How long should a Nigerian CV be?

Two pages is the norm. One page is fine for a fresh graduate, and never go past three pages unless you are applying for an academic or senior technical role.

Should I put my date of birth and state of origin on a Nigerian CV?

Yes. Most Nigerian employers still expect date of birth, state of origin and local government area in the personal details section.

Do I need to include NYSC on my CV?

Yes, if you have served. List NYSC under work experience with the place of primary assignment, your role and the service year.

How many referees should a Nigerian CV have?

Two or three, with full names, positions, organisations, phone numbers and email addresses. Always ask them first.

Can I build and download a CV in Word format?

Yes. The Amana Internet CV Builder fills a professional template from your details and lets you download it as a Word document or print it as a PDF.

CV Guide

How to Write a CV in Nigeria (Format, Sections and Examples)

Nigerian recruiters expect a specific CV format — personal details, objective, education with grades, NYSC, experience, skills and referees. Here is exactly what to include, in order, and how to build one in minutes.

The Nigerian CV format, section by section

Personal details: full name, phone, email, address, date of birth, state of origin and LGA.
Career objective: two lines naming the role you want and the value you bring.
Education: institutions, dates, qualifications and class of degree or grade.
Professional certifications: ICAN, CIPM, PMP, Microsoft, NYSC certificate and similar.
NYSC: place of primary assignment, role and service year.
Work experience: newest first, with achievements rather than duties.
Skills: technical tools plus real soft skills.
Referees: two or three, with full contact details.

What Nigerian employers look for

Section	Common mistake	Do this instead
Objective	Generic 'seeking a challenging role'	Name the role and one concrete strength
Education	Leaving out class of degree	State Second Class Upper, Distinction, etc.
Experience	Listing duties	Show results with numbers where you can
Contact	Nicknamed email address	A plain firstname.lastname address

Formatting rules that get you shortlisted

One clean font, size 11 or 12, with consistent spacing.
Save and send as PDF unless the employer asks for Word.
Name the file with your own name and the role.
Keep it to two pages and remove anything older than ten years.
Reorder your skills and objective for each application.

Applying through an online portal? Keep headings plain — 'Work Experience', not 'My Journey' — so screening software reads the file correctly.

Build it instead of formatting it

Formatting is where most CVs lose their polish. The Amana Internet CV Builder asks for your details, fills a professional Nigerian-style template, and gives you a Word or PDF download you can send the same day.

Your details are saved, so you can update the CV for the next application without starting over.

Frequently asked questions

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