A UK CV differs from a Nigerian CV in three material ways: length, dates, and the right-to-work line. Everything else - section order, achievement-focused bullets, no photo - is the same. This guide covers only the differences; follow our Nigerian CV format guide for the shared structure.
Length
Two pages maximum. A UK employer will tolerate one page for a graduate but prefers two. Anything over two pages for a non-senior role signals you cannot edit.
Dates
DD/MM/YYYY, not MM/DD/YYYY. "15/01/2024", not "01/15/2024". For job dates use "January 2023 - Present" or "01/2023 - Present".
Right to work
If you are applying from Nigeria to a UK employer, be explicit about your visa status. Options:
- I will require a UK work visa. Honest, early, saves the recruiter time.
- Eligible via the Skilled Worker route. If your role is on the eligible list.
- Open to visa sponsorship. If you are willing to accept the salary cuts sponsorship usually involves.
Put this one-line note in your personal statement at the top, not buried on page 2.
Personal statement, not career objective
UK CVs lead with a "Personal Statement" or "Profile" (3-5 lines), not a career objective. State your current role, the role you want, and your two strongest qualifications. Example:
Senior backend engineer with 5 years' experience building scalable fintech infrastructure at Flutterwave and Paystack. Specialising in Python, Go and distributed systems. Seeking a senior engineering role at a UK-based fintech. Available for UK visa sponsorship via the Skilled Worker route.
Addresses
Include your city but not your full street address. "Lagos, Nigeria" or "London (open to relocate)" is enough. UK employers do not need your door number.
Education
Translate your Nigerian degree classification for UK readers:
- First Class = First-class honours (1st)
- Second Class Upper = Upper second-class honours (2:1)
- Second Class Lower = Lower second-class honours (2:2)
Use the UK format in brackets: "B.Sc Economics, Second Class Upper (2:1), University of Lagos, 2020".
Save and send
PDF, named "Firstname Lastname CV.pdf" (no role in the file name - UK recruiters prefer it generic). Attach to a short email with "Application for [Job Title]" as the subject.
Browse openings on Openings or filter for roles abroad if you are specifically looking for international opportunities.