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As a Human Resources Professional licensed by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, with over eleven years of experience in recruitment and selection, I can confidently say that applying for a job requires a current and tailored CV that aligns with the specific role you are pursuing. 

 

As a helpful resource, I can provide various CV formats that may not be included in this post. To understand the most crucial elements of the latest CV format that can help you secure your desired job, it is important to first grasp what a CV is and how to present it effectively. This will help convince the recruiter that you are the right candidate for the position.

 

What is a CV?

A CV, or curriculum vitae (which is Latin for “the course of life”), is a document that potential employers review before inviting candidates for an interview. Therefore, it is crucial to include details relevant to the job role that would capture the recruiter’s interest. A well-written CV can improve your chances of getting hired by 55%.

In Nigeria’s work environment in 2025, a CV is the preferred and more comprehensive document for job applications. 

Your CV should include your name, address, email, and phone number. It should also detail your career objectives or personal statement, skills and competencies, job accomplishments, and educational background. Additionally, it should provide a comprehensive list of your professional history, emphasizing its relevance to the position you are applying for.

The current CV format includes all pertinent information that could convince the recruiter that you are the right candidate for the job. This includes your graduate and/or undergraduate education, fellowship, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience, leadership roles in various educational institutions, and, importantly, your accomplishments in these roles.

 

What can I put for accomplishments on my resume?

Creating a strong CV or resume is crucial, and a key aspect of this involves highlighting attributes that instil a sense of pride in your work. It’s essential to use action verbs, numbers, and percentages to emphasize the results you have achieved in your job roles. You should present your accomplishments immediately after describing your responsibilities.

For example, you might say: “I implemented over 80% of e-operations, such as the leave counter program and the e-staff database, in the company’s Human Resource activities. This initiative increased accuracy and effectiveness, reduced paperwork by more than 50%, and ultimately boosted profitability.”

Students are encouraged to create their CVS during their first year of higher education. They should engage in activities such as leadership roles in school unions, department unions, and interschool competitions, which can be educational or otherwise. These experiences will enhance their CV profiles as they continue to update their activities, accomplishments, and honours over time. A well-crafted CV will be valuable and necessary throughout one’s professional career.

How do I write a good CV in Nigeria?

How do I write a good CV in Nigeria? This is a common question among job seekers, so we’ve outlined key details to consider, along with samples available for download in both Word and PDF formats.

• Your CV should be concise and include essential information such as your name, age (optional), address, phone number, and email. Make sure these details are prominently displayed for easy visibility to the recruiter.
• Education and qualifications should be listed starting from the highest level, such as your university degree, followed by relevant courses related to the job you are applying for.
• Include relevant work experience if you have any.
• Highlight your abilities, including the skills and competencies that are pertinent to the position you’re seeking.
• You can note that references are available upon request.

What is the format of a CV?

A curriculum vitae, commonly known as a CV, is an alternative to a resume when applying for a job. Most recruiters specify the desired format of a CV; however, when it is not stated, the Word format is the simplest and most widely accepted by employers. Other CV formats include PDF, JPEG, and others. CVS are commonly used in academia, research, and medicine, as well as for many jobs in Nigeria. 

 

We have addressed frequently asked questions from job seekers in our previous articles. If you have any other questions, please feel free to comment, and I will respond. To improve job seekers’ chances of securing employment, we have compiled a collection of current CV formats, templates, and examples in PDF and Word document formats for various fields, suitable for both experienced professionals and fresh graduates. You can download Nigerian CV formats in DOC and PDF for free.

1. CV Templates for Accounting Jobs

Template for recent graduates

2. CV Templates for Nursing Jobs

3. CV Templates for Procurement Jobs

4. CV Templates for Quality Assurance Jobs

5. CV Templates for Sales manager Jobs

6. CV Templates for Office Administrator Jobs

7. CV Templates for Personal Assistant Jobs

8. CV Templates for Driver Jobs

9. CV Templates for Engineering Jobs

10. CV Templates for Business Development Jobs

11. CV Templates for Intern Jobs

12. CV Templates for Procurement Officer Jobs

13. CV Templates for Students

14. CV Templates for No work Experience

15. CV Templates for Teachers

16. CV Templates for Web Developers

16. CV Templates for Computer Science Students on IT

17. CV Templates for Administrator

18. CV Templates for Cabin Crew

19. CV Templates for Construction Engineer

20. CV Templates for Hotel Management Executives

21. CV Templates for Customer Service Executive

21. CV Templates for Economist

22. CV Templates for Massage Therapist

23. CV Templates for Sales Executive

See More Template

Can a CV be 2 Pages?

