Format, Tips, Samples and Templates on How to Write a Good CV for Jobs in Nigeria

Format, Tips and Samples and Templates on How to Write a Good CV for Jobs in Nigeria

A good CV is one of the most important documents you need when applying for a job. It gives employers a quick overview of your education, work experience, skills, achievements and other qualifications relevant to the position you are applying for.

However, writing a good CV is not simply about putting all your personal and professional information into a document. Your CV should be clear, professional, relevant to the job and easy for a recruiter to read.

This guide explains how to write a professional CV for job applications in Nigeria, what information to include, common mistakes to avoid and practical CV samples you can adapt for different types of jobs.

What Is a CV?

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a document that presents your educational background, work experience, skills, qualifications, achievements and other relevant information to an employer.

For job applications, a CV should help an employer understand why your background and skills are relevant to the position.

You do not need to include every detail about your life in your CV. Instead, focus on information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.

What Should a Good Job CV Contain?

A professional job CV should generally contain the following sections:

• Full name and contact information
• Professional summary
• Work experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications and training
• Projects or relevant experience, where applicable
• Volunteer experience, where relevant
• Professional memberships, where applicable
• References, where requested

The exact sections you need may depend on your level of experience and the requirements of the job.

How to Write a Professional CV for a Job

1. Start With Your Full Name and Contact Details

Your name should be clearly displayed at the top of the CV.

Below your name, provide relevant contact information such as:

• Phone number
• Professional email address
• City and state
• LinkedIn profile, if relevant

Example

AMINA YUSUF
Abuja, Nigeria
0800 000 0000 | aminayusuf@email.com
linkedin.com/in/aminayusuf

You generally do not need to write “Curriculum Vitae” at the top of the document. Your name can serve as the main heading.

2. Write a Strong Professional Summary

A professional summary is a short introduction that tells the employer who you are, your area of experience or expertise and what you can contribute to the organisation.

Keep it relevant to the position.

Weak Example

I am a hardworking and dedicated person who is looking for a challenging job where I can use my skills and grow professionally.

This statement is very general and does not tell the employer much about the applicant.

Better Example

Administrative professional with experience supporting office operations, maintaining records, preparing reports and coordinating routine administrative activities. Proficient in Microsoft Office and comfortable working with teams, managing documentation and communicating with clients and colleagues.

The second example gives the employer more useful information about the applicant.

3. Include Your Work Experience

Your work experience should normally be listed from the most recent position to the oldest relevant position.

For each position, include:

• Job title
• Organisation
• Location
• Employment period
• Relevant responsibilities and achievements

Example

Administrative Assistant
ABC Services Ltd, Abuja
January 2024 – August 2026

• Maintained digital and physical records and ensured documents were properly organised.
• Prepared routine reports, correspondence and administrative documents.
• Assisted with scheduling meetings and coordinating office activities.
• Responded to routine enquiries from clients and staff.
• Supported the team with data entry and document management.

Where possible, describe what you actually accomplished rather than simply copying a list of duties.

4. Highlight Achievements Where Possible

A CV becomes more useful when it shows the value you brought to previous roles.

For example, instead of:

Responsible for social media management.

You could write:

Managed the organisation’s social media content calendar and prepared posts for its digital platforms.

If you have a measurable result that you can genuinely support, include it.

For example:

Increased monthly social media engagement by 25% through improved content planning and audience-focused posts.

Do not invent figures or achievements simply to make your CV look stronger.

5. Add Your Educational Background

Include your relevant educational qualifications, starting with your most recent qualification.

Example

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Economics
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
2020 – 2024

Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE)
Government Secondary School, Kaduna
2014 – 2020

For most professional job applications, your university qualification should receive more attention than your secondary school education once you have obtained a higher qualification.

6. List Relevant Skills

Your skills section should focus on abilities that are relevant to the job.

Avoid simply listing every skill you have.

For example, an applicant applying for an administrative position might include:

Relevant Skills

• Microsoft Word and Excel
• Data entry
• Document management
• Administrative support
• Customer service
• Communication
• Report preparation
• Time management
• Team collaboration

For a software developer, the relevant skills would obviously be different.

The job description can help you identify the skills the employer is looking for.

7. Include Certifications and Training

If you have professional certifications or relevant training, include them in a separate section.

Example

Certifications and Training

Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate
Google, 2025

Microsoft Excel Training
ABC Training Centre, 2024

Only include certifications and training that you actually completed.

