Fatal CV Mistakes That Get You Instantly Rejected

The Nigerian job market is a battlefield. For every advertised vacancy, hundreds, sometimes thousands, of CVs flood the inbox of a single hiring manager. In this high-stakes environment, your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is not just a document; it's your one and only soldier on the front line. It has mere seconds, studies suggest as few as six, to make an impact before the recruiter makes a snap judgment: YES or NO.

Many talented and qualified professionals are unknowingly sabotaging their chances before they even get a foot in the door. They are making simple, avoidable, yet absolutely fatal CV mistakes. These errors, often overlooked by the applicant, scream “unprofessional,” “careless,” or “not a serious candidate” to a trained recruiter's eye.

In the specific context of Nigeria and much of Africa, where professionalism, attention to detail, and a clear presentation of value are highly prized, these mistakes are even more glaring. You are not just competing on skills; you are competing on presentation.

This is not just another list of tips. This is an in-depth, no-holds-barred guide to the 10 deadliest CV sins that will get your application thrown into the virtual trash bin without a second thought. We will dissect each mistake, explain why it's so damaging from a Nigerian recruiter's perspective, and give you concrete, actionable advice and examples to ensure your CV is a powerful advocate for your career, not its assassin.

Mistake #1:

The “One-Size-Fits-All” Generic CV

This is, without a doubt, the number one reason CVs get rejected. You find a job opening, you're excited, and you quickly attach the same “Master CV” you've sent to twenty other companies. This is a fatal error.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: Recruiters in Lagos, Abuja, or Nairobi are sharp. They can spot a generic, mass-mailed CV from a mile away. It tells them you are not serious about their company or their role. It says you're just casting a wide net and hoping something sticks. In a culture where personal effort and genuine interest are valued, this approach is seen as lazy and disrespectful of the recruiter's time. Furthermore, it guarantees you will fail the first test: the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

The ATS Gauntlet: Most major companies in Nigeria now use ATS software to screen CVs. This software scans your CV for specific keywords and phrases found in the job description. If your generic CV doesn't contain these exact keywords (e.g., “financial modeling,” “stakeholder management,” “agile methodology”), the system will score it as a poor match, and it will be automatically rejected before a human ever lays eyes on it.

How to Fix It: The Power of Tailoring

You must treat every job application as a unique project.

1. Dissect the Job Description: Print out the job description and highlight the key skills, responsibilities, and qualifications the employer is looking for. These are your keywords.
2. Create a “Master CV”: Have a longer version of your CV (3-4 pages) that contains all your experiences, projects, and achievements.
3. Customize for Each Role: For each application, create a copy of your Master CV and ruthlessly edit it.
   • Rewrite Your Professional Summary: Your summary at the top should be a direct response to the job ad, using their keywords.
   • Reorder Your Bullet Points: Under each job role, move the bullet points that are most relevant to the new job to the top.
   • Mirror Their Language: If they ask for a “Project Manager,” your CV should say “Project Manager,” not “Project Lead.” Match their terminology exactly.

Before (Generic):

Professional Summary: A hardworking and resourceful professional with experience in marketing and sales seeking a challenging new role.

After (Tailored for a Digital Marketing Role):

Professional Summary: A results-driven Digital Marketing Specialist with over 5 years of experience in SEO, PPC campaign management, and content strategy. Proven ability to increase organic traffic and drive lead generation for B2B tech companies.

Mistake #2:

Typos and Egregious Grammatical Errors

You read your CV. It looks fine. You send it. Later, you realize you wrote “manger” instead of “manager” or “their” instead of “there.” It's too late. Your CV is already in the bin.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: A CV with spelling and grammar mistakes is the fastest way to signal a lack of attention to detail, a critical soft skill in almost every professional role. To a Nigerian recruiter, it suggests carelessness and a lack of respect for the application process. If you can't be bothered to perfect a two-page document that determines your career, how will you handle a complex client report or a multi-million Naira budget? It instantly destroys your credibility.

How to Fix It: The Proofreading Ritual

Your eyes will play tricks on you. You've read the document so many times that you see what you think is there. You need a rigorous proofreading process.

1. Step Away: Finish writing your CV, then leave it for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. Come back to it with fresh eyes.
2. Read it Aloud: This forces you to slow down and helps you catch awkward phrasing and errors that your brain skips over when reading silently.
3. Print It Out: Reading on paper is different from reading on a screen. You will spot different mistakes.
4. Read it Backwards: Start from the last word and read your way to the beginning. This disconnects the words from their meaning and forces you to focus on how they are spelled.
5. Use Technology: Run your CV through a tool like Grammarly. It's not perfect, but it will catch most common errors.
6. Get a Second (and Third) Pair of Eyes: This is the most important step. Ask a trusted friend, mentor, or family member with strong English skills to review it for you. They will see the mistakes you missed.

