A recruiter with 300 applications for one role doesn't read your CV. They scan it for a few seconds, looking for a job title, a recent employer, and proof you've done something close to what the role needs. If they can't find those quickly, your CV goes into the "no" pile, however good you are.
This guide shows you how to build a CV that survives that scan. It applies to graduates, experienced staff, and people changing fields. Hiring practices vary by employer, so treat this as strong default advice, not a rule book.
What a recruiter looks for in the first scan
Most screeners, whether human or an applicant tracking system (ATS), check the same things in the same order:
- Does your most recent role or study match the job title?
- Are the keywords from the advert present (tools, skills, certifications)?
- Is there evidence of results, not only duties?
- Is it easy to read and easy to contact you?
Your CV has to answer yes to all four without effort. That shapes every choice below.
Length, format and file basics
- Length: one page for fresh graduates and anyone with under five years' experience. Two pages at most for senior people. Nobody wants a five-page CV.
- File type: send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. Name it plainly, such as Adaeze-Okafor-CV.pdf, not "CV final 2 new.pdf".
- Layout: one column, standard fonts (Arial, Calibri), 10-11 pt text, clear headings. Skip tables, text boxes, icons and skill-rating bars. ATS software often misreads them.
- Photo: leave it off unless the advert asks. Also leave out date of birth, state of origin, marital status and religion. They don't help you get shortlisted.
- Email: use a simple address with your name. A "sweetgirl2005" address costs you credibility.
The structure that works
1. Header
Your name, phone number (one that you answer), email, city and state, and a LinkedIn link if your profile is tidy. Full home address isn't needed.
2. Short profile (2-3 lines)
Say who you are, what you've done, and what you're targeting. Avoid "hardworking team player seeking a challenging role". Try something like: "Accounts officer with three years in retail finance, experienced in reconciliations and month-end close using Excel and QuickBooks. Seeking a financial reporting role."
3. Experience
List in reverse order, newest first. For each job: title, employer, location, dates (month and year). Then 3-5 bullets. Include NYSC service and internships here if they were real work.
4. Education and certifications
Degree, institution, class of degree if it's good (2:1 or above), and year. Add professional certifications and relevant training. Experienced people can shorten this section; fresh graduates can put it above experience.
5. Skills
A short, honest list of tools and abilities that match the advert: Excel, SQL, Google Analytics, customer support software, Hausa or Yoruba fluency if relevant. Only list what you could be tested on.
Turn duties into results
"Responsible for sales" tells a recruiter nothing. Every bullet should say what you did, how, and what changed. A simple formula: action verb + task + result or scale.
| Weak bullet | Stronger bullet (hypothetical) |
|---|---|
| Responsible for customer complaints | Resolved about 40 customer complaints a week by phone and WhatsApp, cutting repeat complaints through a shared FAQ sheet |
| Managed social media | Posted four times weekly for a fashion brand and grew Instagram followers from 800 to 2,500 in six months |
| Helped in the accounts department | Reconciled daily bank and POS records for three branches, flagging ₦150,000 in unmatched entries for review |
Those figures are examples. Use your own, and only numbers you can defend if asked. If you don't have exact data, an honest estimate ("about 40 a week") is fine. Invented numbers are not, because interviewers will probe them.
Worked example: tailoring one CV to two adverts
Suppose you're a graduate with an internship in a logistics firm and some volunteer work. You see two adverts: one for "Operations Assistant" and one for "Customer Service Executive".
For the first, your profile leads with dispatch coordination, tracking spreadsheets and vendor follow-up. Your top internship bullets cover those. For the second, the same internship is described through customer calls, complaint handling and response times. Same facts, different order and wording.
That takes about 15 minutes per application. Keep a master CV with everything, then copy it and trim for each role. Mirror the advert's own words where they're true, because both ATS filters and human screeners look for them.
If you have little or no experience
- Put education first and add relevant coursework or a final-year project with a one-line result.
- Include NYSC placements, school leadership roles, volunteering, church or community work, and small paid work such as tutoring or running an online shop.
- Add free or low-cost courses you've completed, with the provider and year.
- Consider a "Projects" section: a budget tracker, a market survey, a small website. Link to it if it's online.
If you're a corps member, our 12-month plan from NYSC to a full-time job shows how to build this evidence while you serve.
If you're changing careers or have gaps
For a career change, open with a profile that names the new direction, then put a "Relevant experience" or "Selected achievements" section above your full work history. Pull out transferable work: a teacher moving into training and customer success has presentation, reporting and stakeholder skills.
For gaps, don't hide them with fake dates. List years instead of months if it helps, and add one line if there's a good reason ("Full-time caregiver", "Postgraduate study", "Self-employed trading"). Be ready to explain it briefly in an interview.
Common mistakes to avoid
- One CV for every job. Tailor the profile and top bullets each time.
- Typos. Read it aloud, then ask a friend to check. Errors in a CV signal carelessness.
- Vague skills lists. "Microsoft Office" is weak; "Excel: pivot tables, VLOOKUP" is stronger.
- Fake credentials or inflated titles. Employers verify, and a discovered lie can end an offer or a career.
- Listing referees with no warning. Ask permission first, or write "References available on request".
- Unprofessional file names and emails. Small things, but they add up.
- Paying anyone for a "guaranteed" shortlist. No one can guarantee it, and genuine employers never charge you to be considered. See our guide on spotting fake job adverts and recruitment fee scams.
A final checklist before you send
- Is the CV one page (or two for senior roles)?
- Does the profile match this specific job?
- Do at least half your bullets show a result?
- Are the advert's key skills and tools mentioned, truthfully?
- Is it a PDF with a sensible file name?
- Do phone and email work, and does your voicemail sound professional?
Once the CV gets you an interview, prepare your opening answer with our guide to answering "Tell me about yourself".
Frequently asked questions
Should I include an objective statement?
Replace it with a short profile that says what you offer. An objective focused on what you want adds little.
Is a Word or PDF CV better?
PDF keeps your layout intact on any phone or computer. Use Word only if the employer asks, or if a portal requires it.
Do I need a cover letter?
If the advert asks for one, yes. If not, a short email body of four or five lines saying which role you're applying for and your strongest match is enough.
Should I put my CGPA?
Include class of degree if it's 2:1 or above. If it's lower, you can leave it off, but be honest if asked directly.
How often should I update my CV?
Every few months, and right after any project, promotion or certificate. It's far easier than remembering details two years later.
Your next step
Open your current CV today and rewrite just the top third: the profile and the first job's bullets. Add one real number to each bullet, then save it as a PDF with your name. Send that version with the next application.
Always apply through the employer's official website or verified channels. Genuine employers never ask applicants to pay for a job, training, or an interview.