CV format checker for South Africa, Nigeria, India, the UK and the US
A CV that is right in Lagos can be wrong in London. Pick the country you are applying in, add your CV, and see what to cut, add or move. It runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
What the checker looks at
- Length against what employers in that country expect.
- Personal details such as date of birth, marital status and religion, which help in some countries and hurt in others.
- ID number for South Africa, and NYSC status for Nigeria.
- A career objective where a professional summary works better.
- Filler lines like "references available on request" and the Indian "I hereby declare" line.
Country guides
For the full picture, read CV format in South Africa and CV format in Nigeria.
Format done? Fit it to the job.
A clean format gets you read. Matching the posting gets you shortlisted.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put my ID number on my CV in South Africa?
No. Share it when an employer asks, usually at offer stage. Your ID number is personal information under POPIA, and a CV gets forwarded and stored in places you cannot see.
Should I put my date of birth on my CV?
In the UK and the US, no. Employers there do not expect it. In Nigeria and India some postings ask for it. Add it only when the posting asks.
How long should my CV be?
Two pages covers most people in every country the checker supports. Graduates should aim for one. The checker estimates your length from the word count, see [how long a CV should be](/blog/how-long-should-a-cv-be).
Should I add a photo?
Leave it off unless the posting asks. The checker reads text, so it cannot see a photo, but this is the rule in every country it covers.
Is my CV uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is read in your browser tab and the checks run there. Nothing is sent to FitMyCV or stored.
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