Quick answer: Before you hit send, check that your resume is tailored to the job, easy to scan in seconds, honest and consistent with your documents, free of errors, trimmed of details that do not help you, and going to a real employer through a safe channel. The 15 questions below turn those checks into a routine you can finish in about 15 minutes.

Last updated: November 2, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Recruiters skim first. A widely cited 2018 eye-tracking study found an average initial screen of 7.4 seconds, with clear layouts and job titles getting the most attention.
  • Software can screen you out too. In a Harvard Business School and Accenture study, 88 percent of employers said qualified high-skills candidates are vetted out for not matching the job description exactly.
  • Nigerian employers verify. NYSC certificates, degrees, dates and titles are routinely checked, and the federal government is linking education and NYSC records.
  • Some details cost you more than they help: date of birth, marital status, religion and, often, a photo.
  • Fake recruitment adverts are common in Nigeria. A CV carries personal data, so confirm the vacancy before you send it.

Why a Pre-Send Check Matters

Most applicants spend hours writing a resume and seconds checking it. Yet one of the cheapest ways to improve your odds is to review it the way an employer will: quickly, critically and with a verification mindset.

Here is the pressure you are up against. A 2018 Ladders eye-tracking study reported by HR Dive found recruiters spent an average of 7.4 seconds on the initial screen of a resume, and that resumes with simple layouts and clear section headings did best (HR Dive). That is a US study and a rough guide, not a Nigerian benchmark, but the lesson holds: make the important things obvious.

And before a person ever reads it, software may have filtered you. The Harvard Business School and Accenture "Hidden Workers" study surveyed employers in the US, UK and Germany: more than 90 percent used automated systems to filter or rank candidates, and 88 percent agreed that qualified high-skills candidates are rejected because they do not match the exact job criteria (HR Dive). The survey did not cover Nigeria, but many larger employers here also screen digitally.

So run these 15 questions every time. They are grouped into four checks.

Check 1: Fit and First Impression

1. Have I tailored this resume to this specific job?

Why it matters: Automated screening and human screeners both look for a match with the advert. A generic resume gives them nothing to match.

Fix it: Copy the job description and break it into lines. For each line, note which of your experiences answers it, and use the advert's own terms where they truthfully describe what you have done. A recruiter writing on Medium suggests exactly this approach: turn each line of the job description into a keyword that reflects your experience (TBCA Perspectives on Medium). Never add a skill you do not have.

2. Can a recruiter see who I am in about seven seconds?

Why it matters: The Ladders study found recruiters spent the most time on job titles and responded well to clear section headers (HR Dive).

Fix it: Put your name, target title, current or most recent role, employer and dates where the eye lands first. If your best qualification is a recent degree or certification, put it near the top.

3. Is the layout simple enough for software and people?

Why it matters: The same study found cluttered layouts, multiple columns, long sentences and little white space performed poorly (HR Dive).

Fix it: Use one column, standard headings (Experience, Education, Skills), a plain font and consistent spacing. Follow the application instructions on file type: if none are given, a PDF keeps your layout intact. After uploading to any portal, preview the file to confirm it displays properly, as the same Medium recruiter advises (TBCA Perspectives). Do not build it in Notepad or a format that strips your formatting.

4. Is the length right?

Why it matters: Ladders found an engaged recruiter spends as much time on a second page as on the first, so two pages are acceptable for experienced candidates (Ladders study). A recruiter writing on Medium puts it simply: if you cannot do one page, stop at two (TBCA Perspectives).

Fix it: Fresh graduates and early-career applicants should aim for one page. Cut roles that do not support this application, and keep your strongest, most relevant material on page one.

Check 2: Content That Earns Interviews

5. Does my summary say what I offer this employer?

Why it matters: A summary that begins "A hardworking graduate seeking an opportunity" tells the reader what you want, not what they get.

Fix it: Write two or three lines: your role or field, your strongest proof, and the value you bring to this type of employer. For example: "Accounts officer with three years in FMCG distribution, reducing monthly reconciliation errors by 30 percent." Only use numbers you can defend.

