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1 Oct 2026
By RecruitFinds
For many Kenyan job seekers, the terms “CV” and “resume” are used interchangeably. You may be asked to submit a CV when applying for a local position, while an international company may request a resume. At first glance, both documents appear to serve the same purpose: introducing a candidate to an employer and showing why they are suitable for a position.
However, there can be important differences in how job application documents are prepared for Kenyan employers compared with employers in other countries.
These differences are not absolute rules. Employers, industries and countries have their own preferences, and some Kenyan companies already use recruitment practices similar to international organisations. Nevertheless, understanding the common differences can help job seekers avoid submitting the same document everywhere without considering the requirements of the particular employer.
For someone applying for jobs in Kenya as well as opportunities abroad, knowing when to use a traditional Kenyan-style CV and when to prepare an international resume can make the application process easier.
A Kenyan CV is generally a detailed document that provides information about a candidate's education, employment history, skills, professional qualifications and other relevant background.
The traditional approach in Kenya has often involved providing substantial personal and professional information.
Depending on the employer and the type of position, a Kenyan CV may include sections such as:
Personal information
Career profile or professional summary
Work experience
Education
Professional qualifications
Skills
Professional memberships
Referees
Languages
Hobbies or interests
The exact structure is not universal. Modern Kenyan employers, particularly multinational companies and organisations using online recruitment systems, may prefer a shorter and more targeted document.
This is why job seekers should always read the specific vacancy instructions before deciding how much information to include.
The word “resume” is commonly used in countries such as the United States and Canada to describe a concise document summarising a person's professional background.
A resume is generally more targeted toward a particular job.
Instead of documenting nearly every aspect of a candidate's background, it focuses on information that demonstrates relevance to the position.
An international employer may therefore expect to see a professional summary, relevant work experience, education and skills presented in a concise format.
The goal is usually to make the candidate's most relevant qualifications easy to identify quickly.
This approach has also become increasingly common among international companies recruiting in Kenya.
One of the most noticeable differences is document length.
Traditional Kenyan CVs can sometimes be several pages long, particularly when they contain detailed employment histories, personal information, certificates and referees.
An international resume is generally more concise.
However, there is no universal rule saying that every resume must be exactly one page or that every Kenyan CV must be three or four pages.
The appropriate length depends on your experience and the job.
A fresh graduate with limited experience may only need one or two pages. A senior professional with many years of relevant experience may reasonably require more space.
The important principle is to avoid adding information simply to make the document longer.
Traditional CVs in Kenya may include more personal details than an international resume.
For example, some Kenyan CVs may include:
Date of birth
Nationality
Gender
Marital status
Residential location
Identification information
Passport details
These details are not necessarily required for most international job applications.
Many international employers prefer candidates to focus on professional information and may deliberately avoid collecting certain personal details during the initial recruitment stage.
For example, a resume for an international employer may simply include your name, phone number, email address, professional location and possibly a LinkedIn profile.
Before including sensitive personal information, check whether the employer actually requests it.
Photographs are another area where expectations can differ.
Some Kenyan CVs include a professional passport-style photograph.
However, many international employers do not expect or want photographs on resumes. In some countries, employers avoid photographs because of concerns about discrimination and unconscious bias during recruitment.
Therefore, if you are applying internationally, do not automatically add your photograph just because you normally include one on a Kenyan CV.
Follow the employer's instructions and consider the norms of the country where the organisation is based.
Referees are commonly included in Kenyan CVs.
A traditional CV may contain a section at the end listing two or three referees, together with their names, job titles, organisations and contact details.
International resumes frequently handle references differently.
Instead of listing referees directly on the document, candidates may provide them later if the employer requests them.
This approach also prevents your referees' personal contact information from being unnecessarily distributed to every organisation you apply to.
If a Kenyan employer specifically asks for referees, provide them as requested.
If an international employer does not ask for references, there is usually no need to use valuable space on your resume for a long reference section.
Many Kenyan CVs traditionally begin with a career objective.
For example, a candidate might explain that they are seeking a challenging position where they can use their skills and contribute to organisational growth.
While this type of statement is still seen on some CVs, modern resumes often use a professional summary instead.
A professional summary focuses on what the candidate already offers.
For example, an experienced accountant could summarise their years of experience, areas of expertise and key professional strengths.
This gives the employer useful information immediately rather than focusing primarily on what the applicant hopes to receive from the organisation.
Both Kenyan CVs and international resumes normally include education and employment history.
The difference is often in how much information is provided.
A detailed Kenyan CV may list numerous responsibilities under every previous position.
An international resume is more likely to prioritise the experience that is relevant to the specific vacancy.
For example, if you are applying for a marketing position, an old administrative role may not require five bullet points explaining every responsibility you performed.
You can focus on responsibilities or achievements that demonstrate transferable skills.
This makes the document easier to read and allows the employer to identify your relevant experience more quickly.
Another important difference is the emphasis on achievements.
Traditional CVs often contain statements such as:
“Responsible for managing customer accounts.”
