CV and documents · 2 min read
A Practical CV Format for Jobs in Nigeria
Build a clear CV that shows relevant evidence without claiming there is one compulsory national template.
# A practical CV format for jobs in Nigeria
Where to start
There is no single CV layout that every Nigerian employer requires. The advert controls the application: a hospital may request professional registration, a graduate role may focus on education, and an international organisation may ask you to complete its own online profile rather than upload a free-form CV. Read the vacancy first, then make the document easy to scan.
Suggested order
Header: your name, current city, a working telephone number and a professional email address. Add a portfolio or LinkedIn link only if it helps the role. You do not need to put a full home address or sensitive identification number in a public CV.
Profile: two or three lines naming the work you can do and the evidence you have. “Customer support assistant with six months of ticket handling and spreadsheet reporting” is more useful than “hardworking and dynamic.”
Experience: list the most recent role first. For each job, show employer, location, dates and two or three bullet points about actions and results. If you have little paid experience, include a substantial internship, service project or volunteer assignment and describe the actual work.
Education and credentials: give institution, qualification and completion year. Add a professional licence only when it is current and relevant. Put software, languages and technical skills in a compact section; avoid long lists you cannot defend in an interview.
Use readable headings, a simple file name and consistent dates. Save a PDF unless the employer asks for another format. A federal institution notice may require supporting documents or an application form, so a CV alone is not always sufficient. For a UN job, follow the application fields on the official portal; do not treat this CV structure as a substitute for them.
Before sending, compare each claim with the vacancy requirements. Remove irrelevant personal details, check spelling and make sure every link opens. A tailored one- or two-page CV is often easier to review than an unfocused long document, but follow the employer's stated limit if one exists.