6. Do my bullet points show results, not just duties?

Why it matters: The Ladders study found resumes with bold titles and bulleted accomplishments did well, while paragraph-length descriptions did not (HR Dive).

Fix it: Start each bullet with an action verb and end with the outcome: what changed because of you. "Handled customer complaints" becomes "Resolved about 40 customer complaints a week and kept repeat complaints low." If you cannot measure it, describe the scope, such as customers served or processes improved.

7. Are my skills real, current and provable?

Why it matters: An Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll released in February 2026 found 80 percent of US hiring managers say resumes do not match candidates' real-world skills at least sometimes (Express Employment Professionals). Skills lists are where that gap shows.

Fix it: Keep only skills you could demonstrate in a test or interview, and put evidence beside the important ones: a project, a result or a certificate. Our guide How to List Skills on Your CV When You Have Little Experience shows how.

8. Have I presented NYSC, internships, projects and gaps properly?

Why it matters: Many Nigerian applicants have limited formal experience or a break in their record. Hiding it invites suspicion. Presenting it clearly builds trust.

Fix it: List NYSC service as a role: your primary assignment, place of posting and what you delivered. Include internships, volunteering, freelance work and projects with dates. Explain a gap in one line, such as further study, relocation, caring for a family member, or a job search. Our step-by-step guide to writing a CV with no experience covers this in detail.

Check 3: Honesty and Accuracy

9. Is every date, title and certificate true, and does it match my documents?

Why it matters: More than three-quarters of businesses surveyed by HireRight found at least one candidate discrepancy in the past year (Help Net Security). In Nigeria, employers contact previous employers to confirm title and dates (Eazipay), employers are expected to demand NYSC certificates under the NYSC Act (Sahara Reporters), and the federal government is working with NYSC to link education records to expose fake credentials (New Dawn).

Fix it: Lay your CV beside your certificates, appointment letters and NYSC papers. Check every date, grade, institution name and job title. A careless mismatch can look like dishonesty. Read The Biggest Resumé Lies Employers Catch Immediately for the lies that get applicants caught fastest.

10. Would my referees say what my CV says?

Why it matters: Reference checks confirm your actual role, the duration of your employment and your conduct, not the title on your CV (Eazipay).

Fix it: Choose people who supervised you, ask permission, and tell them which role you are applying for. If you do not want to list referees, "References available on request" is a safe line.

11. Is my CV consistent with my LinkedIn profile and what employers can find online?

Why it matters: Screeners cross-check a CV against LinkedIn and other public profiles to spot inconsistencies in titles, dates and achievements (Avvanz).

Fix it: Update LinkedIn first, then your CV, so both tell the same story. Tidy your public social media too, as we explain in Delete This Before Your Next Interview.

Check 4: Details, Polish and Safety

12. Have I removed details that do not help me?

Why it matters: Older Nigerian CV conventions often include date of birth, marital status, religion, state of origin and a passport photograph. Nairametrics' advice for Nigerian resumes is that, unless a government job or an advert requires it, date of birth, marital status and religion add no advantage and can create bias (Nairametrics). A recruiter writing on Medium goes further, saying a photo is riskier and that home address, marital status and gender are not needed (TBCA Perspectives).

Fix it: Cut these unless the advert requests them. Keep your city, phone number, email and LinkedIn link. If you are applying for a government or public-service role, read the advert and follow its instructions exactly.

13. Are my contact details correct and professional?

Why it matters: A wrong digit or an unprofessional email address can cost you the call, however good the CV. Techpoint Africa reports that verification providers also rely on the contact and identity details you supply (Techpoint Africa).

Fix it: Use a simple email based on your name, a phone number that is on and reachable, and a working LinkedIn link. When you apply by email, use a clear subject line (for example, "Application for Accounts Officer: Your Name") and name your file sensibly, such as "Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf". Avoid "CV final final 3.pdf".

14. Have I proofread it, and has someone else read it?

Why it matters: CNBC reports that recruiters often name spelling and grammar errors as their biggest red flag, citing a TopResume survey in which 79 percent of hiring managers listed them as a top issue (CNBC Make It). An older Robert Half survey of US managers found 63 percent said one or two resume mistakes could eliminate an applicant (CBIA, reporting Robert Half), though managers have since become somewhat more lenient.

