English for Nigerian Job Seekers: 101 Career Words and Expressions Every Graduate Should Know

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The English Words That Open Office Doors

You finished your interview. You answered well. But halfway through, the interviewer used a word you had heard before but never really understood. “Can you describe your onboarding experience?” You smiled and gave a general answer, hoping it was close enough.

This happens to many Nigerian graduates. You know English. You passed WAEC and JAMB Use of English. But office vocabulary is a different world from exam vocabulary. Nobody hands you a list before your first job interview.

This lesson is that list. Below are 101 words and expressions you will meet in job adverts, interviews, CVs, and everyday office life in Nigeria, explained simply, with real examples you can actually use.

Let us go through them together, one group at a time.

Group 1: Words You Will Meet in Job Adverts

These are the words that appear before you even get the interview.

  1. Vacancy – an open position available for hiring. “There is a vacancy for a customer service officer at the bank.”
  2. Applicant – a person applying for a job. “Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.”
  3. Requirement – what the employer expects you to have. “A university degree is a requirement for this role.”
  4. Remuneration – payment or salary for work done. “The remuneration includes a monthly salary and transport allowance.”
  5. Entry-level – a job suitable for someone with little or no experience. “This is an entry-level position for recent graduates.”
  6. Fresh graduate – someone who recently completed university, often before or during NYSC. “The company is hiring fresh graduates for its trainee programme.”
  7. Deadline – the last date to submit an application. “The application deadline is next Friday.”
  8. Shortlist – a smaller list of candidates chosen for the next stage. “Fifty applicants were shortlisted out of five hundred.”
  9. Probation – a trial period before permanent employment is confirmed. “New staff undergo three months of probation.”
  10. Full-time / Part-time – describes how many hours a job requires. “This role is full-time, Monday to Friday.”

One mistake I see almost every day: students confuse “vacancy” with “vacation.” A vacancy is a job opening. A vacation is a holiday. Different words entirely.

Group 2: Words for CV and Application Writing

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – a document listing your education, skills, and experience.
  2. Cover letter – a short letter introducing yourself alongside your CV.
  3. Referee – a person who can confirm your character or work record.
  4. Portfolio – a collection of your work samples, common for writers, designers, and developers.
  5. Endorsement – a recommendation from someone confirming your skill or reliability.
  6. Certification – an official document proving you completed a course or training.
  7. Proficient – skilled or capable in something. “Proficient in Microsoft Excel and data entry.”
  8. Competent – having enough skill to do something well.
  9. Attributes – personal qualities or characteristics. “Key attributes include punctuality and teamwork.”
  10. Objective statement – a short sentence explaining your career goal, placed at the top of a CV.

Nigerian example: Many students write “I am a hardworker” on their CV. The correct spelling is two separate words: “hard worker,” or better still, describe what you actually did.

Group 3: Words You Will Hear at the Interview

  1. Punctuality – arriving on time. “Punctuality is important to us.”
  2. Strength / Weakness – what you are good at, and what you are still improving.
  3. Multitasking – doing more than one task at the same time.
  4. Initiative – the ability to act without being told. “She showed initiative by solving the problem herself.”
  5. Adaptability – the ability to adjust to new situations easily.
  6. Team player – someone who works well with others.
  7. Deadline-driven – someone who works hard to meet deadlines.
  8. Under pressure – working while facing stress or limited time. “How do you perform under pressure?”
  9. Salary expectation – the amount of pay you expect for the role.
  10. Notice period – how long you must wait before leaving a current job.
  11. Availability – when you are able to start work. “What is your availability?”
  12. Follow-up – checking back after an interview or application. “I sent a follow-up email a week later.”

A trick I recommend: when an interviewer asks about your “weakness,” never say “I don’t have any.” This sounds dishonest. Instead, mention a real area you are improving, and explain how.

