Strong content can still fail
You can have the right experience and still be rejected. A missing reference number, a broken file or the wrong attachment can end an application unread. The last mile matters.
Formatting that works everywhere
- Use one column. Columns, sidebars and text boxes can scramble in screening software and print badly.
- Choose a common typeface at a readable size. Unusual fonts may be replaced on another computer.
- Be consistent. Format dates, headings and bullets the same way throughout.
- Skip photos, logos and skill bars. They add nothing a reader can verify.
- Use sensible margins. Squeezing margins to avoid a third page does not fix the real problem.
- Put contact details in the main body, not only in a header or footer.
Files and names
Send a PDF unless the posting asks for Word. Name the file clearly with your name and the document type. If the posting specifies a file name, follow it exactly. Before sending, open the file on your phone. Many hiring managers will see it there first.
Email applications
- Copy the subject line exactly as the posting instructs, including any reference number.
- Keep the email body short and polite. Say what you are applying for and what is attached.
- Attach only the documents requested.
- Send from a professional email address in your own name.
- Send once. Avoid follow-up "corrected" versions unless the error is serious.
Portals
Online forms often ask you to retype your history. Fill every field fully. Writing "see attached CV" can get you filtered out. Keep your CV open in another tab and watch character limits.
Hard copies
When a physical application is required, print cleanly and deliver before the deadline. Keep copies of everything and note when you delivered it.
The final check
Before you send anything, reread the posting's "how to apply" section. Tick each instruction one by one. Then read your documents aloud once to catch errors.
In the full lesson
- Precise font size and margin guidance for a clean, readable CV
- Example file names and email subject lines that follow Kenyan conventions
- What to write in a short covering email
- Step-by-step guidance for hard-copy submissions, including receipts