“Responsible for preparing monthly reports.”
“Responsible for supervising employees.”
These statements explain what you did, but they do not necessarily show the results of your work.
Modern resumes often try to demonstrate impact.
For example:
“Managed customer accounts while improving response times and maintaining client records.”
Or:
“Prepared monthly financial reports used by management for budget monitoring.”
The second approach gives more context about the contribution made by the employee.
Where possible, include accurate numbers, percentages or measurable outcomes.
A Kenyan CV may contain a broad list of skills.
For example:
Communication
Teamwork
Leadership
Computer skills
Time management
Problem-solving
Customer service
These are useful, but a targeted international resume usually connects skills more closely to the position.
If the vacancy requires Microsoft Excel, data analysis and financial reporting, those skills should be clearly visible if you genuinely possess them.
Technical skills can be particularly important because employers want to know what tools and systems you can actually use.
Instead of simply writing “computer literate,” specify relevant software or platforms.
Hobbies are sometimes included on Kenyan CVs.
Candidates may list activities such as reading, travelling, sports, volunteering or social activities.
This section is not necessarily harmful, but it may not be necessary.
On a short international resume, space is valuable.
If a hobby does not add meaningful information about your suitability for the role, you can generally leave it out.
An exception could be an activity that demonstrates a relevant skill or interest.
For example, volunteering in an organisation where you managed events may provide evidence of leadership or organisational experience.
Traditional Kenyan CVs can vary considerably in design.
Some candidates use colourful templates, photographs, graphics, tables and multiple columns.
For international applications, a clean and simple layout is often safer.
This is particularly important when applying through an Applicant Tracking System, or ATS.
An ATS may process information from submitted documents before a recruiter reviews the application. A simple structure with clear headings and readable text can make the document easier for both software and humans to process.
That does not mean attractive CVs are automatically rejected. The main point is to ensure that design does not interfere with readability or the information the employer needs.
Language conventions can also differ between countries.
For example, Kenyan employers generally use British English conventions in many professional settings.
International applications require attention to the country and organisation involved.
If applying to an American company, you may encounter American spelling conventions such as “organization” rather than “organisation.”
This does not mean you should change every spelling simply to appear international. The important thing is consistency and following the employer's preferred style where it is clear.
One mistake Kenyan job seekers sometimes make is assuming that they need one CV for every application.
Whether you are applying in Kenya or abroad, tailoring your application can make the information more relevant.
Start with the vacancy.
Identify the main responsibilities, qualifications and skills requested by the employer.
Then review your CV and make sure your genuine experience that matches those requirements is easy to find.
This is especially important when applying for international positions because the employer may receive applications from candidates with different educational and professional backgrounds.
A targeted document can help explain how your experience relates to the position.
FeatureTraditional Kenyan CVInternational ResumeLengthCan be relatively detailedUsually more concisePhotoSometimes includedOften omittedDate of birthSometimes includedUsually omittedNationalitySometimes includedUsually omitted unless relevant/requestedMarital statusSometimes includedUsually omittedRefereesOften listedUsually provided when requestedHobbiesSometimes includedUsually optionalWork historyCan be detailedFocuses on relevant experienceAchievementsMay receive less emphasisOften strongly emphasisedDesignCan be highly variedOften clean and simpleKeywordsIncreasingly importantImportant, particularly for digital applicationsPersonal detailsCan be extensiveGenerally limited to relevant contact information
There is no single document that works perfectly for every application.
If you are applying to a Kenyan organisation, check the vacancy and follow the employer's instructions. A detailed CV may be appropriate where the employer requests extensive information.
If you are applying to an international organisation, especially one based in North America, Europe, the Middle East or another international market, research the employer's application expectations and prepare a document suited to that market.
It is also worth remembering that multinational companies operating in Kenya may use international recruitment practices. In such cases, a concise, targeted resume-style document may be more appropriate than a highly detailed traditional CV.
For Kenyan professionals who regularly apply for both local and international jobs, maintaining two versions can be practical.
One version can follow the requirements commonly requested by Kenyan employers.
The second can be a concise international resume that focuses heavily on relevant achievements, professional experience and skills.
You do not need to create two completely different professional histories.
Instead, maintain the same accurate information while changing the presentation, length and emphasis according to the target employer.
The difference between a Kenyan CV and an international resume is not simply the name at the top of the document.
The bigger differences often involve the amount of personal information included, document length, use of photographs, treatment of references, emphasis on achievements and overall presentation.
Kenyan job seekers applying internationally should therefore avoid automatically sending the same document they use for every local vacancy.
At the same time, there is no need to completely abandon the Kenyan CV format when applying locally. The employer's instructions should always take priority.
The best application document is one that presents your real qualifications clearly, contains information relevant to the position and follows the expectations of the organisation receiving it.
Whether the document is called a CV or a resume, the purpose remains the same: to help an employer understand your professional background and decide whether your experience is relevant enough to move you to the next stage of recruitment.
