How to Write a CV for Technical & Blue-Collar Roles in Kenya

Writing a CV for a driver, technician, machine operator, logistics worker, electrician, mechanic or site supervisor is different from writing one for a corporate office position. Employers hiring technical and blue-collar workers are often looking for evidence that you can safely perform the actual work, operate specific equipment, follow procedures and handle responsibility in the field.

That means your CV should not simply list every job you have ever done. It should quickly show what you can operate, what you are trained to do, where you have worked, which licences or certificates you hold and the type of practical experience you have gained.

For technical workers in Kenya, qualifications can also be important because TVET provides formal pathways for acquiring occupational skills, while TVETA maintains standards around TVET qualifications and training institutions.

Start With a Clear Professional Title

The first part of your CV should immediately tell an employer what type of worker you are.

Instead of simply writing:

Curriculum Vitae

use a professional heading such as:

HEAVY COMMERCIAL DRIVER

or:

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN

or:

LOGISTICS & WAREHOUSE ASSISTANT

or:

SITE SUPERVISOR | CONSTRUCTION

This makes your CV easier to understand when a recruiter is reviewing many applications.

Under your title, include your location, phone number and email address. If you are willing to relocate, you can mention this as well.

Write a Short Practical Profile

Your professional profile should be short and focused on practical experience.

For example:

Experienced heavy commercial driver with 7 years of experience handling long-distance deliveries, vehicle inspections, route planning and safe transportation of goods. Holds a valid Class BCE driving licence and has experience operating commercial vehicles in both urban and upcountry routes.

A technician could write:

Electrical technician with 5 years of hands-on experience in installation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of electrical systems in commercial and residential environments. Trained in electrical installation and workplace safety with practical experience using electrical testing equipment.

Avoid filling this section with general statements such as "hardworking, honest and self-motivated" without explaining what you can actually do.

Your practical abilities should come first.

Put Licences and Certifications Where Recruiters Can See Them

For technical positions, qualifications should not be hidden at the bottom of a long CV.

Create a dedicated section called:

LICENCES & CERTIFICATIONS

Depending on your profession, this could include:

• Driving licence class.

• PSV qualification where applicable.

• Defensive driving training.

• First aid certification.

• Forklift certification.

• Crane or heavy equipment certification.

• Occupational safety training.

• OSHA-related training.

• Fire safety training.

• TVET certificate or diploma.

• NITA-related training.

• Trade test qualifications.

• Equipment-specific training.

• Manufacturer training.

• Other professional licences required for your occupation.

Only list qualifications you actually possess.

If a licence has an expiry date, make sure it is current before putting "valid" on your CV.

For applicants with TVET qualifications, it can also be useful to provide the exact name of the qualification and the institution that awarded it. TVETA maintains information concerning recognized TVET qualifications and institutions, so candidates should be careful about using qualifications from institutions whose status they cannot verify.

For Drivers, Show the Vehicle Classes You Can Handle

A driver's CV should provide more information than simply saying:

"I am a qualified driver."

Tell the employer what you are licensed and experienced to drive.

For example:

Driving Licence: Class BCE
Experience: 6 years
Vehicles: Trucks, trailers, commercial delivery vehicles
Routes: Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and other upcountry routes

You can also mention experience with:

• Long-distance transportation.

• Distribution.

• Fleet operations.

• Loading and unloading.

• Delivery documentation.

• Vehicle inspections.

• Fuel monitoring.

• Basic vehicle troubleshooting.

• Customer deliveries.

• Route planning.

• Transport documentation.

If you have maintained a clean driving record, state this accurately.

For example:

Maintained a clean driving record throughout employment with no recorded major traffic offences.

Do not claim a perfect record if it is not true.

For Technicians, List Equipment and Systems

Technical employers want to know what you have actually worked with.

A technician's CV should therefore include a section such as:

EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS

For an electrical technician, this might include:

• Multimeters.

• Electrical testing equipment.

• Distribution boards.

• Wiring systems.

• Generators.

• Control panels.

• Motors.

For a mechanic:

• Diagnostic scanners.

