Every week at IWE, we review CVs from talented Kenyan professionals who cannot understand why they are not getting callbacks. Their degrees are solid. Their experience is real. But their CVs contain avoidable errors that cause recruiters to move on within seconds. This guide covers the 10 mistakes we see most often — and exactly how to fix each one.
1. Sending One Generic CV to Every Job
This is the number-one mistake. Kenyan job boards like BrighterMonday, LinkedIn, and MyJobMag receive hundreds of applications per role. Recruiters can spot a copy-paste CV instantly. Tailor your professional summary, skills section, and top three bullet points for each application. Use the exact terminology from the job posting.
2. Listing Duties Instead of Achievements
Writing "Responsible for sales" tells a recruiter nothing. Writing "Grew regional sales by 34% in 12 months, exceeding target by KES 2.1M" tells them everything. Every bullet point should follow the formula: Action Verb + Task + Measurable Result. Numbers build credibility faster than adjectives.
3. Using an Unprofessional Email Address
Recruiters notice immediately when your contact email is coolguy254@gmail.com or sweetlady88@yahoo.com. Create a simple professional address: firstname.lastname@gmail.com or a custom domain if you have one. This small detail signals professionalism before anyone reads a single line of your experience.
4. Making the CV Too Long or Too Short
Fresh graduates should aim for one page. Professionals with 5–15 years of experience should use two pages maximum. Senior executives may extend to three pages only when every line adds value. Padding with irrelevant hobbies, every course you ever took, or primary school details wastes the recruiter's 6-second scan typeof window !== 'undefined' && window.
5. Ignoring Spelling and Grammar
Spelling errors on a CV signal carelessness — a quality no employer wants. Run your CV through Grammarly or Microsoft Editor before every submission. Ask a trusted colleague to proofread. In Kenya's competitive market, where over 123,000 university graduates enter the job market annually, details separate candidates.
6. Missing or Weak Professional Summary
The professional summary is prime real estate at the top of your CV. A weak opening — or no opening at all — forces recruiters to dig for relevance. Write 3–5 lines stating your target role, years of experience, core skills, and one standout achievement. Make the recruiter's job easy.
7. Omitting Your LinkedIn Profile
Recruiters will search for you online whether you include a link or not. A complete, optimised LinkedIn profile reinforces your CV and builds trust. Include your LinkedIn URL in your contact section. An absent or outdated profile raises questions a strong application should not create.
8. Including Irrelevant Information
- Marital status, religion, or ID number (unless explicitly requested)
- Every job since Form 4 including unrelated part-time work from a decade ago
- References listed on the CV — use "Available on request" instead
- Salary history or expected salary (save this for the interview stage)
- Generic objective statements like "Seeking a challenging role in a dynamic organisation"
9. Poor Formatting That Breaks ATS Parsers
Two-column layouts, tables, text boxes, and graphics may look modern but confuse Applicant Tracking Systems used by Kenyan corporates, NGOs, and recruitment agencies. Stick to a clean single-column format with standard headings: Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
10. Not Including Relevant Keywords
If the job description says "project management", "stakeholder engagement", and "budget oversight", your CV must contain those exact phrases — not synonyms alone. ATS and recruiter searches filter by keywords first. Read the job posting three times before you tailor your CV.
A CV is not a biography. It is a marketing document with one job: convince the reader you are worth interviewing in under 10 seconds.
— Edel Imbala, IWE Founder
Get a Professional CV Review
IWE's CV writing and revamp service fixes these mistakes systematically — ATS optimisation, achievement framing, keyword alignment, and Kenyan market positioning. Book a consultation and stop guessing why your applications go unanswered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest CV mistake Kenyan job seekers make?
Sending the same generic CV to every job without tailoring it to the role. Research shows tailored CVs receive roughly double the interview rate of untailored ones. Mirror the language in each job description and highlight the most relevant achievements for that specific position.
Should I include my KCPE or KCSE grades on my CV in Kenya?
If you are a fresh graduate with limited work experience, include your highest academic qualification. Once you have 3+ years of professional experience, remove secondary school grades unless the employer specifically requests them. Focus the CV on work achievements instead.
How do I know if my CV is good enough to apply in Kenya?
Ask three questions: Does it match the job description keywords? Are achievements quantified with numbers? Would a recruiter understand your value in 6 seconds? If not, revise before submitting. IWE offers professional CV reviews for Kenyan professionals at every career stage.
Written by
Edel Imbala
Founder & Lead HR Consultant, IWE
Edel Imbala is the founder of Impact With Edel (IWE), a career development, recruitment, and HR consultancy platform serving professionals across Kenya and Africa. With years of experience in HR, talent acquisition, and career coaching, she is passionate about aligning people with purposeful careers.
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