A CV can be up to two pages long. It’s important to keep it concise while still highlighting your relevant job experience, skills, and certifications for the position you’re applying for. Since most hiring managers tend to skim through applications, a two-page CV is sufficient to demonstrate that you are the right candidate for the job.

Do & Don’t for CV Templates/Formats

Keep it concise. Your resume should fit on one page, showcasing your skills, experience, and education.

 

Maintain an element of intrigue; don’t reveal everything. Interviewers will use your resume as a framework for their questions, so if you disclose all the details upfront, you won’t have much to elaborate on later.

 

By keeping some information ambiguous in your resume, you can steer the questions in your favour.

Text Format for Resume

To achieve a modern finish, use a sans-serif font with a size between 12 and 14 points.

Don’t:

– Avoid starting every sentence or bullet point with the same or repetitive phrases.

– Always run your text through spelling and grammar checkers to catch any errors.

– Don’t inflate your experiences or qualifications beyond what is accurate.

– Use a thesaurus judiciously; it’s a tool for finding better word choices, not for making you sound more intelligent. Misusing complex words can have the opposite effect. Simplicity often conveys honesty and clarity.

– Utilize contractions like “don’t,” “won’t,” and “can’t” to create a more conversational tone.

– Refrain from adding clip art, borders, or embellishments unless you are in a creative field such as web design or marketing, where you should use your judgment.

– Keep your biography concise; a 3 to 4-sentence summary is usually sufficient.

– Remember, your resume is like bait for fishing—the interview is the process of reeling it in. If your “bait” (resume) isn’t good, you won’t attract interest, and you may end up disappointed.

What do Recruiters/Employers look for in a CV?

This is an important question to consider when writing your CV. When a prospective employer reviews your CV, they are looking for how your skills, knowledge, and experience can contribute to the organization, particularly in relation to the role you are applying for. Make sure that the information you provide is relevant to the job you are seeking.

The CV’s Purpose

Some students and professionals may wonder about the purpose of a CV or why it is required as part of the application process for various opportunities. 

 

A CV, or curriculum vitae, is typically used for applying to a variety of positions and programs, including jobs, postgraduate studies, academic positions, post-doctoral roles, professional programs, graduate school, scholarships, honour societies, fellowships, medical residencies, research experiences, research grants, and other opportunities.

 

In Canada, certain funding applications may require a specific document called the Canadian Common CV, which is tailored for funding opportunities that request this format. For other opportunities, a more customized CV may be more appropriate.

Key Elements of a Good CV

1. Personal Summary/Profile or Objective: You can use either heading, but an objective is more effective when you have a specific goal in mind, such as transitioning to a new career or role.
2. Key Achievements/Highlights: This section is essential for showcasing your accomplishments right away. It’s particularly important for senior and executive positions. Link your achievements to business objectives, such as financial or strategic goals.
3. Skills and Expertise: This section is relevant for job seekers at all levels. List your strongest skills, focusing on both technical abilities and interpersonal skills.
4. Work Experience/Career History: Present your work experience in reverse chronological order, highlighting your most recent roles first. Aim for four to six bullet points for each position. Instead of listing duties, concentrate on your achievements and the projects you contributed to. Use strong action verbs such as designed, developed, led, and executed.
5. Education and Professional Credentials: Showcase your educational background in reverse chronological order as well, starting with the most recent. Include any certifications awarded by recognized institutions or organizations.
6. Professional Membership: List your memberships in professional organizations and specify your membership levels.
7. References: Provide references only after obtaining permission from the referees. It’s generally safer to offer references upon request rather than including them directly on your CV.

 

Conclusion

Decisions about which candidates to invite for an interview—the first step toward securing a job—are often influenced by the appearance and content of their CVs. A standard CV that is well-tailored and structured, including elements like font choice, size, arrangement, and wording, can lead recruiters to favor certain individuals. It has been observed that people can often predict who will get a job simply based on their CV. Therefore, I recommend investing in a professional CV review or assistance. Doing so could significantly enhance your chances of landing your dream job.

P.S: All Templates above are works of latestjobsinnigeria.com.ng, which is not a comprehensive CV but a template to guide prospective job seekers.

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Tags: CV Template/Format for all Jobs In Nigeria