A CV for jobs in Ghana is usually two pages in English. It lists personal details, a career objective, education with your degree and WASSCE results, your National Service status for graduates, work experience, skills and two or three referees. Graduate employers often check that National Service is completed, so state it clearly with the year and posting.
These are common practices, not legal rules, and employers differ. Every example is fictional; replace each [bracketed] detail with your own, and follow the job posting when it asks for something specific.
What a Ghanaian CV usually includes
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Personal details | Name, phone, email and town; date of birth is common on local CVs |
| Objective | Two lines on the role and your key strength |
| Education | Degree and class, then WASSCE with year and summary |
| National Service | Year and organisation where you served |
| Work experience | Title, employer, dates and results |
| Referees | Two or three, often a lecturer and a supervisor |
National Service on your CV
Graduates of tertiary institutions in Ghana normally complete a year of national service. Put it as its own line or as your first experience: "National Service Personnel, [Organisation], [Year]–[Year]", with one or two real tasks. If you are still serving, say when you finish.
Ghanaian CV template (sample to copy)
Ghanaian CV sample (fictional)
[Your Name] — [Position applied for]
Accra · [+233 phone] · [Email]
OBJECTIVE: [Degree] graduate seeking a [role] position.
EDUCATION: BSc [Field], [University], [Year] — [class] · WASSCE [Year], [School]: [summary]
NATIONAL SERVICE: [Role], [Organisation], [Year]–[Year] — [task]
EXPERIENCE: [Title], [Employer], [Month Year]–Present — [result]
REFEREES: [Name], [title], [organisation], [phone]
Applying to banks, NGOs and government
Banks and large companies often run online graduate programmes with their own forms; keep your CV details consistent with what you enter there. Government recruitment follows the advert's process. NGOs expect an English CV with measurable programme results.
- Should I include WASSCE results on my CV?
- Yes for recent graduates, as a one-line summary. Experienced applicants can shorten or drop them unless asked.
- How do I put National Service on a CV in Ghana?
- As its own line with your role, organisation and years, plus one or two concrete tasks.
- How many referees for a Ghanaian CV?
- Two or three, with phone numbers.
For a similar format, see the Nigeria CV format with NYSC status. Compare other countries in the CV format by country guide. Copy the template above for free, or build yours in the CV builder: creating and previewing is free, and the PDF download is part of a paid plan.
