Top CV Mistakes Nigerians Make – And How to Fix Them (2025)
Avoid the most common CV mistakes Nigerian job seekers make. Learn what recruiters reject, how to fix these errors, and tools to create a professional CV that gets results.
Are you sending out countless job applications in Nigeria but never hearing back? The problem might not be your skills or experience, it could be avoidable mistakes on your CV.
In this guide, we’ll break down the top CV mistakes Nigerian job seekers make, explain why recruiters reject them, and show you practical fixes you can apply right away.
If you’d like a step-by-step walkthrough of building a professional CV on your phone, check out our article on how to create a CV on your phone for free in Nigeria.
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Mistake #1: Using a Generic, One-Size-Fits-All CV
The Mistake: Sending the same CV to every job, regardless of role.
Why It’s a Mistake: Recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) look for specific skills and keywords. A generic CV often gets filtered out.
The Fix: Tailor your CV for each job. Highlight skills, tools, and achievements that match the job description.
Mistake #2: Unprofessional Formatting & Design
The Mistake: Using outdated templates, too many fonts, or decorative graphics.
Why It’s a Mistake: Nigerian recruiters often view CVs on their phones. Busy layouts are hard to read and can break ATS parsing.
The Fix: Use a clean, modern, mobile-friendly template. MonoEd CV Maker comes with ATS-optimized templates designed for Nigerian employers.
Mistake #3: Weak or Generic Career Summary
The Mistake: Writing vague objectives like “I am hardworking and dedicated.”
Why It’s a Mistake: Recruiters skim summaries first. If it’s weak, they may not read further.
The Fix: Write a 3–4 sentence summary showing your skills, achievements, and goals.
Mistake #4: Listing Duties Instead of Achievements
The Mistake: Writing job experience like “Responsible for filing documents.”
Why It’s a Mistake: Duties describe tasks, not impact. Recruiters want to see results.
The Fix: Use bullet points that show measurable achievements. Example: “Organized and digitized 300+ records, improving retrieval speed by 40%.”
Mistake #5: Irrelevant Personal Details
The Mistake: Including marital status, religion, or local government area.
Why It’s a Mistake: Recruiters don’t need this. It clutters your CV and looks outdated.
The Fix: Stick to essentials: full name, phone, professional email, and location (city, state).
Mistake #6: Ignoring Skills and Certifications
The Mistake: Leaving skills out or writing them in a messy list.
Why It’s a Mistake: Recruiters scan for hard skills (Excel, SQL, Digital Marketing) and soft skills (leadership, problem-solving). Missing or poorly written skills can get you overlooked.
The Fix: Organize your skills clearly. Add certifications like Google Digital Skills or CISCO.
Mistake #7: Typos and Grammar Errors
The Mistake: Spelling mistakes, inconsistent verb tense, or casual language.
Why It’s a Mistake: Even small errors make you look careless. Recruiters may assume the same about your work.
The Fix: Always proofread.
Mistake #8: Wrong File Format or Naming
The Mistake: Sending CVs as Word docs (mycv.docx) or poorly named files (finalcv_final(3).pdf).
Why It’s a Mistake: Word files can break formatting. Bad filenames look unprofessional.
The Fix: Always send as PDF. Name it like: Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf.
Wrap Up
Small mistakes can cost you big opportunities in Nigeria’s competitive job market. By fixing these errors, you instantly increase your chances of getting noticed.
With MonoEd CV Maker, you can:
- Build a professional CV directly on your phone
- Get AI-powered suggestions for summaries, achievements, and skills
- Export ATS-friendly PDFs instantly (with free credits on signup)
- Keep JSON backups for easy updates and tailored applications
👉 Don’t let simple CV mistakes cost you job opportunities. Start for free today with MonoEd CV Maker.
FAQs
Q1. What’s the most common CV mistake Nigerian job seekers make?
Using the same CV for every job without tailoring it.
Q2. Should I include personal details like religion or marital status?
No. Only add name, phone, email, and city/state.
Q3. Which CV format do Nigerian employers prefer?
Always send PDF. It’s professional, mobile-friendly, and ATS-safe.
Q4. How can I make my CV stand out as a fresh graduate?
Highlight internships, projects, certifications, and skills. MonoEd AI powered CV maker helps you phrase them professionally.
