How to Write Curriculum Vitae in Nigeria: The Complete Guide

How to Write a Curriculum Vitae in Nigeria: The Complete Guide

Estimated reading time: 8-10 minutes

Introduction: Why Your CV Matters in Nigeria’s Job Market

Your curriculum vitae is often the first impression you make on a potential employer, and in Nigeria’s competitive job market, that first impression needs to count. Whether you’re a fresh graduate looking for your first position at a prestigious company like Dangote Group or MTN Nigeria, or a seasoned professional seeking advancement, your CV is your primary tool for securing an interview.

The challenge many job seekers face is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Nigerian employers have distinct expectations that differ from international standards. They value different information, prioritize certain qualifications over others, and often use CVs as a screening tool to assess not just your skills, but your professionalism, attention to detail, and understanding of professional norms.

Here’s the reality: most job seekers in Nigeria spend hours crafting their CV without understanding the specific criteria hiring managers use to evaluate them. They include irrelevant information, overlook critical sections, or format their documents in ways that immediately disqualify them, often without knowing why. This is where many opportunities are lost.

If you’re struggling to create a CV that gets interviews, or if you’ve been applying to jobs without success, you’re not alone. This is precisely why PremiumResearchers offers professional CV writing services tailored to the Nigerian job market. Our experts understand the nuances of what employers at major Nigerian companies expect, and we specialize in translating your qualifications into a compelling document that opens doors. But whether you choose to work with us or go it alone, this guide will give you everything you need to know.

Understanding What Nigerian Employers Really Want

Before you write a single word on your CV, you need to understand how Nigerian hiring managers think. The Nigerian job market operates on several principles that directly influence what your CV should contain and how it should be structured.

Formal Yet Personal: The Nigerian Balance

Unlike in some Western countries where excessive personal information is frowned upon, Nigerian employers often expect to see personal details on your CV. They want to know your full name (exactly as it appears on your credentials), your date of birth, your state of origin, and sometimes even your marital status. This isn’t just tradition; it serves a practical purpose in Nigeria’s professional culture where personal relationships and cultural connections often influence hiring decisions.

However, this doesn’t mean you should include irrelevant personal details. The balance is to provide enough personal information to be memorable and relatable while maintaining professionalism.

Credentials and Institutions Matter Significantly

Nigerian employers are highly conscious of where you studied and what qualifications you hold. Whether you attended the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), or another institution matters. Your degree type, class of degree (whether you graduated with distinction, upper credit, or lower credit), and your institution’s reputation all carry weight in the hiring process.

Additionally, Nigerian employers value certifications and professional training highly. If you’ve completed courses from recognized bodies like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), or international certifications, these should be prominently featured.

Results-Oriented Thinking

Nigerian employers want to see what you’ve accomplished, not just what your job responsibilities were. They’re interested in the impact you’ve made in previous roles. Did you increase sales? Improve efficiency? Manage a team successfully? Implement a new system that saved costs? These concrete achievements demonstrate your value and set you apart from other candidates.

The 7 Essential Sections of a Nigerian CV

A well-structured Nigerian CV contains specific sections in a particular order. Let’s break down each one and explain exactly what to include.

1. Personal Information and Contact Details

This is your header section. It should be the first thing on your CV and contain enough information for an employer to contact you and verify your credentials. Here’s what to include:

• Full name: Exactly as it appears on your certificates and official documents
• Contact information: A working phone number (with the Nigerian +234 code if you’re abroad) and a professional email address
• Professional address: Your city and state in Nigeria (or your location if you’re willing to relocate)
• Date of birth: Common in Nigeria, helps employers assess your experience level
• State of origin: Often requested, especially for government or large corporate positions
• LinkedIn profile: If you have a professional one (optional but increasingly expected)
• Professional website or portfolio: If relevant to your field (for designers, writers, etc.)

Example:

2. Professional Summary or Career Objective

This 2-3 sentence statement is crucial. It tells the employer exactly who you are, what you want, and why you’re a fit for the role. Your objective should be tailored to each application, showing that you’ve researched the company and understand the position.

A generic, one-size-fits-all objective is one of the biggest CV killers. Employers immediately recognize when you’ve used the same objective for every application, and it signals a lack of genuine interest.