Mistake #3

The “Duties and Responsibilities” List

Many professionals make the mistake of turning their work experience section into a boring list of their job duties.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: The recruiter knows what a “Sales Manager” or an “Accountant” does. They don't need you to list the obvious. Listing duties tells them what you were supposed to do. What they want to know is what you actually achieved. A CV without quantifiable achievements is just a list of unproven claims.

How to Fix It: Focus on Achievements and Quantify Everything

Transform your duties into compelling, measurable achievements. Use the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) framework to structure your bullet points.

• Problem: What was the challenge?
• Action: What specific action did you take?
• Result: What was the measurable, quantifiable outcome?

Before (Duty-focused):

• Responsible for managing the company's social media accounts.
• Handled customer inquiries and complaints.
• Involved in preparing weekly sales reports.

After (Achievement-focused):

• Developed and executed a new Instagram content strategy, increasing follower engagement by 45% and generating over 200 qualified leads in Q3 2024.
• Implemented a new customer feedback system that reduced complaint resolution time by 30% and improved the team's customer satisfaction score from 82% to 95%.
• Streamlined the sales reporting process using advanced Excel functions, saving the team 5 hours of manual work each week.

Use strong action verbs (e.g., Orchestrated, Spearheaded, Transformed, Implemented, Negotiated) to start each bullet point.

Mistake #4

Unprofessional Formatting and Cluttered Layout

Your CV is a visual document. A messy, hard-to-read layout will frustrate a recruiter and get your CV tossed.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: A poorly formatted CV suggests a disorganized mind. Recruiters are scanning for key information: job titles, company names, dates. If they can't find this information quickly because of a cluttered layout, fancy fonts, or inconsistent spacing, they will simply move on. It also makes it impossible for ATS software to parse your information correctly.

Common Formatting Errors:

• Using more than two different fonts.
• Using unprofessional fonts (like Comic Sans or script fonts).
• Inconsistent use of bolding, italics, and underlining.
• Lack of white space, making the document feel cramped.
• Using tables or columns, which can confuse ATS.

How to Fix It: Embrace Simplicity and Consistency

• Layout: Use a clean, single-column layout.
• Font: Stick to professional, easy-to-read fonts like Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. Use a font size of 10-12pt for body text.
• Spacing: Use consistent spacing between sections. Ensure there is enough white space to make the document easy on the eyes.
• Headings: Use clear, standard headings like “Professional Summary,” “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.”
• File Format: Always save and send your CV as a PDF. This preserves your formatting perfectly, no matter what device the recruiter uses to open it. Name the file professionally: FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf.

Mistake #5

Including Irrelevant or Unprofessional Personal Information

There is a lot of outdated advice in Nigeria about what to include on a CV. Including the wrong personal details can make you look unprofessional and can even open you up to discrimination.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: While some of this information was once standard, the modern corporate world (especially in multinational companies operating in Nigeria) follows global best practices. Including details like your date of birth, state of origin, or marital status is now seen as irrelevant and unprofessional. It takes up valuable space and can introduce unconscious bias into the hiring process.

What to LEAVE OUT of your CV:

• Date of Birth / Age
• State of Origin / Local Government Area
• Marital Status
• Number of Children
• Religion
• A Photograph: Unless you are applying for a role where appearance is a key factor (e.g., acting, modeling, some front-of-house hospitality roles), do not include a photo. In the US, UK, and for most corporate roles in Nigeria, it's a firm no.

What your Contact Section SHOULD Include:

• Full Name
• Phone Number
• Professional Email Address: (e.g., tunde.adekunle@email.com, not sexy_tunde2005@yahoo.com)
• Location: City and Country are sufficient (e.g., Lagos, Nigeria). No need for your full home address.
• LinkedIn Profile URL: This is non-negotiable. Customize your URL to be professional.

Mistake #6

Lying or Grossly Exaggerating

The temptation can be strong. Adding a skill you don't really have, extending your employment dates to cover a gap, or inflating your job title seems like a small “jara” to get your foot in the door. This is a ticking time bomb.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: Trust and integrity are paramount. If you are caught in a lie, you will not only be rejected, but you could be blacklisted. Companies talk to each other, and recruiters move around. A reputation for dishonesty can follow you for your entire career. Background checks are becoming increasingly common and thorough in Nigeria. They will verify your employment history, your qualifications, and your references. A lie will be exposed.

