The hardest job to land is your first one, because almost every advert seems to demand “two years’ experience.” It feels like a locked door. The truth is that plenty of Nigerian employers do hire entry-level staff and train them from scratch, so you simply have to know which roles to target and how to present yourself.
Roles that routinely hire with no experience
- Customer service and call-centre roles, where attitude matters more than a CV.
- Sales and field marketing, which reward drive over a long work history.
- Fintech and POS agents, a fast-growing entry point across the country.
- Retail and hospitality, from supermarkets to hotels.
- Graduate trainee programmes at banks and FMCGs, built specifically for fresh graduates.
- Field data and NGO support roles that train you on the job.
Where to find them
Start with a trusted job board like Jobberman, then check company career pages directly and set alerts so new openings reach you first. Verified Telegram and WhatsApp job groups help too, as long as you treat every “fast-track” offer with caution. It also pays to walk into malls, banks, and new businesses in your area with printed CVs, because a lot of entry-level roles are filled quietly before they ever reach a website.
How to stand out with an empty CV
Lead with transferable skills like communication, basic computer use and reliability, and show them through your NYSC posting, internships, volunteering, or school projects. A tidy, tailored application beats a generic one, and our guide to writing a Nigerian CV shows exactly how to frame it. If you have an O’level and want steady public-sector options, see our list of government jobs you can get with an O-level.
Never pay for a job
No honest employer charges you to apply, to “process” your file, or to secure a slot. Any “recruiter” demanding money for an entry-level role is running a scam, full stop. The same goes for anyone who asks you to pay for “uniforms,” “training materials,” or a “medical” before you have even signed an offer letter. Walk away and report them.
Your first job is a foot in the door, not your final destination. Apply widely, keep your CV sharp, prepare for simple aptitude tests, and say yes to roles that train you, because the experience you are missing is exactly what that first job gives you.
Prepare for the simple tests
Many entry-level employers screen with a short aptitude test before they ever interview you. These usually cover basic English, simple maths, and quick reasoning, and a little practice goes a long way. Brush up on percentages, ratios and comprehension, and practise a few free sample tests online so the format does not surprise you. For customer-facing and graduate-trainee roles, expect a short interview that tests how you speak, listen and handle a simple scenario. Practise answering out loud, keep your answers clear and honest, and have two or three short stories ready about times you solved a problem or helped someone.
Questions first-time applicants ask
Do I really stand a chance with no experience? Yes, for the roles built to train fresh hires, where attitude and reliability count most. What should I put on an empty CV? Your education, any NYSC posting, internships, volunteering, school projects, and skills like communication or basic computer use. How many places should I apply to? As many genuine openings as you can reach, because entry-level hiring is a numbers game. Should I ever pay to be hired? Never, because a real employer pays you, not the other way round.
Reviewed by Miles Obi, Careers and Scholarships Editor at Jobviza.
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