA scores. You can state your class of degree where necessary instead. Nigeria is a complicated society and adding your GPA can further complicate your application. I will leave it at that.
Certifications or Training
List out any relevant certifications or training you have. This should be pretty easy to do.
Referee
This is the section where you list reputable people in society that can attest to your character. This is a very important section. A few tips;
- Unless asked, it is advisable not to fill in any details in this section. In this section, you can write “Available on request” instead. It is better this way especially if you are unsure of the people you want to use as your referee.
- If you must fill out his section, ensure you notify and obtain permission from your referrers before filling their details. This would both help you to confirm their correct details and avoid disappointing or negative remarks from them when they are called.
How many pages should your CV have?
Your CV should not be longer than one page. It is important to highlight only the most important aspects.
Should you add your photo to your CV?
For security reasons, No. Do not add your picture. This strategy would also allow you to keep things professional and avoid prejudice or any unfair treatment during your application.
Get your professional CV
If all this sounds like a hassle to you, I can get your professional CV done within 24 hours at a very pocket friendly price.
You can contact me on WhatsApp at +2348102876755 or by clicking the button below.