From finding a vacancy to sending a clear application
Prepared by SabiHire · Updated
A useful application answers three questions: can you do the work, can you meet the practical conditions, and has your information reached the right employer? Use this guide alongside the instructions on each vacancy.
1. Check the vacancy before spending time applying
Read the full description, rather than deciding from the title alone. An “assistant” role might involve customer support, bookkeeping or field sales. Write down the tasks and compare them with work you can demonstrate.
- Location and attendance: check the actual work location, working days and whether “remote” has location restrictions. Consider transport cost, travel time and any relocation before accepting an interview.
- Essential requirements: separate required qualifications, licences and experience from preferences. If NYSC completion or exemption is explicitly required, explain your actual status accurately.
- Pay and conditions: distinguish salary from commission, allowances and performance bonuses. If no salary is published, ask about the range and whether the quoted amount is gross or take-home pay.
- Closing date and destination: check that applications remain open and that you are using the employer’s stated website, email address or SabiHire application route.
2. Match your CV to the work
Use the vacancy’s responsibilities as a checklist. Put the most relevant experience near the top and describe what you actually did. Include a working phone number and a professional email address. Check that your dates, job titles and qualifications agree across your CV and application form.
For example, “Responsible for stock” says little about your contribution. If accurate, “Updated the weekly stock register for a retail shop and reconciled deliveries against supplier invoices” shows the task and the method. Add quantities or results only when you can support them.
If you are applying for your first job, use relevant projects, volunteering, an internship or school responsibilities. Describe your own contribution. Do not turn a short course into a qualification you have not earned, or claim experience with software you have never used.
Follow the requested file format. If none is specified, a readable PDF is a practical option. Open the exported document on your phone before sending it: check the text, page breaks, contact details and links. Use a recognisable filename such as Amina-Yusuf-CV.pdf.
3. Use the application route on the listing
- Employer website
- Check the destination address before entering personal information. Complete the required fields and save the submission confirmation. A job-board listing alone is not confirmation that your application reached the employer.
- Email application
- Use the subject line requested in the vacancy. Otherwise, a clear subject such as “Application: Accounts Assistant — Amina Yusuf” helps identify the role. Briefly name the role, explain one or two relevant skills and mention your attached CV. Attach the file before sending and check the recipient address.
- Apply through SabiHire
- Sign in to your account and follow the application form on the vacancy. Review any cover letter before submitting. Browsing and applying do not require a paid membership; optional CV services are separate.
4. Check the employer and protect your information
A listing review or verification badge does not guarantee a job offer. Compare the employer name, website and contact details. If a recruiter contacts you unexpectedly, confirm the role through a contact channel you found independently.
- Never pay a recruiter or employer to secure a job, interview or placement.
- Do not share passwords, one-time codes, card details or banking login information with a recruiter.
- Question requests for identity documents or bank information early in the process. Ask why the information is needed and how it will be handled before sharing it.
- For an in-person interview, confirm the venue and interviewer beforehand and tell someone you trust where you are going.
If something seems suspicious, stop and report the listing to SabiHire. Include the vacancy URL, employer name and what happened. Remove sensitive personal information from any screenshots you send.
5. Keep an application record
Record the employer, role, listing URL, date applied, CV version and any response. Save a copy of the description because vacancies can close. If the employer gives a response timeline, wait until it has passed before sending a brief follow-up through the stated contact channel. Continue applying elsewhere while you wait.