• Hydraulic systems.

• Brake systems.

• Suspension systems.

• Diesel engines.

• Petrol engines.

• Transmission systems.

For a refrigeration technician:

• Refrigeration systems.

• Compressors.

• Condensers.

• Pressure gauges.

• Refrigerant recovery equipment.

The equipment should match your actual experience.

This gives an employer a much clearer picture of your ability than a long list of personality traits.

Describe What You Actually Did

One of the biggest CV mistakes among technical workers is writing job descriptions that are too vague.

For example:

Driver – ABC Company

Responsible for driving company vehicles.

That tells the employer very little.

A stronger version would be:

Transported goods between Nairobi and regional distribution points, completed pre-trip vehicle inspections, maintained delivery records and ensured goods reached customers within scheduled delivery times.

The second version explains the work.

A technician could write:

Performed preventive maintenance, diagnosed electrical faults, replaced defective components and tested repaired systems before returning equipment to service.

The objective is to demonstrate practical responsibility.

Use Numbers Where They Make Sense

Numbers can make a technical CV stronger.

For example:

• Managed deliveries to 15–20 customers per day.

• Supervised a team of 8 site workers.

• Maintained 20 commercial vehicles.

• Operated forklifts carrying loads of up to 3 tonnes.

• Completed daily equipment inspections.

• Reduced vehicle downtime through scheduled maintenance.

• Handled stock movement across a 2,000-square-metre warehouse.

Only use figures you can support.

You do not need to turn every responsibility into a statistic. Use numbers where they genuinely demonstrate the scale of your work.

Highlight Safety Experience

Safety is particularly important for drivers, technicians, warehouse workers, construction employees and machine operators.

Create a section called:

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

You can include genuine experience with:

• Workplace safety procedures.

• PPE requirements.

• Equipment inspection.

• Safe loading procedures.

• Emergency procedures.

• Incident reporting.

• First aid.

• Fire safety.

• Risk assessment.

• Toolbox talks.

• Occupational safety training.

For example:

Conducted daily equipment checks and followed workplace PPE and safety procedures before commencing site operations.

Do not simply write "OSHA compliant" if you have never received relevant training or worked under documented safety procedures.

Your Work History Should Be Easy to Scan

Use reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job.

For each position, include:

Job Title
Company Name | Location
Month/Year – Month/Year

Then list the most important responsibilities and achievements.

For example:

Heavy Truck Driver
ABC Logistics Ltd | Nairobi
January 2022 – August 2026

• Operated heavy commercial vehicles for regional deliveries.

• Conducted daily vehicle inspections before departure.

• Maintained delivery notes and trip records.

• Reported mechanical defects to the fleet supervisor.

• Followed company road-safety and loading procedures.

• Maintained a clean driving record during employment.

Keep the descriptions relevant to the job you are applying for.

Include Practical Skills

Create a TECHNICAL SKILLS section.

A logistics worker might list:

• Inventory handling.

• Warehouse operations.

• Dispatch coordination.

• Route planning.

• Delivery documentation.

• Stock taking.

• Loading and unloading.

• Fleet coordination.

• Basic computer systems.

A construction worker might list:

• Site supervision.

• Materials handling.

• Equipment operation.

• Safety procedures.

• Team coordination.

• Basic measurements.

• Quality checks.

This section should reflect skills you can actually demonstrate.

Do You Need a Long CV?

Not necessarily.

A technical worker with five years of experience does not need a 10-page CV simply because they have worked on many sites.

For most applications, two or three well-organized pages can be enough to communicate your qualifications and experience.

If you have extensive experience, prioritize the positions and skills that are most relevant to the vacancy.

Your goal is not to document your entire working life. Your goal is to show the employer why your practical experience matches the job.

Applying Through WhatsApp

Not every technical job application will follow a traditional corporate email process.

Some employers and recruiters advertise vacancies through WhatsApp groups, WhatsApp channels, recruitment agencies and direct contacts.

If an advert specifically asks applicants to send their CV through WhatsApp, follow those instructions.

Do not send a blank message containing only an attachment.

