Job seekers have been advised to stop relying on one generic CV for every job application and instead tailor their applications to the specific requirements of each vacancy.
Rachel Adegbe gave the advice during the Employee Concourse event in Abuja on Saturday while speaking about the employment journey and what recruiters look for when reviewing applications.
According to Adegbe, a candidate’s CV should be aligned with the vacancy, including the skills and qualifications listed in the job description.
She explained that candidates should study a job advert before submitting an application and ensure that their CV clearly reflects relevant qualifications and abilities.
Adegbe also discussed the role of applicant tracking systems, commonly referred to as ATS, in the recruitment process.
She said some organisations use systems that identify keywords in applications before candidates move to the next stage.
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According to her, applicants should pay attention to the language used in the job advert and ensure that relevant qualifications and experience are clearly represented in their CV.
For example, she advised candidates to use the terminology contained in a vacancy when it accurately describes their qualification or experience.
However, Adegbe stressed that candidates should not simply list skills without evidence.
She said recruiters want to see what applicants have actually done and the results of their previous work.
Adegbe gave the example of a vacancy requiring an office assistant who could manage multiple tasks, schedule meetings and coordinate teams.
She explained that an applicant should be prepared to provide evidence demonstrating those abilities during an interview.
She also advised candidates to reconsider how they describe previous roles because job titles can differ between organisations even when the responsibilities are similar.
According to Adegbe, a senior programme officer in one organisation could perform responsibilities similar to those of a project manager in another organisation.
She therefore encouraged applicants to focus on the actual responsibilities and relevant experience rather than relying solely on job titles.
Adegbe also shared her personal experience of repeatedly applying for jobs and receiving rejection emails.
She said she eventually reviewed her CV, made changes and became more deliberate about tailoring it to the position she wanted.
After making those changes, she said she received an invitation for an interview instead of another rejection.
She encouraged job seekers to test their CVs before submitting them by asking four questions: who they are professionally, what they can do, what they have achieved and what makes them suitable for the particular role.
Adegbe said candidates should answer those questions before sending an application.