You find a vacancy that matches your experience, submit your CV and wait. Days pass, but there is no call or email. Does that always mean you were not qualified? Not necessarily.
More employers and recruitment platforms now use applicant-tracking systems and AI-assisted tools to organise applications, extract skills and compare candidates with job requirements. LinkedIn, for example, explains that its hiring tools can match applicant information to a role's qualifications and summarise how a person may fit. It also notes that irregular CV formats or file types can make some information harder to extract.
This does not mean a robot always makes the final hiring decision. A recruiter or employer still decides who moves forward. But if your CV is confusing to the system—or exhausting for a busy human to scan—your strongest experience may never receive proper attention.
Here are nine practical fixes that can help.
Use the correct job title and relevant keywords
Read the vacancy carefully. If the employer needs a Customer Service Representative, your CV should clearly show customer service experience where it is truthful. Include relevant skills from the advert, such as complaint resolution, sales, inventory management, Microsoft Excel or social media management.
Do not paste the entire job description into your CV. Use only keywords that accurately describe your real skills and experience.
Keep the layout simple
A beautiful design is useless if important information cannot be read. Use a clean, single-column layout with standard headings such as Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education and Skills.
Avoid placing important details inside decorative graphics, text boxes or complicated tables. Simple formatting works better for automated systems and helps human recruiters find what they need quickly.
Put your strongest information near the top
After your name and contact details, add a short professional summary that explains what you do, the experience you bring and the type of value you can offer.
For example:
Customer service professional with three years of experience handling enquiries, resolving complaints and maintaining accurate records in fast-paced retail environments.
That is stronger than writing only, “I am hardworking and ready to learn.”
Show achievements, not duties alone
Many CVs list responsibilities without showing results. Employers want to understand the difference you made.
Instead of writing:
Responsible for attending to customers.
Try:
Attended to more than 40 customers daily, resolved enquiries promptly and supported repeat sales through professional service.
Use honest numbers where available. You can mention sales targets, customers served, stock accuracy, response time, team size or money saved.
Tailor your CV for each serious application
One general CV may not present you properly for every role. A sales application should highlight targets, persuasion and customer relationships. An administrative application should give more attention to scheduling, record keeping, correspondence and office tools.
You do not need to rewrite everything. Adjust your summary, skills and most relevant achievements so they match the role you are applying for.
Use clear dates, job titles and company names
Write employment dates consistently, for example: January 2024 – March 2026. State your job title and employer clearly.
Unclear dates, unexplained overlaps or inconsistent job titles can confuse both recruitment tools and employers. If you changed roles within one company, list each role separately so your progression is easy to understand.
Make your contact details and location easy to find
Place your active phone number, professional email address and current location near the top. For Lagos opportunities, stating your area can help an employer assess transport practicality and punctuality.
Check every detail before submitting. One missing digit in a phone number or a misspelled email address can cost you an interview.
Never include passwords, OTPs, bank card details or unnecessary identity numbers on your CV.
Submit the file type requested
Follow the employer's instruction. If the vacancy requests PDF, send PDF. If it requests DOCX, send DOCX.
A PDF usually preserves your layout, while DOCX may be easier for some systems to process. Keeping both versions ready allows you to respond correctly without rushing.
Use a professional filename such as:
Amina-Yusuf-Customer-Service-CV.pdf
Avoid filenames such as “my cv final new 3.pdf”.
Review accuracy before using AI-generated wording
AI tools can help improve structure and suggest stronger language, but they can also introduce wrong facts or exaggerated claims. LinkedIn advises users to verify AI-generated CV suggestions for authenticity and accuracy.
Every sentence on your CV must be something you can explain confidently during an interview. Never add software, certificates, responsibilities or results you do not have.
The 30-second CV test
Before sending your next application, open your CV and ask:
Can I identify the target role immediately?
Are my strongest relevant skills visible near the top?
Can a recruiter understand my recent experience in 30 seconds?
Are the dates, phone number, email and location correct?
Have I removed unnecessary graphics and confusing formatting?
Does the filename look professional?
If any answer is no, fix it before applying.
Do not try to “beat” the system
Repeating keywords many times, hiding text, copying the vacancy word for word or inventing experience can damage your credibility. The goal is not to trick recruitment software. The goal is to make your genuine qualifications clear, searchable and easy to verify.
How Jega Outsourcing Network can help
If you are struggling to organise your experience professionally, Jega Outsourcing Network offers a Professional CV Writing Service for ₦5,000. Your information is reviewed and developed into an ATS-friendly CV, with PDF and editable DOCX versions provided after approval.
Start here:
https://jegaoutsourcingnetwork.com.ng/cv-service.html
You can also browse current vacancies and apply through the official Jega website:
https://jegaoutsourcingnetwork.com.ng/jobs.html
A strong CV cannot guarantee a job, but it can make sure your real value is presented clearly when technology and employers review your application.
Research note
This guide was informed by current LinkedIn Help documentation on AI hiring agents, resume search and AI-powered resume feedback. LinkedIn states that hiring tools can match candidate information to job qualifications, irregular formats can make resume information harder to extract, and AI-generated suggestions should be checked for accuracy.
Sources:
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a7437598
https://www.linkedin.com/help/recruiter/answer/a770588
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a6865810