Quick answer: Keep your CV to 1–2 pages: contact details, a short profile, skills, experience with results, education, and referees (common in Kenya). Tailor it to each job, use simple formatting that computer systems can read, save as PDF, and send it with a short cover letter. Public jobs often also ask for clearance certificates.
CV Sections in Order
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Name, phone, email, town (no need for full home address) |
| Profile | 2–3 lines: who you are and what you offer |
| Key skills | 6–10 skills that match the job advert |
| Experience | Job title, employer, dates, 3–5 bullet points with results |
| Education | Highest first: degree/diploma, school, year |
| Certifications | Short courses, licences |
| Referees | 2–3 people with title, phone and email (ask them first) |
Write Results, Not Duties
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Responsible for sales | Grew weekly sales by 20% by starting WhatsApp orders |
| Handled customers | Served 60+ customers daily with zero complaints in 6 months |
| Did social media | Grew the shop’s TikTok from 0 to 3,000 followers in 3 months |
Fresh Graduate With No Experience?
- Put education and projects first.
- Include attachment/internship, volunteering, church or community roles.
- Show skills with evidence: a portfolio link, a certificate, a side hustle.
For Public Sector Jobs
Many public jobs ask for compliance documents such as KRA tax compliance, HELB, police (DCI) clearance, CRB and EACC clearance. Check the advert and start early; some take days.
Formatting Tips
- Simple font, clear headings, no tables or graphics for the main text.
- Save as PDF named "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf".
- A photo, age and ID number are usually not needed unless the advert asks.
- Use a professional email address.
Using AI Honestly
AI tools can help you phrase bullet points (see our ChatGPT guide), but every claim must be true. Interviewers ask about what you wrote.
Example: Rewriting One Bullet Point
Before: "Worked at a cyber café." After: "Served 50+ customers daily with printing, typing and online applications; trained two new attendants; handled M-Pesa payments with zero shortages." The second version shows skills, responsibility and trust, which is what employers look for.
Quick Checklist
- 1–2 pages
- Tailored to the advert
- Results in bullet points
- Referees agreed
- Saved as PDF
Your First 30 Days
- Week 1: list every job, project and achievement you have.
- Week 2: write a master CV and ask two people to review it.
- Week 3: tailor it for 5 real adverts and write short cover letters.
- Week 4: prepare clearances (if public jobs) and practise interviews.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Spelling mistakes and a casual email address.
- One CV for every job.
- Long paragraphs instead of bullet points.
- Fake qualifications.
- Listing referees who do not know they are referees.
Stay safe: never pay a "registration", "activation" or "withdrawal" fee to get paid, and never share your password or M-Pesa PIN. Real online income comes from people paying for your content, products or skills.
Create your free Stay Home Network account, or log in with H-MAIL on app.stayhomenetwork.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a CV be in Kenya?
One to two pages for most jobs.
Should I include referees on my CV?
Yes, it is common in Kenya; include 2–3 who have agreed.
Should I put my photo on my CV?
Usually not, unless the job advert asks for it.
What clearances do public jobs need?
Often KRA, HELB, DCI (police), CRB and EACC; check each advert.
Can I use AI to write my CV?
Yes for wording, but every detail must be true and checked.
Should I write a cover letter?
Yes, a short cover letter that explains why you fit the specific job improves your chances.
Cover photo: A printed CV with reading glasses. Photo: Resume - Glasses by flazingo_photos, CC BY-SA 2.0.
