Introduction
Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) is your first impression with potential employers. In Nigeria’s competitive job market, a well-crafted CV can be the difference between landing an interview and being overlooked.
CV vs Resume: What’s the Difference?
CV (Curriculum Vitae)
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Comprehensive (2–4 pages)
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Detailed education, work history, skills
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Used in Nigeria, UK, and most countries
Resume
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Concise (1–2 pages)
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Highlights relevant experience
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Used primarily in USA
For Nigerian job seekers: Use a CV format.
Essential CV Sections
1. Personal Information
Include:
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Full name
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Phone number (active, professional voicemail)
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Email address (professional: firstname.lastname@email.com)
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LinkedIn profile (optional but recommended)
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Location (city and state)
Do NOT include:
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Date of birth (unless specifically requested)
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Marital status
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Religion
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Photo (unless applying for roles where appearance matters: modeling, acting)
2. Professional Summary (3–4 sentences)
A compelling snapshot of your career:
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Your profession/title
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Years of experience
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Key skills
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Career objective
Example:
“Dedicated Registered Nurse with 5+ years of experience in acute care settings. Skilled in patient assessment, medication administration, and emergency response. Seeking to leverage clinical expertise in a UK healthcare facility to deliver exceptional patient care.”
3. Work Experience (Reverse Chronological Order)
For each role, include:
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Job title
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Company name and location
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Employment dates (Month Year – Month Year)
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3–5 bullet points describing responsibilities and achievements
Use action verbs:
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Managed, Led, Developed, Implemented, Achieved, Increased, Reduced, Coordinated
Quantify achievements:
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“Managed team of 12 healthcare assistants”
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“Reduced patient wait times by 30%”
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“Processed 200+ payroll transactions monthly”
Example:
Healthcare Assistant
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos
January 2020 – Present
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Provide direct patient care to 15–20 patients daily in medical-surgical unit
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Assist nurses with medication administration and vital signs monitoring
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Achieved 98% patient satisfaction rating in Q4 2024
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Trained 8 new healthcare assistants on hospital protocols
4. Education
List in reverse chronological order:
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Degree/Diploma/Certificate
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Institution name
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Graduation year (or expected graduation)
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Honors/distinctions (if applicable)
Example:
Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc)
University of Lagos, Lagos State
Graduated: 2019
Second Class Upper Division
5. Skills
Divide into categories:
Technical Skills:
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Software (Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, SAP)
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Languages (English – Fluent, Yoruba – Native)
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Industry-specific (Payroll processing, Patient care, Data analysis)
Soft Skills:
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Communication
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Leadership
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Problem-solving
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Time management
6. Certifications and Training
List relevant professional certifications:
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Certification name
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Issuing organization
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Date obtained
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Expiry date (if applicable)
Example:
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Basic Life Support (BLS) – American Heart Association – Valid until Dec 2025
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Care Certificate – Flexebee Training – Completed 2023
7. References
Option 1:
“References available upon request”
Option 2:
List 2–3 professional references:
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Name
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Job title
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Company
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Phone number
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Email
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Relationship (e.g., “Former Supervisor”)
Always ask permission before listing someone as a reference.
CV Formatting Best Practices
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Length: 2–3 pages (1 page for entry-level, 3–4 for senior roles)
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Font: Professional and readable (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, 11–12pt)
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Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
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Spacing: 1.15 or 1.5 line spacing
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Headings: Bold and slightly larger (14pt)
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Bullet points: Use for easy scanning
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File format: PDF (preserves formatting) or Word (.docx)
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File name: “FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf”
Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
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Spelling and grammar errors
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Generic CVs
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Lying or exaggerating
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Too much personal information
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Unprofessional email addresses
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Inconsistent formatting
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Including salary information
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Using “I” or “me”
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Outdated information
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Missing contact information
Tailoring Your CV for Specific Jobs
For each application:
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Read job description carefully
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Match your skills to requirements
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Use keywords from the job posting
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Adjust professional summary
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Reorder bullet points to highlight relevance
CV Examples by Profession
Healthcare CV Focus:
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Patient care experience
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Clinical skills
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Certifications (BLS, ACLS, Care Certificate)
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Specializations (pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health)
Administrative CV Focus:
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Office management skills
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Software proficiency (MS Office, ERP systems)
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Organizational abilities
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Communication skills
IT/Tech CV Focus:
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Programming languages
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Technical projects
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Certifications (AWS, Azure, Cisco)
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GitHub portfolio link
Free CV Review from REAL Recruitment
We offer FREE CV review services for all registered job seekers:
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Professional feedback on content and formatting
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Suggestions for improvement
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Tailoring advice for specific industries
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ATS (Applicant Tracking System) optimization
Register today:
🌐 www.reallending.ng
📞 +234 904 342 0796
Next Steps After Your CV is Ready
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Register with REAL Recruitment: Upload your CV to our database
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Apply for jobs: Use your tailored CV for each application
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Prepare for interviews: We offer interview coaching
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Consider employment-linked loans: Fund training or international placement costs
Your dream job starts with a great CV. Let us help you get there.