8. Include Relevant Projects

Projects can be particularly useful for fresh graduates and applicants who have limited professional experience.

For example:

Academic Project

Research Project: The Impact of Digital Payments on Small Businesses

Ahmadu Bello University, 2024

• Conducted research on the adoption of digital payment methods among small businesses.
• Collected and analysed relevant data.
• Prepared and presented the research findings.

Projects can demonstrate practical skills even when you have limited employment history.

9. Include Volunteer Experience When Relevant

Volunteer work can demonstrate useful skills, especially for applicants with limited professional experience.

Example

Volunteer Programme Assistant
Community Development Initiative, Kaduna
2023

• Assisted with community outreach activities.
• Supported registration and documentation of participants.
• Helped prepare programme materials.
• Worked with other volunteers during community activities.

Only include volunteer experience that adds value to your application.

10. Should You Include NYSC Experience?

Yes, NYSC experience can be included when it is relevant to the job.

Instead of simply writing:

NYSC – 2025

provide the organisation, role and relevant responsibilities.

Example

NYSC Administrative Assistant
XYZ Organisation, Abuja
2025 – 2026

• Assisted with administrative documentation and record keeping.
• Supported preparation of reports and correspondence.
• Assisted with coordination of meetings and routine office activities.
• Provided general administrative support to the team.

This makes the experience more useful to an employer.

Also Check: Academic and Non-Academic Staff Recruitment at Al-Hikmah University 2026

@@

Sample CV for entry-level position

Below is a sample CV for a fictional Nigerian graduate applying for an entry-level administrative position.

AMINA YUSUF

Abuja, Nigeria
0800 000 0000 | aminayusuf@email.com
linkedin.com/in/aminayusuf

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and experience gained through internship, academic projects and volunteer activities. Skilled in administrative support, Microsoft Office, documentation, communication and teamwork. Interested in an entry-level administrative or operations role where these skills can be applied.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Business Administration
University of Abuja
2020 – 2024

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Administrative Intern
XYZ Consulting Ltd, Abuja
June 2023 – September 2023

• Assisted with preparing and organising administrative documents.
• Updated records and entered information into spreadsheets.
• Supported meeting preparation and scheduling.
• Assisted with routine communication and office activities.
• Worked with team members to complete assigned administrative tasks.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Volunteer Assistant
Community Development Initiative, Abuja
2023

• Assisted with participant registration during community activities.
• Supported preparation of programme materials.
• Helped maintain participant records.
• Worked with other volunteers to support programme activities.

ACADEMIC PROJECT

Business Administration Research Project

• Conducted research on factors affecting the growth of small businesses.
• Collected and reviewed relevant information.
• Prepared a written report and presented the findings.

SKILLS

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Data Entry
• Administrative Support
• Documentation
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Time Management

CERTIFICATIONS

Microsoft Office Training – 2024

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

@@

@@

Sample CV for an Experienced Professional in Nigeria

This sample shows how an experienced applicant can present professional experience.

DAVID OKORO

Lagos, Nigeria
0800 000 0000 | davidokoro@email.com
linkedin.com/in/davidokoro

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Project and programme professional with experience supporting project coordination, reporting, stakeholder communication and administrative activities. Experienced in maintaining project documentation, coordinating activities and preparing reports. Strong organisational, communication and teamwork skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Project Officer
ABC Development Organisation, Lagos
January 2023 – Present

• Coordinate assigned project activities and maintain project documentation.
• Prepare routine project reports and activity updates.
• Support communication with project stakeholders and partners.
• Assist with planning meetings, workshops and project activities.
• Maintain project records and track assigned activities.

Programme Assistant
XYZ Initiative, Lagos
August 2021 – December 2022

• Supported implementation of programme activities.
• Assisted with data collection and documentation.
• Prepared meeting materials and routine reports.
• Supported communication with participants and stakeholders.
• Maintained programme records and administrative documents.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Sociology
University of Lagos
2016 – 2020

CERTIFICATIONS

Project Management Training – 2024

Microsoft Excel Training – 2023

SKILLS

• Project Coordination
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Communication
• Documentation
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Data Management
• Team Collaboration

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

@@

@@

Sample CV for an NYSC and Entry-Level Applicant

If you have little or no professional experience, you can still create a strong CV by focusing on your education, internship, NYSC, projects, volunteer activities, certifications and relevant skills.

