Career Planning: CVs, Interviews, and Climbing the Ladder

In the US, they use a 1-page "Resume". In Nigeria, we use a Curriculum Vitae (CV).

What is the difference?
A Nigerian CV is more detailed. It tells the story of your education, skills, and experience. While you should still keep it concise (2-3 pages max for experienced hires), you have more room to explain your achievements than a standard American resume.

Golden Rule: tailored your CV for every job application. Sending the same generic CV to 50 companies is a waste of time.

Recruiters spend about 6 seconds scanning your CV. Make it count.

1. Personal Details: Name, Phone, Email, Location (e.g., "Lagos, Nigeria"). Do not include: State of Origin, Religion, or Date of Birth (unless requested).
2. Professional Summary: A 3-line pitch. "Experienced Digital Marketer with 5 years driving sales for Fintech startups..."
3. Work Experience (Reverse Chronological):

• Role & Company: e.g., "Sales Manager at Dangote Group"
• Date: "Jan 2020 – Present"
• Achievements (Not just duties): "Increased sales by 40% in Q3" is better than "Responsible for sales".

4. Education: Degree, School, Year.
5. Skills: List hard skills (Python, Excel) and soft skills (Communication).

The "Tell me about yourself" Question:
This is not an invitation to tell your life history. Use the PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE model:

• Past: "I have a background in..."
• Present: "Currently, I am working on..."
• Future: "I am interested in this role because..."

Dress Code:
Nigeria is corporate. Even if it is a tech startup, dress smart-casual. For banks or oil companies, wear a suit. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Virtual Interviews:
With high fuel prices, many first rounds are on Zoom/Teams. Ensure you have data (have a backup MiFi) and a quiet background. "Network is bad" is a valid excuse, but being unprepared is not.

Technical skills get you the interview; soft skills get you the job.

Top Skills Employers Want:

• Communication: Can you write a clear email without "SMS language"?
• Problem Solving: Can you think on your feet?
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Can you work with difficult people?
• Adaptability: Things change fast in Nigeria (policies, market trends). Can you adjust?

Many jobs in Nigeria are filled via referrals ("Who you know").

Where to Network:

• LinkedIn: Optimize your profile. Comment on posts by industry leaders.
• Professional Bodies: Join CIPM (HR), ICAN (Accounting), NSE (Engineering), or NIM (Management). Being a member adds credibility.
• Events: Attend industry conferences in Victoria Island or Abuja.