Why Your CV Isn’t Getting You Remote Jobs (And How to Fix it for Tech Roles)

You’ve submitted Job Application Letter and applied to 20 remote jobs this month, yet no callback. Meanwhile, someone you trained just got hired by a foreign company earning in dollars. What’s going on?

Let’s be honest: most Nigerian CVs don’t match what remote employers are looking for, especially in tech. And if your CV doesn’t “speak their language”, it’s getting skipped without mercy.

Here’s exactly why your CV may be holding you back and how to fix it for good.

1. You’re Still Using a Traditional Nigerian CV Format

That “Objective: To work in a reputable organization where I can…” paragraph? DELETE IT.

Remote recruiters don’t care about vague career goals. They only care about the value you’re bringing to them.

Here’s how you can Fix that:

Start your CV with a short summary that shows your skill + proof of results. For example:

Frontend developer with 2+ years experience building React applications for startups and small businesses. Shipped 8 live products and improved user experience by 30%.

2. You Didn’t Tailor it to the Job

Sending the same CV to every job won’t work. Especially not in remote tech hiring.

Here’s what you should do to Fix this:

Read the job description. Then mirror the exact keywords and skills mentioned. If they want a “UI/UX designer with Figma and Notion experience,” don’t just say “I’m creative.” Show you’ve used those tools in a real project.

3. No Links to Your Work

If you’re applying for a remote tech role and don’t include links to GitHub, portfolio sites, or LinkedIn, you’ll likely to be easily ignored.

Here’s what you should do:

Add a “Projects” or “Portfolio” section with clickable links, for example:

• GitHub (for developers)
• Dribbble or Behance (for designers)
• Personal website or Notion page

4. Your Skills Section is Weak

Writing “Good communication skills” or “Team player” isn’t enough. Remote employers want to see actual technical and remote-ready skills.

To stand out, you need to include:

• Tools (e.g., Git, Slack, Jira, Zoom, Trello)
• Frameworks (e.g., React, Laravel, Tailwind CSS)
• Soft skills relevant to remote work (e.g., asynchronous communication, time management)

5. You’re Listing Job Duties, Not Achievements

A remote hiring manager doesn’t care if you “worked on frontend tasks.” They want proof of impact.

To Fix this, you need to:

Use the PAR method (Problem, Action, Result). For example:

“Redesigned company landing page (Action), leading to 45% increase in signups (Result).”

6. Your CV File is Not ATS-Friendly

Many remote companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan your CV. If you use fancy tables or poorly formatted PDFs, your application might get rejected automatically.

To avoid this, do the following:

• Use clean formatting
• Stick to common fonts (Arial, Calibri, Roboto)
• Save as PDF, not .docx
• Use free tools like Resumake.io, Novoresume, or FlowCV

7. No Time Zones or Location Flexibility

If you’re applying globally, mention that you’re available to work across time zones or open to remote schedules.

To do this, Try to:
Add a line like the one below:

“Based in Nigeria (GMT+1), available for asynchronous and cross-timezone collaboration.”

Sample Layout for a Winning Remote Tech CV

Here’s a good template you can follow to create a very good Tech CV.

Name | Email | Phone | GitHub | LinkedIn | Portfolio

🔹 Summary
Frontend Developer with 2+ years building fast, mobile-friendly web apps with React and Tailwind CSS. Passionate about UI performance and user-centered design.

🔹 Skills
React, JavaScript, Tailwind CSS, Git, GitHub, Firebase, Notion, Trello, Figma, Remote Communication, Time Management

🔹 Projects
- SaaS dashboard for Lagos-based fintech startup (GitHub link)
- Portfolio website for Canadian e-commerce brand (Live link)

🔹 Experience
Frontend Developer – Freelance (2022–Present)
• Built 5+ client projects using React
• Cut page load time by 50% using lazy loading and optimization

🔹 Education
FreeCodeCamp, Altschool Africa – Software Engineering (2022)

🔹 Certifications
- Meta Front-End Developer Certificate (Coursera)

Additional Tips to create an impressive CV

1. Keep all your information under 2 pages

2. Use action words like: built, designed, improved, optimized.

3. Always proofread, your grammar counts!

4. Update your LinkedIn profile to match your CV

Summary:

Remote companies want to hire people who can communicate clearly, show results, and work independently. Your CV must reflect that.

Don’t just list jobs. Tell your story. Show your wins. Prove you’re ready and you should get your dream job in next to no time.