How to write a CV in Kenya: A practical guide

Overview

Your CV is often the first handshake with a potential employer in Kenya. A clear, tailored CV helps you stand out in a competitive job market. Recruiters frequently skim CVs, so focus on readability, relevance, and impact. Aim for 1–2 pages, use a clean font, and save a PDF version for sharing. At the top, include your contact details and a concise professional summary, with a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one.

CV formats used in Kenya

The most common format is reverse-chronological, which lists your most recent roles first. A functional format can be useful if you are changing fields or have gaps, but some recruiters favor the traditional format. A combination format blends both approaches and can work well for roles that require a mix of skills and experience. Choose the format that presents your strengths most clearly and keep it consistent throughout.

What to include

A strong CV typically contains the following sections. You can adapt the order to fit your situation, but keep it clear and concise.

• Contact details: full name, phone number, professional email, city or location, and a link to LinkedIn or an online portfolio if available.
• Professional summary: 2–4 lines highlighting your key qualifications, value, and fit for the target role.
• Education: degrees or certifications, institutions, years of completion, and any relevant coursework or honors.
• Work experience: roles in reverse chronological order, with organization, location, dates, and concise bullet points showing achievements.
• Skills: a mix of hard and soft skills tailored to the job description.
• Languages: list languages and your level of proficiency.
• Certifications and awards: relevant professional certifications or notable recognitions.
• References or references available on request: you can list referees or simply state that references are available on request.
• Optional: projects, volunteer work, or professional memberships that strengthen your candidacy.

Tips: avoid including sensitive details such as date of birth or marital status unless specifically requested. A professional photo is usually not required in Kenya and may be discouraged by many employers.

Tailoring your CV for Kenyan employers

Tailoring increases your chances by showing you meet the exact requirements of the job.

• Analyze the job description and identify keywords and required competencies. Incorporate these terms into your professional summary and bullet points.
• Emphasize achievements with numbers or outcomes rather than generic duties. For example, instead of listing responsibilities, mention how you improved a process by a certain percentage or saved time and money.
• Highlight relevant experience for the sector. In Kenya, common sectors include finance, telecoms, technology, NGOs, manufacturing, and agribusiness. Mention sector-specific tools and standards when applicable.
• Demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and adaptability. Kenyan employers value collaboration and community impact, so include examples where appropriate.
• Keep your CV ATS-friendly. Use standard section headings, simple bullet points, and avoid heavy formatting that might confuse applicant tracking systems.

Section-by-section guide

Personal details

Place this at the top of the CV. Include:

• Full name
• Phone number and professional email
• City or locality and country
• LinkedIn profile or online portfolio (if available)

Notes: avoid including photos, date of birth, marital status, or nationality unless explicitly requested. Location helps recruiters gauge proximity to the role.

Professional summary

A brief snapshot of your qualifications and what you bring to the role. 2–4 lines should cover:

• Your field or title
• Core strengths and most relevant experience
• A key achievement or value you offer
• A statement about the type of role you are seeking

Education

List degrees or certifications in reverse chronological order. For each item include:

• Degree or certificate
• Institution
• Year of completion or expected date
• Notable achievements, relevant coursework, or GPA if strong
• If you studied in Kenya, you can note relevant programs or modules that relate to the job

Work experience

List roles in reverse chronological order. For each position include:

• Job title, organization, location, and dates
• 3–5 bullet points detailing achievements and responsibilities
• Start each bullet with a strong action verb and quantify results where possible (eg, increased sales by 15%, reduced processing time by 20%)

Skills

Split into hard skills and soft skills. Include tools, software, and industry-specific capabilities that align with the job description. Examples:

• Hard: MS Office, Google Workspace, data analysis, programming languages, financial modeling, project management software
• Soft: communication, teamwork, problem solving, adaptability

Languages

List languages spoken and proficiency level (native, fluent, proficient, basic).

Certifications

Mention relevant professional certifications or licenses obtained, including issuing organization and year. This strengthens credibility for roles in sectors like finance, IT, engineering, and healthcare.

Interests

Optional but can help reveal fit with the organization. Include 1–3 interests that show teamwork, leadership, or community involvement, but avoid controversial or overly personal topics.

Referees

References can be provided on request or listed with consent. If you provide referees, include:

• Name
• Title and organization
• Contact email and phone
• Relationship to you

If you prefer not to name referees yet, simply state References available on request.

Tips and common mistakes

• Focus on achievements, not just duties. Use numbers to show impact.
• Keep the CV concise and easy to scan. Use bullet points and consistent formatting.
• Tailor each application to the job description and avoid generic statements.
• Proofread carefully for grammar and spelling; typos undermine credibility.
• Use a clean, professional layout. Favor a standard font and avoid excessive colors or graphics.
• Ensure dates and job titles are consistent to avoid gaps or inconsistencies.
• Save and share as a PDF to preserve formatting when submitting online.

Final checks

• Confirm that your contact details are correct and up to date.
• Ensure the CV remains within 1–2 pages for most applicants, or 2 pages if you have extensive experience.
• Check that all bullet points are outcome-focused and verifiable.
• If possible, have a friend or mentor review your CV for clarity and impact.
• Save a named file that includes your name and the role, for example: YourNameCVRole.pdf