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The One Word On Her CV That Was Costing Her Every Opportunity, Supported

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Wanjiru Kamau sent 60 job applications in four months. She got two replies, and both said no. She did not lack skill. She lacked a CV that showed it and one that sold her. She knew she had the qualifications and the experience

For five years, Wanjiru managed supplier contracts at a manufacturing company in Nairobi. Her work was solid, but her CV told a softer story. Her profile read, “Dedicated professional with experience supporting procurement activities and contributing to organizational goals.” Her first bullet said she “supported supplier negotiations.”

When she came to us, we asked her what happened in those negotiations. Her answers sounded nothing like her CV. She renegotiated terms with 14 suppliers on her own. She cut packaging costs by 18 per cent in one year. When her manager went on leave for two months, she ran a full tender process alone.

 She had written the CV in a hurry with a free AI tool, and the tool gave her safe, empty words.

We spent one hour asking for numbers. How many suppliers she handled, how much she saved and who signed off. Every answer became a line on her CV.

Her old line said “Supported supplier negotiations.” The new line said, “Led negotiations with 14 suppliers and cut packaging costs by 18 per cent in 2025.” Her old line said, “Contributed to tender processes.” The new one said, “Managed a KES 12 million tender alone for two months during a manager’s leave.”

We also moved her best result to the top of the page. Recruiters decide in seconds whether to keep reading, so the 18 percent had to sit where the eye lands first. Her opening line now started with her job title and that number.

Wanjiru sent the new CV to 12 roles over three weeks. Five companies invited her to interview. Two made offers. She accepted a senior procurement role at a logistics firm, one level above her old title. She told us the interviews felt different.

Panels opened with her numbers and asked her to explain them, so she spent her time on work she was proud of.

Bottomline

Open your CV right now and look for the word “supported.” Behind it sits a number you never wrote down. Find it, put it on the page and send it with your next application.

If you want help, send your CV to our team today, and we will dig it out with you.