How to Fix It: Be Honest and Strategic

• Frame Your Experience, Don't Fabricate It: Instead of lying about a skill, talk about your exposure to it.
  • Instead of: “Proficient in Python” (when you've only done a short online course).
  • Try: “Basic knowledge of Python, with experience in writing simple scripts for data analysis.”
• Address Employment Gaps Honestly: If you have a gap, don't hide it. You can briefly explain it in your cover letter or be prepared to discuss it in an interview. Frame it positively if possible (e.g., “Took time off for professional development,” “Focused on family responsibilities”).

Mistake #7

A Weak or Non-Existent Professional Summary

The space at the top of your CV, right under your name, is the most valuable real estate on the page. Many candidates waste it with a vague, cliché-filled “Objective” or “Profile.”

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: This is your 6-second pitch. If your summary is weak, the recruiter may not bother reading the rest of your CV. Clichés like “a hardworking and motivated team player” or “a resourceful individual seeking to add value” are meaningless. They are empty calories that provide no real information.

How to Fix It: Write a Powerful, Tailored Summary

Your summary should be a 3-4 line paragraph that is a direct, high-impact answer to the employer's needs.

• Formula: [Your Title] with [X] years of experience in [2-3 Key Areas]. Proven track record in [Quantifiable Achievement #1] and [Quantifiable Achievement #2]. Seeking to leverage [Your Skills] to achieve [Company's Goal].

Example:

A PMP-certified Project Manager with 8+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Proven track record in delivering complex projects on time and 15% under budget. Seeking to leverage expertise in Agile methodologies to drive the successful launch of new products at a forward-thinking fintech company.

Mistake #8

Making Your CV Too Long

Your CV is not your autobiography. A recruiter does not have time to read a four-page document detailing every job you've had since your IT placement.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: A long CV signals that you don't know how to prioritize information or communicate concisely-both critical business skills. It overwhelms the reader and buries your most relevant accomplishments in a sea of text.

How to Fix It: The Rule of Relevance

• One Page is Ideal: For professionals with less than 10 years of experience, a one-page CV is the gold standard.
• Two Pages is the Maximum: For senior professionals with extensive, relevant experience, a two-page CV is acceptable. Never go beyond two pages.
• Focus on the Last 10-15 Years: For very experienced professionals, you don't need detailed bullet points for jobs you held 20 years ago. You can summarize them in a single line or in a “Previous Experience” section.

Mistake #9

Using an Unprofessional File Name

You've perfected your CV. You save it as My CV.pdf or Document1.pdf and hit send. You've just made a subtle but damaging mistake.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: Recruiters download hundreds of CVs. When they see a file named CV.pdf, they have no idea who it belongs to. It creates extra work for them and makes you look amateurish. It's a small detail that reflects on your overall professionalism.

How to Fix It: A Simple, Professional Naming Convention

Always use this format: FirstName-LastName-CV.pdf

• Example: Tunde-Adebayo-CV.pdf

This is clean, professional, and makes it easy for the recruiter to find your document on their computer.

Mistake #10

Forgetting Your LinkedIn Profile

In 2025, your CV and your LinkedIn profile are two halves of the same whole. Many candidates spend hours on their CV but leave their LinkedIn profile outdated or incomplete.

Why It's Fatal in Nigeria: After a recruiter reads a compelling CV, their very next step is often to look you up on LinkedIn. If your profile is inconsistent with your CV, has an unprofessional photo, or is sparsely filled out, it creates doubt and undermines your credibility. It's a major red flag.

How to Fix It: Ensure Complete Alignment

• Update Everything: Ensure your job titles, company names, and dates on LinkedIn match your CV exactly.
• Professional Photo and Banner: Use the same professional headshot and a banner that reflects your industry or personal brand.
• Get Recommendations: Ask former managers or colleagues to write recommendations for you on LinkedIn. This provides powerful social proof of your skills.
• Be Active: Share relevant industry articles and engage thoughtfully with others' posts. This shows you are passionate and engaged in your field.

Your CV is Your Ambassador

Your CV arrives at the recruiter's desk long before you do. It is your silent ambassador, your first representative, and your primary marketing tool. In the fiercely competitive Nigerian job market, you cannot afford for your ambassador to be sloppy, generic, or unprofessional.

By avoiding these 10 fatal mistakes, you are doing more than just cleaning up a document. You are fundamentally changing how you are perceived as a professional. You are presenting yourself as a meticulous, strategic, and high-value candidate who respects the process and is serious about their career.

Take the time to get it right. Tailor it with precision. Proofread it with obsession. Quantify your impact. Your next great job opportunity depends on it.