It’s one thing to write a CV; it’s an entirely different thing to write an exceptional CV that lands you in the next stage of your job application process.
Writing a CV is an art. With the competition out there, you don’t want to write a boring CV that takes you nowhere. Rather, you want to stand out from the crowd and have the hiring team call you for the next stage of the application.
This article will guide you on how to write a CV that stands out. As samples, we’ll also show you the Nigerian CV format for various purposes, such as:
- CV format for SSCE holder in Nigeria
- Nigeria CV sample for fresh graduate
- NYSC fresh graduate CV format in Nigeria.
So what do you say? Because we say it’s time to give your CV game an upgrade!
Table of Content
What Is the Difference Between a CV and a Résumé?
Yes, we understand that you’re eager to know how to write a CV. But first, let’s dissect a common question on people’s minds: what’s the difference between a CV and a résumé?
| No. | CV | Résumé |
| 1. | Contains your entire academic history, achievements, awards, publications, work history, etc. | Usually only speaks on one’s skills and work experience, like a summary of your CV |
| 2. | Typically 2+ pages (can be several pages) | 1-2 pages at most |
| 3. | Common in academia, research, education, and international jobs, although it is more frequently used in regular job applications of recent | Common in business, industry, internships, and non-academic roles |
| 4. | Common in Europe, Africa, Asia | Common in the U.S. and Canada |
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How to Write a CV: Step-by-step Guide
Before you start drafting your CV, it’s important to conduct some research on the organization you’re applying to. Get to understand what they do, their target customers and their company’s culture. This information will help you tailor your tone and highlight experiences and values that align with the organization’s identity.
Pro Tip: Read the call for applications/job description again and again, and yet again. Identify key responsibilities, qualifications, and keywords used in the job listing. These keywords are what the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will be on the lookout for; hence, incorporating them into your CV increases your chances of passing the initial screening.
So here’s a step-by-step guide on how to draft a CV. As we proceed, we’ll share a downloadable copy of the Nigeria CV format with you.
Step 1
Write your name boldly at the top of the page. Underneath, insert your email, phone number, and portfolio link, if you’re a writer, filmmaker, or developer, or if you have any means of showcasing your work via a portfolio. Find an example below:
DR. YETUNDE ASOKE
Yetundeasoks@gmail.com. +234819741xxx Portfolio (this should be hyperlinked to your portfolio)
Step 2
Write a brief summary about yourself and your work experience. Make it catchy and yet straight to the point.
Also read: Can I Work for a US Company and Live Abroad? 5 Must-Know Facts
Step 3
Start the body of the CV with your educational background. While some people prefer to state all their educational qualifications from primary school to date, others just start with their first degree from the university. The latter is more professional. It even saves time and space, particularly if you have a lot of educational qualifications. Remember, you don’t want your CV to be unnecessarily lengthy.
Step 4
Next up is your work experience. This is the part where you either pin the attention of the hiring team or you lose their interest. Here are some tips for writing a grasping work experience in your CV:
- Highlight your key achievements in each role. Don’t just focus on your duties; rather, brag about what made you stand out in that role. E.g., I grew the company’s Instagram page from 50 followers to 2 million followers in 6 months. Now tell us, which organization wouldn’t want to hire a social media manager who produces that kind of result within such a short time frame? Highlighting your achievements shows that you know what you’re doing, and you’re good at it.
- Show, don’t tell. This approach is similar to the point above. Rather than telling us in your CV that you’re a great social media manager, show us, through relevant examples, how you’ve “greatly” managed the social media pages of previous organizations you’ve worked with. Brag about your key results.
- Make your points short and straightforward. One thing HR dislikes is reading lengthy CVs, particularly if there’s nothing interesting about them. State your key points and move on. You can explain more detail in your cover letter.
- State relevant experiences only. It doesn’t matter if you were the one who built the Burj Khalifa; so long as the experience, knowledge or skills gained from that work are not relevant to your current application, they won’t impress the hiring team. So rather than stating all the work experience you’ve had in your lifetime, streamline each experience to each application.
Step 5
The next step on how to write a CV is to state your volunteering experiences. A lot of people forget or ignore this part, but it’s equally important, as you could use those experiences to demonstrate core soft skills that are relevant in the workforce.
