Keep your CV to two pages, put your most recent role first with month-and-year dates, list results rather than duties, and match your skills to the words in the job advert. Save it as PDF or DOCX — not a photo.
Recruiters in Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam and Kigali often receive hundreds of applications for one vacancy. Most decide in under a minute whether to read further. A clear, honest CV that is easy to scan gets you through that first minute.
What should an East African CV include?
- Contact details — full name, phone number with country code (for example +256 or +254), email, and your current city and country.
- A short profile — two or three lines saying what you do and what you are looking for: "Area Sales Manager with nine years in FMCG route-to-market across Kenya and Uganda."
- Work experience — most recent first. For each role: job title, employer, location and dates as month and year (e.g. March 2021 – Present).
- Education and professional qualifications — degree, diploma or certificate, institution and year. Include professional bodies such as CPA, ACCA or CIPS where relevant.
- Skills — the specific tools and abilities the job asks for: Excel, Power BI, M-Pesa reconciliation, Sage, customs clearance.
- Languages — English, Kiswahili, French, Kinyarwanda, Luganda, Amharic and others are genuine advantages in regional roles.
What should you leave out?
You do not need your date of birth, marital status, religion, tribe, ID number or a photo. Employers should not use them to decide, and they take up space. Keep referees off the CV and offer them when asked.
Write results, not duties
Compare these two lines:
- Responsible for distributors in Nairobi region.
- Managed 14 distributors in Nairobi and grew volume 22% in 12 months.
The second tells a recruiter what you achieved. Use numbers wherever they are true and you can explain them in an interview.
Match the job advert
Read the required skills in the advert and use the same words where they honestly describe you. Applicant tracking tools — including the matching on this platform — look for these terms. If the advert says Key Account Management and you have done it, say so in those words.
Make it easy to read on a phone
Many recruiters review CVs on their phones. Use a simple layout: one column, standard fonts, clear headings and bullet points. Avoid text inside images, tables for your whole CV, or scanned photographs — software cannot read them reliably.
Save it in the right format
Upload a PDF or Word (DOCX) file under 5 MB. If your only copy is a photo or scan, retype it — it is worth the effort.
Before you send it
- Check spelling and dates.
- Make sure your phone number and email work.
- Name the file sensibly: Wanjiku-Mwangi-CV.pdf.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a CV be in East Africa?
Two pages is ideal for most roles. Senior or technical candidates can use three if every line is relevant.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
No. A photo is not needed and should not influence the decision. Use the space for experience and skills.
Which file format is best for an online application?
PDF or Word (DOCX). Scanned images and photos are often unreadable by recruitment software.
Should I include referees on my CV?
It is not necessary. Write 'Available on request' or leave the section out, and share referees when an employer asks.
Should I write a different CV for each job?
Keep one main CV, then adjust your summary and skills to match the words in each job advert before you apply.
How should I show dates on my CV?
Put the month and year on each role, newest first, for example "Mar 2021 – Present".