Group 4: Words You Will Meet as a New Staff Member

  1. Onboarding – the process of introducing a new employee to the company.
  2. Orientation – training given to new staff to explain company rules and culture.
  3. Line manager – the person you directly report to at work.
  4. Supervisor – someone who oversees your daily work.
  5. Colleague – a person you work with, at the same level.
  6. Subordinate – someone who reports to you.
  7. Job description – a written explanation of your duties.
  8. Induction – similar to orientation, the process of settling a new worker into the job.
  9. Confidentiality – keeping company or client information private.
  10. Chain of command – the order of authority in an organisation.
  11. Organogram – a chart showing the structure and reporting lines of a company.
  12. Corporate culture – the shared values and behaviour expected within a company.

Common confusion: many new employees mix up “supervisor” and “subordinate.” Remember, your supervisor is above you. Your subordinate is below you.

5. Group: Everyday Office Communication Words

  1. Memo – a short internal message, usually written, shared within an office.
  2. Minutes – the written record of what was discussed in a meeting.
  3. Agenda – the list of topics to be discussed in a meeting.
  4. Escalate – to report a problem to a higher authority. “Please escalate this complaint to the manager.”
  5. Circulate – to share a document with several people. “Kindly circulate the report to the team.”
  6. CC / BCC – copying other people on an email, visibly (CC) or invisibly (BCC).
  7. Attachment – a file added to an email.
  8. Draft – an unfinished or early version of a document.
  9. Finalise – to complete or approve a final version.
  10. Correspondence – official letters or emails exchanged between people or organisations.
  11. Liaise – to communicate and coordinate with another person or department. “Please liaise with the accounts unit.”
  12. Brief (verb) – to give someone important information quickly. “Let me brief you on the new policy.”

6 Group 6: Words About Performance and Growth

  1. Appraisal – a formal review of your work performance.
  2. KPI (Key Performance Indicator) – a measurable target used to judge performance.
  3. Promotion – moving to a higher position at work.
  4. Increment – an increase in salary.
  5. Redundancy – losing a job because the position is no longer needed.
  6. Resignation – voluntarily leaving a job.
  7. Termination – being dismissed from a job by the employer.
  8. Severance package – payment given to an employee after termination or redundancy.
  9. Mentorship – guidance given by an experienced staff member to a junior one.
  10. Upskilling – learning new skills to improve your work capability.
  11. Career progression – the growth of your career over time.
  12. Work-life balance – managing work responsibilities alongside personal life.

7 Group 7: Professional Expressions Nigerians Should Use Confidently

Beyond single words, certain expressions carry weight in Nigerian offices. Here are common ones and how to use them naturally, not stiffly.

  1. “I will look into it.” – used instead of “I will check am,” when someone raises an issue.
  2. “Kindly find attached.” – used when sending a document by email.
  3. “I appreciate your patience.” – polite, professional way to acknowledge a delay.
  4. “Please revert at your earliest convenience.” – asking someone to reply as soon as they can. Note: many Nigerian offices use “revert” to mean “reply,” which is slightly different from standard international usage, but it is widely accepted locally.
  5. “Noted with thanks.” – a short, polite way to confirm you have seen a message.
  6. “I stand to be corrected.” – a humble way of giving an opinion that may not be fully accurate.
  7. “Going forward.” – meaning from now on. “Going forward, please submit reports by Friday.”
  8. “On the same page.” – meaning everyone understands and agrees. “Let us make sure we are all on the same page.”
  9. “Touch base.” – to make brief contact with someone. “Let’s touch base tomorrow.”
  10. “Circle back.” – to return to a topic later. “We will circle back to this after lunch.”
  11. “Bandwidth.” – used informally to mean available time or capacity. “I don’t have the bandwidth for this task now.”
  12. “Take ownership.” – to be fully responsible for a task or outcome.

Group 8: Words for Customer Service and Client-Facing Roles

  1. Client / Customer – the person receiving your company’s service or product.
  2. Feedback – comments given about a service or product.
  3. Complaint – a formal expression of dissatisfaction.
  4. Resolution – the solution to a problem or complaint.
  5. Escalation – when a problem is passed to a higher authority for solving.
  6. Turnaround time – the time it takes to complete a task or respond to a request.
  7. Satisfaction survey – a form used to measure how happy a customer is with a service.
  8. Retention – keeping existing customers rather than losing them to competitors.
  9. Rapport – a friendly, trusting relationship with a client. “She built good rapport with customers.”
  10. Empathy – understanding and sharing another person’s feelings, important in customer care.