Good Example (for a Marketing role):
“Results-driven marketing professional with 3+ years of experience in digital marketing and brand management, seeking to leverage expertise in social media strategy and content creation to drive customer acquisition and brand loyalty at a forward-thinking tech company.”

Poor Example:
“Seeking a challenging position in a reputable organization where I can utilize my skills and contribute to the growth of the company.”

The difference? The good example is specific, quantified, and shows you understand what value you bring. The poor example could apply to almost any job and shows no real thought.

3. Education and Academic Qualifications

In Nigeria, education is a significant criterion for employment. This section should include:

• Degree obtained: B.Sc., B.A., HND, ND, M.Sc., etc.
• Field of study: Your major or discipline
• Institution name: The complete name of your school or university
• Year of graduation: When you completed the program
• Grade or class of degree: Only if you graduated with upper credit, distinction, or first class (don’t include if you got lower grades)
• Relevant coursework or projects: Only if you’re a fresh graduate or if the projects are directly relevant to the job

Example:

If you’re a fresh graduate with no work experience, you can expand this section slightly to include relevant coursework, academic achievements, or projects. However, once you have professional experience, the education section should be concise and move down the CV.

4. Professional Work Experience

This is often the most important section for experienced professionals. It should be in reverse chronological order (most recent first) and formatted consistently. For each position, include:

• Job title: Your exact position
• Company name: The organization you worked for
• Duration: Months and years (e.g., January 2022 – Present)
• Key responsibilities and achievements: 3-5 bullet points focusing on what you accomplished, not just what you did

Critical tip: Start each bullet point with an action verb and focus on results. Instead of “Responsible for managing customer accounts,” write “Increased customer retention by 25% through implementation of personalized account management strategy.”

Example:

Notice how each bullet point emphasizes achievement, includes numbers where possible, and demonstrates impact. This is what gets interviews.

5. Core Competencies and Skills

This section should list both technical (hard) and soft skills relevant to the position you’re applying for. Prioritize the skills mentioned in the job description.

• Technical skills: Programming languages, software, tools, certifications
• Soft skills: Communication, leadership, problem-solving, teamwork
• Language skills: Fluency in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, or other languages (valuable in Nigeria)

Example:

6. Professional Certifications and Training

This section is particularly important in Nigeria, where employers value continuous professional development. Include any relevant certifications from:

• Professional bodies (ICAN, CIPM, Nigerian Institution of Engineers)
• International organizations (Google, IBM, Microsoft certifications)
• Online learning platforms (Coursera, Udacity, LinkedIn Learning)
• Workshops and specialized training programs

Example:

7. References

Nigerian employers often request references, so be prepared. You have two options:

• “Available upon request”: Safe option that saves space and allows you to provide references when specifically asked
• Provide references: Include 2-3 professional contacts (former supervisors, colleagues, or academic mentors) with their names, titles, companies, phone numbers, and email addresses

If you provide references, ensure you’ve contacted those individuals first and received their permission. Never list someone as a reference without asking them first.

Example:

Formatting Standards That Impress Nigerian Recruiters

Even if your qualifications are excellent, poor formatting can cost you the job. Nigerian employers expect professional, clean CVs that are easy to scan quickly. Recruiters often spend only 30-45 seconds reviewing each CV, so formatting matters intensely.

Length Guidelines

• Fresh graduates: 1 page maximum
• Mid-career professionals (3-10 years): 1-2 pages
• Senior professionals (10+ years): Up to 2-3 pages, but keep it focused and relevant

The goal is to include only information relevant to the position you’re applying for. Cut ruthlessly. If something doesn’t support your candidacy for the specific job, remove it.

Font and Typography Standards

• Font family: Use professional fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Garamond
• Font size: 11 or 12 points for body text, 14-16 for headings
• Line spacing: 1.5 for readability
• Margins: 1 inch (2.54cm) on all sides
• Avoid: Comic Sans, decorative fonts, excessive colors, or graphics that distract from your content

Structure and Consistency

• Section headings: Use consistent formatting and styling throughout
• Bullet points: Use bullet points for lists; keep them concise (1-2 lines maximum)
• Dates: Format consistently (e.g., January 2023 or 01/2023, not mixed formats)
• White space: Don’t cram text. Leave adequate spacing between sections for readability
• Alignment: Left-align body text for maximum readability

File Format and Submission

When submitting electronically: Always use PDF format to preserve your formatting. Word documents can appear differently on different computers, and you don’t want your carefully formatted CV to look jumbled when the recruiter opens it.