IBRAHIM MUSA

Kaduna, Nigeria
0800 000 0000 | ibrahimmusa@email.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and practical experience gained through NYSC, academic projects and technical training. Familiar with data management, Microsoft Office, basic web technologies and technical support. Seeking an entry-level role where I can apply my technical and problem-solving skills.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
2020 – 2024

NYSC EXPERIENCE

NYSC Technical Support Assistant
ABC Organisation, Kaduna
2025 – 2026

• Assisted staff with basic technical issues.
• Supported data entry and document management.
• Helped maintain digital records.
• Assisted with routine IT-related tasks.
• Provided support to staff using office software.

ACADEMIC PROJECT

Student Management System

• Developed a basic student management application as part of an academic project.
• Worked on data organisation and user input functionality.
• Tested the application and corrected identified issues.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• HTML
• CSS
• Basic JavaScript
• Data Management
• Technical Support

CERTIFICATIONS

Introduction to Web Development – 2024

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

@@

@@

Sample CV for NGO Jobs in Nigeria

For NGO and development-sector jobs, applicants should highlight relevant experience such as programme support, community engagement, data collection, reporting, research and stakeholder communication where applicable.

GRACE JOHNSON

Abuja, Nigeria
0800 000 0000 | gracejohnson@email.com
linkedin.com/in/gracejohnson

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Programme support professional with experience assisting with community activities, documentation, data collection and programme reporting. Strong communication, organisational and teamwork skills with experience supporting project activities and maintaining programme records.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Programme Assistant
ABC Development Initiative, Abuja
February 2024 – Present

• Support implementation of programme activities.
• Assist with participant registration and documentation.
• Collect and organise programme data.
• Assist with preparation of activity reports.
• Support communication with programme participants and stakeholders.
• Maintain programme records and relevant documents.

Volunteer Assistant
Community Support Initiative, Abuja
2023

• Assisted with community outreach activities.
• Supported participant registration.
• Helped organise programme materials.
• Assisted with documentation of activities.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
2018 – 2022

SKILLS

• Programme Support
• Data Collection
• Report Writing
• Community Engagement
• Documentation
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Communication
• Teamwork

CERTIFICATIONS

Relevant professional training and certifications may be listed here.

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

@@

Also check: University of Benin Recruitment for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff Positions 2026

How to Write a CV for a Specific Job

One of the most important things you can do when applying for a job is to adapt your CV to the position.

Do not automatically send exactly the same CV to every employer.

For example, if a vacancy is looking for a Project Management Assistant, the employer may be interested in experience related to:

• Project coordination
• Documentation
• Report writing
• Data management
• Stakeholder communication
• Microsoft Office
• Administrative support

If you have genuinely developed these skills through work, internship, NYSC, volunteering or projects, make them visible in your CV.

However, do not add skills simply because they appear in the job description if you do not actually possess them.

How to Make Your CV ATS-Friendly

Some employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to help organise and screen applications.

To make your CV easier for automated systems and recruiters to read:

• Use standard section headings.
• Use simple and consistent formatting.
• Include relevant keywords from the job description where they genuinely apply to you.
• Avoid putting important information inside images.
• Avoid excessive graphics and decorative elements.
• Use a readable font.
• Check your spelling and grammar.
• Keep your employment dates and job titles clear.

An ATS-friendly CV does not mean filling your CV with keywords. The information should remain natural and truthful.

What Should You Not Include in Your Job CV?

Avoid filling your CV with unnecessary personal information.

Unless specifically requested by the employer or relevant to the particular application, you generally do not need to include:

• Marital status
• Religion
• Number of children
• Names of parents
• Parents’ occupations
• Nationality where it is not relevant
• Detailed family information
• Irrelevant hobbies
• Unrelated personal information

You should also avoid including false qualifications, exaggerated experience or information you cannot support.

Should You Put Your Photograph on Your CV?

A photograph is not automatically required on every job CV.

If the job advertisement specifically asks applicants to include a photograph, follow the employer’s instructions.

If no photograph is requested, you can generally focus the CV on your qualifications, experience and skills.

Should You Include Your Date of Birth?

Your date of birth is generally not necessary for a standard job CV unless the employer specifically requests it or there is a legitimate reason it is relevant to the application.

Your CV should focus primarily on information that helps the employer assess your suitability for the role.

How Long Should a Job CV Be?

There is no universal page length that applies to every job applicant.

For a fresh graduate with limited experience, a one-page CV may be enough.