Fix it: Read it aloud, check consistent tense and date formats, and ask a friend to read it cold. Pay special attention to the employer's name and the job title you are applying for, which are the easiest places to leave an old name behind after copying a previous application.

15. Is this a real job, and am I sending my CV to the right place?

Why it matters: Recruitment scams are a recurring problem in Nigeria. In October 2026, the NSITF told the public it was not recruiting and that circulating job adverts were fake (VON), and the Nigeria Revenue Service disowned a fake FIRS vacancy notice (Nairametrics). In August, FAAN denied an ongoing recruitment and warned people not to pay or share personal information (Nairametrics). Another scam alert noted that a CV contains personal information, and that a Gmail address assigned to a regulator is a red flag (allAfrica).

Fix it: Confirm the vacancy on the employer's official website or verified channels before you send anything. Never pay to be considered, and do not share BVN, NIN, bank details or ID scans at the application stage. Genuine employers usually ask for consent and verification documents after a conditional offer, as Techpoint Africa notes (Techpoint Africa).

The 60-Second Pre-Send Checklist

  1. Tailored to this job and its keywords
  2. Name, title and key details visible at the top
  3. Single-column, plain, easy to scan
  4. One or two pages
  5. A summary that states value
  6. Bullets that show results
  7. Skills I can prove
  8. NYSC, projects and gaps explained
  9. Dates, titles and certificates match my documents
  10. Referees briefed and willing
  11. LinkedIn matches
  12. Unnecessary personal details removed
  13. Contact details correct, email and file name professional
  14. Proofread and read by someone else
  15. Job confirmed as real, no payment or sensitive data requested

If you also need a cover letter, see How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?. For a broader view of what screeners look for, read What Do Recruiters Look for in a CV? and 10 CV Mistakes That Cause Instant Rejection. And once the invitation arrives, prepare for the questions interviewers are now asking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a Nigerian CV be? One page for fresh graduates and early-career applicants, and no more than two pages for experienced professionals. Put the most relevant material on the first page.

Should I include a photo on my CV in Nigeria? Only if the advert asks for it. Some recruiters consider a photo unnecessary or risky, and it takes space from content that wins interviews (TBCA Perspectives).

Should I put my date of birth, marital status and religion on my CV? Generally no, unless a government job or the advert requires it (Nairametrics).

Should I send a PDF or a Word document? Follow the employer's instruction. If none is given, a PDF keeps your layout intact on any device. Preview the uploaded file to check it displays correctly.

Do I need to tailor my CV for every application? Yes. Tailoring is the main way to match the keywords and requirements that both screeners and software look for.

Is it safe to send my CV to an email address in an advert? Only after you have confirmed the advert is genuine. A CV contains personal information, so verify the vacancy through the employer's official channels first.

Can I use AI to help write my resume? Yes, for clarity and grammar. Do not let it add skills, numbers or experiences you cannot support. 86 percent of US hiring managers in a 2026 poll said AI makes it too easy to embellish resumes (Express Employment Professionals).

The Bottom Line

A strong resume is not just well written. It is well checked. Before you send it, ask whether it fits the job, reads fast, tells the truth, matches your documents, protects your privacy and is going to a real employer. Fifteen minutes of checking can save you weeks of silence.

Run the checklist on your next application, and save a master version you can tailor each time.

This article draws on the Ladders 2018 eye-tracking study as reported by HR Dive, the Harvard Business School and Accenture Hidden Workers research, HireRight benchmark data, Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll findings, Robert Half and TopResume survey data as reported by CBIA and CNBC, Nigerian press reporting from Nairametrics, Techpoint Africa, New Dawn and VON, and advice from a recruiter published on Medium, current as of November 2, 2026. Many surveys come from the US, UK and Germany and are used to illustrate patterns, not Nigerian rates, and some are several years old. Nigerian CV conventions vary by employer and sector, so always follow the specific instructions in an advert. This is general information, not legal or professional advice. Verify any specific figure against its linked source.