File naming: Don’t name your file “CV” or “Resume.” Use a professional name like “Amara_Okafor_CV.pdf” or “Amara_Okafor_Marketing_Manager.pdf.” This makes it easier for recruiters to organize applications and shows professionalism.

Critical Mistakes That Cost You the Job

Understanding what NOT to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Here are the most common CV mistakes that Nigerian job seekers make, and how to avoid them.

Spelling and Grammar Errors

This is the number one CV killer. A single spelling error or grammatical mistake can result in immediate rejection. Nigerian employers, especially in corporate settings, view these errors as a lack of professionalism and attention to detail.

What to do:

• Proofread your CV at least 3 times yourself
• Use a grammar checking tool like Grammarly
• Have someone else read it (fresh eyes catch mistakes you’ll miss)
• Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing
• Pay special attention to company names and technical terms

Inconsistent Formatting

If your dates are in different formats, your bullet points don’t align, your font sizes vary, or your spacing is erratic, it signals carelessness. Nigerian recruiters view a poorly formatted CV as a reflection of your work quality.

What to do:

• Create a consistent template and stick to it
• Use the same date format throughout (Month Year, not mixed with numbers)
• Ensure all bullet points are indented equally
• Use consistent font sizes and styles across similar sections
• Review the entire document one more time just for formatting

Including Irrelevant Information

While Nigerian CVs often include personal information, there’s a limit. Including details like your height, hobbies (unless they’re truly exceptional and relevant), or outdated work experience from 15 years ago wastes valuable space.

What to do:

• Focus on the last 10-15 years of experience maximum
• Only mention hobbies if they’re directly relevant to the position (e.g., “Professional athlete” for a sports company role)
• Remove technical skills that are no longer relevant or industry-standard (like “Microsoft Word” or “Internet”))
• Cut anything that doesn’t directly support your candidacy for the specific job

Generic, One-Size-Fits-All Objective

Recruiters immediately recognize when you’ve used the same objective for every application. A generic objective like “Seeking a position in a reputable organization where I can contribute my skills” shows you haven’t researched the company or position.

What to do:

• Customize your objective for each application
• Reference the company name, industry, or specific role
• Demonstrate knowledge of what the position requires and how you meet those requirements
• Show enthusiasm for the specific opportunity, not just any job

Vague Work Experience Descriptions

Poor: “Responsible for various marketing tasks and assisting with projects.”
Good: “Developed and executed email marketing campaigns for 8 client accounts, increasing open rates by 35% and generating N500,000 in additional revenue.”

The difference is specificity and measurable results. Nigerian employers want to know the concrete impact you’ve had.

What to do:

• Quantify your achievements (percentages, monetary values, timeframes)
• Use strong action verbs (Led, Developed, Increased, Implemented, Managed, etc.)
• Focus on results, not just responsibilities
• Be specific about what you accomplished, not what your role included

Overloading With Unnecessary Details

Your CV isn’t your life story. Excessive detail about tasks, overly long bullet points, or too many certifications and trainings can overwhelm a recruiter.

What to do:

• Keep each bullet point to 1-2 lines maximum
• Include only 3-5 key achievements per position
• List certifications relevant to your field; skip ones that aren’t career-related
• Edit ruthlessly; every word should earn its place

References Issues

If you provide references, they should be correct and the people should be prepared to speak about you. A wrong phone number or email is a major red flag.

What to do:

• Always ask permission before listing someone as a reference
• Verify their contact information is correct before submitting
• Provide a mix of professional references (supervisors, colleagues)
• If using “Available upon request,” have them ready when asked

Real-World CV Examples for Different Industries

To illustrate these principles in action, here are realistic CV samples for different career fields in Nigeria.

CV Sample for a Civil Engineer

CV Sample for a Digital Marketing Manager