How to Write a Professional CV for Jobs in Kenya: Structure, Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

A recruiter should be able to find your qualifications, recent experience and relevant skills quickly. Use clear headings and examples of your work, then adjust the CV to the vacancy you are applying for.

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”. Explain what you achieved as well as what you were responsible for. 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?

If you have recently graduated, draw on experience outside formal employment. 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.

Kenyan entry-level CV: example of evidence over claims

A recent college graduate in Kisumu applying for an office assistant role might describe a class records project, attachment or volunteering. For example: “Maintained an attendance spreadsheet and prepared weekly activity summaries during industrial attachment.” Use a statement like this only when it reflects your actual work. If you have no attachment experience, describe a course project with its tools and outcome.

Include a working Kenyan phone number and professional email address, education with correct dates, relevant skills and a short experience or projects section. Follow the employer’s instructions on references and attachments. Avoid putting your ID number, marital status or other unnecessary personal details into a publicly shared CV.

For automated screening considerations, read our ATS-friendly CV guide; for the accompanying application, see our cover letter guide.