1. Start with a strong personal statement
The top of your CV should include a 3–4 sentence professional summary that tells the reader who you are, what you do, and what value you bring. Avoid generic phrases like "hardworking team player" — instead, be specific.
Good example:
"Results-driven CPA with 5 years of experience in financial reporting and tax compliance for manufacturing firms in Nairobi. Reduced audit preparation time by 40% through process automation. Seeking a senior finance role where I can drive efficiency and accuracy."
Avoid:
"I am a hardworking and dedicated professional looking for a challenging opportunity to grow my career in a dynamic organisation."
2. Tailor your CV for every application
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is sending the same CV to every employer. Take 10 minutes to read the job description carefully and mirror the language and keywords used. If the job asks for "stakeholder management" and you have that experience, use those exact words — many companies use software to scan CVs before a human reads them.
- Match your job title to the one advertised (if accurate)
- Include skills listed in the job description that you genuinely have
- Reorder your bullet points to lead with the most relevant experience
- Adjust your personal statement for each role
3. Quantify your achievements
Employers are not just interested in what you did — they want to know the impact. Wherever possible, add numbers to your experience.
Weak
"Managed a team of drivers"
"Responsible for social media"
"Helped increase sales"
Strong
"Managed a team of 12 drivers across 3 routes"
"Grew Instagram following from 2K to 18K in 6 months"
"Increased branch sales by 23% in Q3 2025"
4. Keep the format clean and simple
A cluttered CV is hard to read and looks unprofessional. Follow these formatting rules:
- Font: Use a clean font like Calibri, Arial, or Garamond at 10–12pt
- Length: 1 page for under 5 years experience, 2 pages maximum for senior roles
- Margins: Keep margins at 1.5–2cm on all sides
- Colour: A subtle accent colour is fine (navy, dark green) but avoid bright or distracting colours
- File format: Always save and send as PDF — Word documents can lose formatting on different devices
5. Essential sections every CV must have
Full name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn URL, and city/town. No need to include your full home address.
3–4 lines summarising who you are and what you bring. Tailored for each application.
Listed in reverse chronological order. Include company name, your title, dates, and 3–5 bullet points of achievements.
Degree or diploma, institution, and year of completion. Add GPA only if it was strong (above 3.0 / upper second).
Technical skills relevant to the role. For professional roles: software tools, languages, certifications. For labour roles: licences, machinery, trade skills.
Any professional certifications — CPA, CIPS, NEBOSH, driving licence class, security training, etc.
6. Common mistakes to avoid
- Including a photo (not required and can introduce unconscious bias)
- Listing references on the CV — simply write "References available on request"
- Using an unprofessional email address (create a gmail with your name)
- Spelling and grammar errors — always proofread at least twice
- Lying or exaggerating — employers do background checks
- Including irrelevant personal details like marital status, religion, or date of birth
7. For labour and trade roles specifically
If you are applying for a driving, security, hospitality, or construction role, your CV can be shorter and more direct. Focus on:
- Your licence class and years of experience (for drivers)
- Any certifications — NEBOSH, security training certificates, food handler certificates
- The types of vehicles, equipment, or tools you have operated
- Names of previous employers and duration — reliability matters hugely in these roles
Ready to put your CV to work?
Submit your CV to TrueLak today and our recruitment team will match you with suitable opportunities across East Africa and the UAE — completely free of charge.
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