A simple message can be:

Hello, I am applying for the Driver position advertised. I have a valid Class BCE driving licence and 6 years of commercial driving experience. Please find my CV attached for consideration. Thank you.

Name the file professionally.

Instead of:

CV.pdf

use:

John_Kamau_Driver_CV.pdf

This makes your application easier for a recruiter to identify.

However, always follow the employer's stated application method. If the advert specifically directs applicants to an official email, portal or physical address, do not substitute WhatsApp simply because it is more convenient.

Official recruitment organizations can require specific submission methods. For example, TVETA vacancy notices have required detailed CVs and other documents through specified application channels.

Register With Recruitment Agencies

Technical workers should not depend entirely on individual job adverts.

Registering with legitimate recruitment agencies can create another route to opportunities.

When registering, have a ready digital package containing:

• Updated CV.

• National ID details where legitimately required.

• Relevant certificates.

• Driving licence where applicable.

• Professional licences.

• References.

• Passport-size photograph if specifically requested.

• Contact information.

Be careful with recruitment scams. Do not assume that a person contacting you on WhatsApp represents a legitimate company. Verify the recruitment agency and the vacancy before sending sensitive documents or paying any "processing" fee.

TVETA, for example, issued a 2026 fraud alert warning about fake recruitment communication and advised the public to verify official communication through authorized channels.

Physical CV Submissions Still Matter in Some Industries

Some technical jobs can involve physical recruitment because the employer operates a workshop, construction site, warehouse, transport yard, factory or other physical workplace.

If an employer specifically asks applicants to submit CVs physically, prepare a clean printed copy.

Carry your original certificates for verification when requested, but do not leave original documents with an unknown person.

A practical application folder can contain:

1. Printed CV.

2. Copies of relevant certificates.

3. Copy of driving licence where relevant.

4. Copies of professional licences.

5. Reference information.

Again, follow the employer's instructions. Some organizations accept only online applications, while others specify hard-copy submissions. Current TVETA recruitment notices, for example, have specified both hard-copy and soft-copy application routes depending on the vacancy.

Keep Your Certificates Organized

Your CV should match your supporting documents.

If your CV says you hold a Diploma in Automotive Engineering, make sure you can produce evidence when requested.

If you list a driving licence class, ensure the licence information is accurate and current.

If you list safety training, include the correct name of the training and, where appropriate, the training provider and year.

This is particularly important because some employers ask shortlisted candidates to produce original or certified academic and professional certificates.

A Simple CV Structure for Technical Workers

A strong technical CV can follow this structure:

NAME
Phone | Email | Location

PROFESSIONAL TITLE

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Short summary of your practical experience.

LICENCES & CERTIFICATIONS

• Driving licence class

• TVET qualification

• Safety certification

• Equipment certification

• Other relevant licences

TECHNICAL SKILLS

List practical skills and equipment.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Most recent position first.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

List relevant qualifications.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

Relevant safety training and experience.

REFEREES

Provide referees if requested or appropriate.

Final Checklist Before Sending Your CV

Before applying for a technical or blue-collar position in Kenya, check that your CV answers these questions:

• What job can you do?

• How many years of experience do you have?

• What equipment can you operate?

• What vehicles can you drive?

• What licence class do you hold?

• What technical qualifications do you have?

• What safety training have you completed?

• What practical responsibilities have you handled?

• What industries or environments have you worked in?

• Can you provide evidence of your qualifications?

• Are your contact details correct?

• Is the CV saved with a professional filename?

Most importantly, customize the CV for the particular job.

A driver applying for a delivery position should emphasize driving, route knowledge, vehicle checks and delivery experience. A technician applying for a maintenance role should emphasize equipment, troubleshooting and preventive maintenance. A warehouse worker should focus on stock handling, dispatch, inventory systems and safety.

The strongest technical CV is not necessarily the one with the most words. It is the one that allows an employer to quickly see the candidate's practical skills, certifications, experience and ability to perform the job safely.

For skilled workers in Kenya, practical ability is the heart of the application. Your CV should make that ability easy to see.