The Perfect Length: How Many Pages Should Your Nigerian CV Be in 2026?
In 2026, the golden rule for a Nigerian CV is one to two pages. Fresh graduates and those with less than 2 years of experience should strictly stick to one page, while experienced professionals with 5–10+ years of history can use two pages to detail their accomplishments. Anything longer than two pages is generally ignored by recruiters unless you are a senior executive or in academia.
Why "Short and Sweet" Wins in 2026
Nigerian recruiters are often overwhelmed with thousands of applications for a single role. On average, a recruiter spends only 6 to 10 seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to bin it or shortlist it.
If your most important skills and achievements are buried on page 4, they will never be seen. Brevity isn't just about saving paper; it’s about respecting the recruiter's time and showing that you can communicate effectively.
The "Length Roadmap" by Career Stage
Fresh Graduates & Interns (0–2 Years): 1 Page Max. Focus on your education, internships, NYSC experience, and core skills.
Mid-Level Professionals (3–10 Years): 2 Pages. Use the extra space to highlight specific career growth and measurable results in previous roles.
Senior Executives & Academics (15+ Years): 2–3 Pages. Only go to page 3 if you have a long list of publications, major international projects, or board-level leadership roles.
How to "Trim the Fat" from Your CV
If your CV is currently 4 pages long, here is what you need to delete immediately to look more professional in 2026:
"References Available on Request": This is a waste of space. Recruiters know they can ask for them later.
Primary School Details: Unless you are a fresh graduate from primary school, nobody needs to know which nursery school you attended.
Irrelevant Personal Info: Remove your religion, marital status, and exact date of birth unless specifically requested by a government role.
Generic "Duties": Instead of saying "Responsible for filing," say "Optimized the digital filing system, reducing retrieval time by 40%". This is shorter and far more impactful.
Final Verdict
Your CV is a marketing document, not a historical record of your life. Keep it focused on the job you want, not everything you've ever done.
Struggling to fit your experience onto 2 pages? Check our "CV Trimming Service" in the Career Tips section!