Your CV is usually the first thing a recruiter sees, and in many hiring processes it decides whether you are invited to an interview. In Kenya, where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications, a clear and well-organised CV can set you apart. This guide explains what to include, how to organise it and which mistakes to avoid.
Keep it clear and easy to scan
Recruiters often review many CVs in one sitting, so make yours easy to read. Use a clean, professional font such as Calibri or Arial in size 10 to 12, keep generous spacing, and use simple headings. Aim for one to two pages. A fresh graduate rarely needs more than one page, while someone with several years of experience can use two. Save the file as a PDF unless the employer asks for Word, so your layout stays the same on every device.
The sections to include
- Contact details: Your full name, phone number, professional email address and county or town. A simple email such as your name works better than a nickname. Add a LinkedIn link if your profile is up to date.
- Professional summary: Two to three lines that say who you are, what you do and what you offer. For example, a graduate accountant with internship experience in bookkeeping and strong spreadsheet skills.
- Work experience: List your roles from the most recent backwards, with the job title, organisation, dates and a few bullet points.
- Education: Your qualifications, institutions and years of completion. Add professional certifications such as CPA, CIPS or short courses that relate to the job.
- Skills: Include skills that match the vacancy, such as Excel, data entry, customer service, project reporting or a language.
- Referees: Two or three people who agreed to speak about you, with their titles and contacts. Ask them first.
Write achievements, not just duties
Many CVs simply list responsibilities such as “handled customers”. Strong CVs show results. Start each bullet with an action verb and, where you can, add a number or outcome. For example, “Handled about 40 customer enquiries daily and reduced complaint follow-ups by tracking cases in a shared spreadsheet”. Only include numbers that you can honestly explain in an interview.
Tailor your CV to each job
Read the advertisement carefully and note the required qualifications, skills and duties. Then adjust your summary and bullets so they reflect the same language, as long as it is true. If a public service vacancy asks for specific documents or a particular format, follow the instructions exactly. Ignoring the instructions is one of the easiest ways to be screened out.
What if you have little experience?
Fresh graduates can still build a strong CV. Include internships, attachments, volunteer work, class projects, community leadership and student club roles. Describe what you did and what you learned. A short project section that explains a final-year research topic or a practical assignment can show initiative even without formal employment.
Mistakes that cost applicants interviews
- Spelling and grammar errors, especially in your own name, email or the employer’s name.
- An unprofessional email address or a very casual tone.
- Including irrelevant personal details such as your religion or a full list of primary school results. Focus on what matters for the job.
- Using the same CV for every application.
- Gaps that are left unexplained. A brief line about study, family responsibilities or job searching is better than silence.
- Adding false information. Employers verify certificates and references, and dishonesty can cancel an offer.
Prepare a matching cover letter
Where a cover letter is requested, keep it to one page. Address it to the right person or department, explain why you are interested in the role, show two or three points that match the requirements and close politely. Avoid repeating your entire CV.
Final check
Before you send your CV, read it aloud, check every date and phone number, and ask a friend or lecturer to review it. Make sure the file name is professional, such as “Jane-Wanjiku-CV.pdf”. Then look at current openings in our jobs section and apply only through the employer’s official channels.