HOW TO WRITE A CV THAT EARNS YOU AN INTERVIEW

A professional email may get your application opened, but your CV will determine whether you move forward or keep kissing the frogs.

A CV is not your complete life story. It is organised evidence that you possess the qualifications, skills and experience needed to solve an employer’s problem.

Here are 10 tips on writing a professional CV that will nudge your prospective employer to shortlist you for an interview:**

1. Begin with the correct contact details**

Write your full name, professional email address, working telephone number and location.

Example:

Moses Wetangulia Nairobi, Kenya 0712 345 678 wetanguliamoses@gmail.com

Do not include nicknames or several telephone numbers that nobody answers.

2. Write a specific professional summary

As written in my previous article about professional emails, similarly, in your CV, avoid empty statements:

“I am a hardworking, self-motivated individual seeking a challenging position in a reputable organisation.”

Almost every applicant writes this, but you can write something specific:

“I am a Business Administration graduate with one year of experience in customer service, digital recordkeeping and office coordination.”

Tell the employer who you are and what you can do.

3. Tailor your CV to the vacancy advertised

Don't send the same CV everywhere. If you are applying for an administrative position, emphasise recordkeeping, scheduling, customer communication and office software.

If you are applying for digital marketing, emphasise Canva, content creation, analytics and social media management. The advertisement should guide what you highlight in your CV.

4. Present your education clearly

Always begin with your most recent qualification.

You can use this structure:

Diploma in Business Administration Kenya Institute of Management Completed: 2025

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Bungoma High School Completed: 2021 Mean Grade: B−

Do not simply write:

“Went to KIM.”

State the qualification, institution and the completion year. Include your grade only when relevant or requested. Primary-school details are usually unnecessary once you have higher qualifications.

5. Describe your experience using actions

Avoid empty and hollow expressions about your experience. For example, don't write:

“Worked at the front office and performed many duties.”

Instead, write:

Administrative Assistant Intern: ABC Services, 2025

• Received and directed clients.

• Scheduled appointments.

• Updated digital records.

• Prepared weekly service reports.

• Responded to telephone and email enquiries.

Show what you were actually doing, whether it was an internship, apprenticeship or a volunteering position.

6. Include experience beyond formal employment

As a first-time applicant, you may include internships, attachments, volunteering, freelance assignments, school leadership and personal projects.

For example:

“I designed weekly Canva posters and managed customer messages for a local food business: Marama Foods LTD.”

That is more useful than writing, “No experience.”

7. List genuine and relevant skills

Be specific when listing your skills and experience:

• Microsoft Excel

• Google Workspace

• Canva

• Customer support

• Bookkeeping

• Social media management: Facebook, X and LinkedIn

Do not write “computer literate” without naming the programs you can use, and also, never claim a skill you cannot demonstrate during an interview.

8. Remove unnecessary personal information

Unless the employer requests it, exclude your ID number, religion, marital status, tribe, bank details, family history and photograph. This information rarely proves that you can perform the job.

Always protect your privacy.

9. Keep the design clean

Use one readable font, clear headings, consistent spacing and black text on a white background.

Avoid colourful decorations, skill-rating bars and complicated templates.

Two strong pages are better than five crowded pages.

Save the CV as a PDF so that the layout remains stable.

10. Check every detail

Ensure the CV has correct spelling, grammar, dates, and telephone numbers. Confirm that employment periods do not contradict one another.

Name the file professionally:

William_Gaboko_CV.pdf

Not:

new cv final final latest 3.pdf

Open the PDF before sending it. Ensure every page is visible and correctly arranged.

Bonus: Use truthful referees

Make sure you ask permission before listing someone as your referee. Explain to them the job you are applying for, the requirements and the expectations.

Don't just plaster someone's name on your CV without their consent, even if you know them well.

Then, when they give you the go-ahead, write:

Aydan Dualeh Operations Manager, ABC Services 0711 234 567 dualehaydan@abcservices.biz

Never invent a referee or provide someone who does not know your work.

Bonus: Understand every word in your CV

AI can help you correct grammar, improve structure and identify weak sentences. It should not manufacture a personality, experience or vocabulary that does not belong to you.

Many applicants copy and paste polished AI language without reading or proofreading it. Their CV claims that they “spearheaded cross-functional initiatives,” “optimised operational workflows”, or “leveraged data-driven strategies.”

Then the interviewer asks:

“Which initiative did you spearhead?”

The applicant goes blank.

Never submit a sentence you do not understand. Never claim an achievement you cannot explain, and never list a skill you cannot demonstrate.

After preparing your CV, read every line and ask yourself:

• Is this true?

• Do I understand it?

• Can I give a real example?

• Can I explain it confidently during an interview?

• Does this sound like me?

Use AI as an editor, not as an inventor.

Remember, your CV may open the interview door, but only your knowledge, honesty, and preparation will carry you through it.

Finally, before submitting, read the CV as an employer:

Can I quickly understand who this applicant is, what they can do and why they suit this position?

If not, revise it.

A beautiful CV cannot rescue empty skills, but strong skills hidden inside a careless CV may never receive an interview.

• Build the ability.

• Document the evidence.

• Present it clearly.