Group 9: Business and Office Environment Words

  1. Stakeholder – a person or group with an interest in a company’s activities.
  2. Budget – planned spending for a project or period.
  3. Overhead costs – regular business expenses like rent and electricity.
  4. Logistics – the planning and movement of goods, staff, or resources.
  5. Compliance – following rules, laws, or company policies.
  6. Procurement – the process of purchasing goods or services for a company.
  7. Inventory – the list or stock of goods a business holds.
  8. Invoice – a document requesting payment for goods or services.
  9. Remittance – money sent, especially as payment.
  10. Memo of Understanding (MoU) – a written agreement between two parties, not always legally binding.
  11. Due diligence – careful investigation done before making a business decision. “The company carried out due diligence before signing the contract.”

The Nigerian Reality Behind Office Vocabulary Gaps

Many Nigerian graduates learn grammar deeply but meet office vocabulary for the first time on their first job. This is not a personal failure. Secondary schools focus heavily on literature and structured essay writing, not workplace communication.

NYSC orientation camp is often the first place many corps members hear words like “posting letter,” “redeployment,” and “primary assignment.” University career services rarely teach words like “onboarding” or “KPI.” This gap is structural, not personal, so there is no shame in learning these words now, at any stage of your career.

Quick Revision Summary

  • Learn adverts and CV vocabulary before applying for jobs.
  • Master interview expressions like “team player” and “initiative.”
  • Understand office hierarchy words such as “supervisor” and “subordinate.”
  • Use professional expressions like “kindly find attached” and “I will look into it.”
  • Business vocabulary like “stakeholder” and “compliance” builds your professional credibility.

Practice Exercise

Pick five words from this list that are new to you. Use each one in a full sentence about your own career situation today. For example, if you chose “probation,” write: “I am currently on probation at my new job.”

According to Cambridge English, learning vocabulary in personally relevant sentences, rather than isolated lists, helps words stay in memory far longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it necessary to memorise all 101 words at once?
No. Learn ten words a week, use them in real sentences, and they will stick naturally through repetition.

Are these words used only in big companies?
No. Many of these words, such as “punctuality,” “supervisor,” and “invoice,” are common across banks, schools, NGOs, small businesses, and government offices in Nigeria.

Is “revert” correct English?
In international standard English, “revert” traditionally means “to return to a previous state.” However, it is widely and acceptably used in Nigerian and broader Commonwealth workplaces to mean “reply.” Both meanings exist, depending on context.

Will knowing these words guarantee me a job?
No single list guarantees a job, but using the right vocabulary confidently makes you sound prepared, professional, and ready for the workplace.

Before You Go

You do not need to sound like a dictionary at your next interview. You simply need to sound like someone who understands how offices communicate. Pick a few words from this list. Use them this week, in emails, in conversations, in your own CV.

With consistent practice, these words will start to feel natural, not memorised. Even confident professionals were once learning this same vocabulary for the first time.

For more practical lessons like this, visit ExamGuideNG.com, and explore our sections on English for Jobs and Career and English Skills and Communication for more career-focused English lessons.

Come back often, keep practising, and watch your professional English grow stronger, one word at a time.

Read the following articles below to complete this lesson:

Reference: British Council- LeranEnglish

Written by Tr. Edidiong Sunday

About Author

Edidiong Sunday is an English educator, communication specialist, and the founder of ExamGuideNG. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a B.Ed. in English Education from the University of Uyo, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in English Education. With years of experience teaching English Language, Diction, and Public Speaking in reputable schools in Uyo, she creates practical, accurate, and learner-focused content to help students, job seekers, and professionals improve their English skills. Edidiong also runs a JAMB English tutorial centre in Uyo and has professional experience in journalism, broadcasting, and public speaking. Every article she publishes is guided by a commitment to clarity, accuracy, and helping learners achieve lasting success in academics, examinations, and everyday communication.

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