You may feel stuck, if you have just completed your schooling in Nigeria and have no experience in the workforce. Many new grads are afraid that they wouldn’t get a call for an interview. Writing a CV without any experience in Nigeria is not as difficult as it may sound. Employers know that you’re new to the world. They seek out other qualities such as your attitude, skills, and desire to learn. This guide will tell you just what to do.
Is there any place where you can secure a job in Nigeria without working experience?Is there a company where you can get a job in Nigeria without any work experience?
Yes, you can. There are a lot of companies in Nigeria that hire fresh graduates daily to fill in entry level positions. They won’t require years of experience. Rather, they wish to observe that you’re clever, industrious and willing to develop. Your CV should demonstrate your potential, not merely your previous employment.
The first thing you need to do when you want to write a CV without any work experience in Nigeria is to have the right attitude towards the job.You have to get into the right mindset when writing a CV without work experience in Nigeria.
Before you start to write, know this. Your CV is a sales letter. You are giving an employer the service of your talents. If you do not have any paid work experience, you will include other experiences such as education, projects, volunteer, and personal skills. Never say “I have no experience. Rather, demonstrate your work.
I assisted cousin Tunde in writing his CV for his first job after school and he had no job. But he had an assignment in his final year that he had led. He also spent 3 months working at a local NGO. Those are on his CV. He received three calls in two weeks for an interview. That’s how it’s done.
If you don’t have work experience to put on your CV, how do you get it?
Below are the sections that you are supposed to include in your CV as a fresh graduate in Nigeria.
Personal Details
Full name, phone number, email address and location (city & state in Nigeria). Don’t include your birth date or marital status unless required by the employer.
Personal Profile or Career Objective
It’s a brief (2-3 sentences) summary at the top of your CV. Introduce yourself and your intentions to the employer. For instance: “Motivated Mass Communication graduate from UNILAG looking to get her feet wet in the media field. Writing and research proficient in order to contribute to your team’s development.
Education
Give your degree, the university/polytechnic and year of graduation. Show a good grade (Second Class Upper or higher will be scored). Include also your NYSC completion date. If you are undergoing your NYSC service, write “Completed NYSC” or “NYSC (Current)”.
To include skills in a CV.
It is important for all novices. Consider all your options. A variety of communication and Microsoft Word/Excel skills, social media management, basic graphic design, customer service, data entry, or any language spoken. Be honest. Only include skills which are actually possessed.
Projects and Academic Work.
Have you completed an end-of-year project? Have you given a presentation at school? Have a responsibility for an event in your department? Write it down. Describe your actions and what you discovered. This demonstrates that you are able to take responsibility.
Volunteering and Leadership
Do you have any experience working in a church, mosque or community group? Have served as a class representative or President of a club? These are types of activities that are considered experience. Employers appreciate you being able to lead and cooperate.
Achievements on CV
Won a debate? Got a scholarship? Completed a free online course? List these as achievements. They demonstrate self motivation.
References on CV
Write on request” or mention two people who know you well. Good referees are your lecturers, your family friend that works, or your NYSC pastor or imam. Please ask their permission before using their name.
To get interviews in Nigeria, your CV must be well-formatted.To ensure that your CV gets interviews in Nigeria, you need to ensure that it is well-formatted.
If you don’t have experience, your CV should be one page in length. Employers in Nigeria like documents that are brief and to the point. Use a simple CV format for Nigerian graduates. Not use fancy colours or pictures. Please use a clean font such as Arial/Calibri (11 or 12).
Prior to sending your CV, save it as a pdf. Your file should be your name (e.g. Oluwaseun_Williams_CV.pdf). Avoid using “My CV” or “Document1”.
The free Canva app available on Google Play can be used to search for professional CV templates for Nigerians who are seeking employment. Simply type in âCanvaâ and navigate to the resume templates section.
Writing a CV for the first job application is a challenging task.So, preparing a CV for the first job application is a tough job.
When writing your first CV, use this checklist.
- Write your name and contact details at the top.
- Write a 2 sentence career objective for CV.
- List your education, newest to oldest.
- Provide a brief list of skills in bullet points.
- Include all projects, assignments and group activities.
- Include volunteer or leadership activities.
- List accomplishments, such as courses or awards.
- Add the following: References available on request.
- Edit to correct spelling and grammar.
The first in Nigeria is indeed a real example of a CV.
This is an easy CV template to use when applying for a job in Nigeria for freshers.
ADEOLA OKONKWO
adeola.okonkwo@email.com | 0803 123 4567 | Lagos, Nigeria
Career Objective
Highly motivated graduate of Economics from UNN with a keen interest in an entry-level position as an analyst. Will be ready to use data analysis and research to solve business problems.
Education
B.Sc. (Economics) University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) 2nd Class Upper (2023)
NYSC Completed (Lagos, 2024)
Skills
Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, formulas), Data entry, Report writing, Social media management, Customer service, Basic HTML.
Project
A study conducted at the end of the third year of research on “The effect of inflation on small businesses in Lagos”. Collected data among the 50 shop owners and delivered the results to lecturers.
Volunteering
Treasurer, UNN Economics Student Association (2022-2023). Brought about events for N150,000.
Achievements
Google Data Analytics Certificate (Coursera, 2024)
References Available on request.
A Limitation You Should Know
Although a well-crafted CV will get you interviews, it’s not an instant solution! Other companies will still turn you down because they’re looking for someone who is experienced. That is normal. Do not give up. Try to apply for many of the entry-level positions in Nigeria not just the big companies. Practice interviewing skills. You can’t come up with a really good CV if you can’t talk well in an interview.
A CV should not exceed 2â3 pages in Nigeria.
If the graduate is new to the job, then one page will suffice. If you have several relevant projects or volunteer opportunities, then two pages are okay. Please do not exceed 2 pages. It takes about 30 seconds for an employer to look at each CV. Use each word in a meaningful way.
Should or should not be using NYSC on your CV
Yes. In writing a CV for freshers who have finished or are serving their NYSC, include your NYSC details under the education section or provide a separate section for NYSC. Record âNYSC (Completed)â and year and location. If you are still serving, write “NYSC (Present)”.
How to Make Your CV Stand Out Without Experience
Customise your CV for each job. Thoroughly read the job advert. If they ask for “good communication skills,” make sure you mention that skill. When they ask about ‘ability to work under pressure’, mention from school or volunteering. This little thing makes a big difference.
Here are some things to look out for before you submit your CV.
- Spelling mistakes â use Grammarly or get someone to read it.
- Be sure that your cell phone number is accurate.
- Save as PDF.
- Name the file properly.
- Use a few words in the body of the email to send with a brief cover message.
Summary
The trick in writing a CV without any work experience in Nigeria is to demonstrate evidence of potential through education, skills, projects and volunteer activities. Follow the simple CV template above, stick to one page maximum and tailor it to a specific position to receive more interview calls.
