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UN, NGO and development-sector applications often ask for more detail than a normal private-sector CV. A P11-style form or detailed employment history needs complete dates, accurate titles, employers, duties and competency evidence that can be checked against your CV and LinkedIn profile.
This guide helps Kenyan applicants prepare the information clearly. Always follow the current instructions from the specific organization because form names, required fields and submission rules can vary.
Normal CV vs P11-style employment history
A normal CV summarizes your experience for quick screening. A P11-style employment history is more detailed and chronological. It may require complete employer names, supervisors where requested, salary or grade fields, reasons for leaving, language skills, education and professional training.
The biggest mistake is treating the form like a short CV. These applications often need enough detail for panel review, compliance checks and competency assessment.
Employment history detail
Prepare every role in date order with month and year where possible. Include position title, employer, location, contract type, reporting line where relevant, supervisor details where requested and a concise explanation of duties. Avoid unexplained gaps or mismatched dates.
If your title changed inside the same organization, separate the roles or explain the progression clearly. If you had consultancies, project roles or field assignments, state the scope and dates accurately.
Need this applied?
Turn this advice into a stronger application.Send your CV, target role or job advert. We will confirm the right package before work starts.Duties, achievements and competencies
UN and development-sector applications value evidence. Separate ordinary duties from achievements. Duties explain what the job required. Achievements show the result, scale, stakeholders, reports, budgets, beneficiaries, tools or decisions supported.
Competency-based evidence matters. Prepare examples that show planning, accountability, communication, teamwork, ethics, stakeholder engagement, data handling, monitoring and problem solving. Do not exaggerate project responsibility or claim donor exposure that you cannot support.
Consistency checks
Your CV, P11-style form, cover letter and LinkedIn profile should tell the same story. Dates, employers, job titles, education and certifications should match. Inconsistencies can raise questions even when they are accidental.
Language skills should be honest. If the form asks for speaking, reading and writing levels, use careful self-assessment. Professional development should include relevant certificates, workshops and short courses, especially those connected to safeguarding, project management, M&E, finance, procurement, compliance or humanitarian work.
Sample achievement wording
Weak: Responsible for project reports.
Stronger: Prepared monthly activity updates, consolidated field data from partner teams and supported timely submission of donor progress reports.
Weak: Worked with communities.
Stronger: Coordinated beneficiary registration support, maintained attendance records and escalated documentation gaps to the project officer for follow-up.
Final application checklist
- All dates use a consistent month and year format.
- Employers, titles and locations match across CV, form and LinkedIn.
- Duties and achievements are separated clearly.
- Language skills and training are honest and current.
- Reasons for leaving are professional and consistent where requested.
- No employer, supervisor or project claim is invented.
Frequently asked questions
Is a P11 form the same as a CV?
No. A P11-style form usually asks for more structured employment history, while a CV summarizes the strongest evidence for screening.
Should I copy CV bullets into the form?
Use the same facts, but expand the form where detail is required. Keep wording consistent without making every field too brief.
Can Job Experts guarantee UN selection?
No. We can help prepare clearer documents, but selection depends on the employer, competition, requirements and panel process.