For someone with several years of relevant experience, a two-page CV may be more appropriate.

The goal should be to provide enough relevant information without making the CV unnecessarily long.

Do not add irrelevant information simply to make your CV longer.

How to Format Your CV

A professional CV should be easy to read.

You can use:

• A simple professional font
• Clear section headings
• Consistent spacing
• Consistent date formatting
• Bullet points for responsibilities and achievements
• Clear alignment
• Adequate white space

Avoid using too many colours, decorative graphics, complicated layouts or excessive design elements.

Your CV is a professional document, so clarity should come before decoration.

Download The Professional Job CV Template

How to Name Your CV File

Use a professional filename when submitting your CV.

For example:

Amina_Yusuf_CV.pdf

or

David_Okoro_CV.pdf

Avoid filenames such as:

• My CV.pdf
• CV final.pdf
• New CV.pdf
• CV latest.pdf
• CV final final 2.pdf

A professional filename makes it easier for an employer to identify your document.

Should You Send Your CV as PDF or Word?

Follow the instructions provided in the job advertisement.

If the employer does not specify a format, PDF is often a practical option because it helps preserve the formatting of your document across different devices.

However, some employers or recruitment systems may specifically request a Microsoft Word document.

Always follow the employer’s stated requirements.

Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

Before submitting your application, check your CV for these common mistakes:

• Using the same CV for every job
• Spelling and grammatical errors
• Unprofessional email addresses
• Excessive personal information
• Very long paragraphs
• Irrelevant work experience
• Listing duties without explaining relevant achievements
• False information
• Excessive colours and graphics
• Poor formatting
• Inconsistent dates
• Sending the wrong file
• Using an unprofessional filename
• Including skills you do not actually possess
• Failing to proofread the document

CV Checklist Before Applying for a Job

• Before you submit your CV, ask yourself:
• Does my name and contact information appear clearly?
• Does my professional summary match the type of job I am applying for?
• Have I included my relevant work experience?
• Are my most relevant skills easy to find?
• Have I included relevant education and certifications?
• Have I removed unnecessary personal information?
• Have I checked my spelling and grammar?
• Have I tailored the CV to the job description?
• Are all the details truthful?
• Is the formatting clean and professional?
• Did I save the file using a professional filename?
• Did I follow the employer’s application instructions?

Also Apply: Remote Research and Advocacy Specialist Job Opportunity at AfricaNenda Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CV format for a job in Nigeria?

There is no single format that is best for every job. A clear, professional and job-focused CV is generally more useful than a heavily designed document. The format should also follow any instructions provided by the employer.

Can I use the same CV for every job?

You can use the same basic CV as a starting point, but it is better to adapt it to each position. Highlight the experience, skills and qualifications that are relevant to the specific vacancy.

How do I write a CV if I have no work experience?

Focus on your education, internships, NYSC experience, academic projects, volunteer work, certifications, skills and other relevant experiences. You can still demonstrate useful abilities even without extensive employment history.

Should I include NYSC on my CV?

Yes. NYSC experience can be included, particularly when the responsibilities and skills gained are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Should I include references on my CV?

Follow the employer’s instructions. If references are not requested, you can use the space for more relevant information or state that references are available upon request.

Should I include my photograph?

Only include a photograph when it is requested by the employer or is appropriate for the specific application.

Should I include my date of birth?

It is generally unnecessary for a standard job CV unless specifically requested or relevant to the particular application.

How many pages should my CV be?

The appropriate length depends on your experience. A fresh graduate may only need one page, while an experienced professional may need two or more pages to properly present relevant experience.

Can I use Canva to create my CV?

You can use a design tool to create your CV, but keep the final document professional, readable and simple. Avoid complicated graphics and layouts that make important information difficult to read or process.

Should I save my CV as PDF?

Follow the employer’s instructions. If no format is specified, PDF is often a practical choice for preserving your document’s formatting.

Conclusion

A good job CV should make it easy for an employer to understand your relevant qualifications, experience, skills and achievements.

You do not need to fill your CV with unnecessary personal information or complicated designs. Focus on presenting truthful and relevant information in a clear and professional format.

Most importantly, tailor your CV to the job you are applying for. Read the vacancy carefully, identify the qualifications and skills the employer is looking for, and highlight the relevant experience you genuinely have.

Before submitting your application, proofread your CV, check the employer’s application instructions and make sure the document you send is professional, accurate and up to date.