A Nigerian CV is usually two pages in English. It lists contact details, a short career objective, education with your degree class, NYSC status, work experience, skills, and two or three referees. Employers ask graduates for the NYSC discharge or exemption certificate before hiring, so state your status clearly: completed, ongoing or exempted, with the year.
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 Nigerian CV usually includes
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Name, +234 phone, email, city. Date of birth, state of origin and LGA belong on forms that ask for them |
| Career objective | Two lines naming the role and what you offer |
| Education | Degree with class (for example Second Class Upper Division), institution and year; WAEC or NECO SSCE for entry-level roles |
| NYSC | "NYSC completed, [Year], [State]", "ongoing until [Month Year]" or "exempted" |
| Work experience | Newest first, including your place of primary assignment if relevant |
| Certifications | ICAN, CIPM, COREN or others, only if you hold them |
| Skills | Tools, software and languages |
| Referees | Two or three, often including a lecturer or former supervisor, with permission |
How to show your NYSC status
The NYSC scheme has told employers to ask for the certificate of national service or an exemption certificate before employing a graduate. Put your status where it is easy to find, in the education section or as its own line:
- "NYSC: Completed, [Year] — [Organisation of primary assignment], [State]"
- "NYSC: Currently serving, passing out in [Month Year]"
- "NYSC: Exemption certificate, [Year]"
Nigerian CV sample (latest format)
Nigerian CV sample (fictional)
[Your Name] — [Position applied for]
[+234 phone] · [Email] · [City, State]
CAREER OBJECTIVE: [Degree] graduate seeking a [role] where I can apply [skill].
EDUCATION: B.Sc. [Subject], [University], [Year] — [Second Class Upper Division]
NYSC: Completed, [Year] — [Organisation], [State]
EXPERIENCE: [Job title / Corps member], [Organisation], [City] — [Month Year]–[Month Year]
• [Task], [for whom], [result].
SKILLS: [MS Excel], [tool] · LANGUAGES: English, [Yoruba / Igbo / Hausa / other]
REFEREES: [Name], [Position], [Organisation], [Phone], [Email] (×2)
Personal details: include only what is useful
Many older Nigerian CVs list date of birth, state of origin, LGA, religion and marital status. Private employers rarely need them on the CV. Include them when a form or advert asks, which is common for public-sector jobs.
- Can I apply for jobs before finishing NYSC?
- Yes. Say when you pass out. Some employers hire only after you have the certificate, so expect the question.
- Should I include my WAEC results?
- For entry-level jobs and when the advert asks, yes, as one line. With a degree and experience, they add little.
- How many referees should a Nigerian CV have?
- Two or three. One academic and one work referee is a common mix for graduates.
Compare with the Kenya CV format and the CV format by country guide, then build yours in the CV builder.