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Step 6
List out all your soft and hard skills. Remember, you’ve already demonstrated most of them when highlighting your work and volunteering experiences; however, it’ll be relevant to still list them out for further reference.
Pro Tip: Don’t lie or exaggerate in your CV. A lot of people think that stating untrue facts will help them secure a job. While this may happen, It willl still backfire someday. So, for instance, don’t state that you’re good with Canva when you haven’t used it before, or say you’re proficient in French when the only word you know is Bonjour.
Step 7
State your awards, if any, as well as certifications. Remember all those online courses you took on Coursera? Now’s the time to brag about them, particularly the ones related to your role.
Step 8
As a final step, write your hobbies and references. This step is optional and might be adopted or discarded based on the company culture.
Also read: 24 Amazing Remote Jobs at $30/Hour With No Degree Required
How to Write a CV: Nigeria CV Format
At this juncture, you’ve learned how to write a CV that sets you apart. We’d love to show you a sample so you can visualize all the steps we spoke about.
Click here to download a Nigeria CV format for FREE.
The format used in the sample above is the chronological format, which is the traditional Nigeria CV format. However, there are other existing and acceptable CV formats in Nigeria, such as:
- The functional CV format
- The hybrid format
How to Write a CV for a Job With No Experience
Are you a fresh graduate in Nigeria, searching for how to write a CV for a job with no experience? It’s easy, and this section will show you how to achieve it.
The steps below will guide you on how to write a CV for a job with no experience
Also read: 10 Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Follow steps 1 to 3 in the section on how to write a CV
Step 2: Where you’re to state your work experience, state your volunteering experiences instead. Here are some pro tips for listing your volunteering experiences:
- Let your passion ring out; talk about the projects emphatically, to show how passionate and committed you are to your work, even without financial rewards
- Highlight the lead roles you took as a volunteer
- Highlight key achievements and milestones. For instance, if you were recognised for active participation, state it
- Volunteering isn’t limited to NGO work; it could include church service, saturday community service, internships, and so on. List them all, so far as they’re in line with the position and company you’re applying for.
Step 3: Highlight your hard and soft skills. Remember to stay within what is true; don’t exaggerate details just to win points. It is important to note that without work experience, one of your major advantages is your level of knowledge. Therefore, always equip yourself with new knowledge that is relevant to your career path. You can get globally relevant courses on LinkedIn Learning, Masterclass, Coursera, Udemy, and other online learning platforms. Some of these courses are even free! You can also join organized training for youth, like youth skills development classes, and so on. The skills gained from these courses and training will remain useful to all your job applications, setting you apart from other applicants without experience.
Step 4: State your awards and certifications. These may include awards and recognitions gained in secondary school, NYSC, etc.
Step 5: State your hobbies and references (optional).
Pro Tip: Attach a cover letter to your CV to give the hiring team more detail about why you’re the best fit for the position.
Nigeria CV Sample for Fresh Graduate
As a fresh graduate in Nigeria, you probably don’t have any work experience yet. And yet you need a CV to apply for any position. How, then, do you draft a compelling CV without work experience? It’s easy! Simply follow the steps in the section on how to write a CV for a job with no experience.
But we don’t want to give you theory only. Click here for a Nigeria CV format for fresh graduates.
The sample above can also be used as CV format for SSCE holders in Nigeria. Similarly, it can be used for an NYSC fresh graduate CV format in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can create a CV on your phone using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. These apps usually have CV formats on them, making it easy to draft yours.
The Nigeria CV format is usually between 1 – 3 pages long. Any CV above 3 pages might be considered too lengthy. The ideal length is 2 pages. However, the Nigeria CV format for fresh graduates could pass as one page. The same applies in a CV format for SSCE holders in Nigeria and an NYSC Fresh graduate CV format in Nigeria.
In writing a CV for your first job in Nigeria, focus on your volunteering experiences, educational background, skills, academic achievements, awards, and other key milestones. These will make up for the missing work experience.
Conclusion: Use the Nigeria CV Format to Land Your Dream Job
And there you have it: how to write a CV in Nigeria. Now it’s time to make that dream of yours a reality! Download one of our CV Samples, and start drafting yours, because that dream job might just be one CV away!
Stay connected to this blog for more informative guides!
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References
- Cvjury.com – How to Write a CV in Nigeria: Boost Your Job Chances
