The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès, a poorly formatted CV or a report whose page numbering breaks is enough to get a candidate rejected or delay a promotion. The online course Word professionnel : CV, rapports et documents qui inspirent confiance (taught in French) costs 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) for 10 hours, with corrected exercises, two graded projects and a verifiable certificate. For a young graduate or a secretary, it is the most cost-effective office skills investment before Excel.
Why Word is still a hiring criterion in Thiès
Thiès is a city of public offices, schools, clinics, construction firms and transport and trading SMEs, plus companies around Diamniadio and the industrial hub. Almost every secretary, assistant or administrative job ad says « proficient in Word and Excel ». In practice, many candidates can type a text, but few can use styles, insert an automatic table of contents or manage different headers per section.
The difference shows at first glance: a letter on letterhead with NINEA and RCCM numbers, consistent margins and a well-placed signature builds trust. A document aligned with the space bar does not.
| Word skill | Typical candidate level | What the course adds |
|---|---|---|
| Paragraphs, indents, tabs | Manual formatting | Clean, repeatable settings |
| Headers, footers, page numbers | Often missing or broken | Section breaks mastered |
| Styles and headings | Rarely used | Reusable style set |
| Table of contents | Typed by hand | Automatic, updated in 1 click |
| Images and tables | Moved around at random | Text wrapping and readable tables |
| PDF export | Approximate | Clean PDF, ready to send |
Training options and their price
In Thiès, computer centres offer office courses, often in groups with no follow-up after the session. Free tutorials exist but nobody corrects your documents.
| Option (2026 ballpark) | Price | Duration | Follow-up and certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local computer centre, Word module | 40,000 to 80,000 FCFA | 2 to 4 weeks, fixed hours | Little follow-up |
| Private tutor | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA per hour | Varies | Rarely a certificate |
| Free YouTube tutorials | 0 FCFA (plus data) | Unlimited | No feedback |
| Kolonell, Professional Word (level 2) | 50,000 FCFA | 10 h, self-paced | 54 exercises, 2 graded projects, verifiable certificate |
| Office and Productivity track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Progressive | Certificate at each level |
The syllabus covers 5 modules and 23 lessons: solid basics, professional page layout, styles and table of contents, images and tables, then the CV, the letter and the report. You leave with five reusable deliverables: a letterhead, a .dotx letter template, a business-format CV, an 8 to 12 page report and your style set.
Full details are on the Professional Word course for CVs, letters and reports page (the course is taught in French). It belongs to the Office and Productivity track, whose level 3 is Practical Excel.
Salaries and side income
Word alone does not make a salary, but it opens the door to many jobs. The figures below are 2026 ballpark figures, with no guarantee of a job or income.
| Role or activity in Thiès | Indicative pay |
|---|---|
| Secretary or assistant in an SME | 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA per month |
| Administrative officer in a school or clinic | 100,000 to 180,000 FCFA per month |
| Experienced executive assistant | 200,000 to 300,000 FCFA per month |
| Formatting a CV for an individual | 5,000 to 15,000 FCFA |
| Formatting a thesis or report | 1,000 to 2,500 FCFA per page |
| Data entry and formatting for an SME | Flat fee by volume |
Students at Iba Der Thiam University and the city's schools submit 40 to 80 page theses every year. A well-structured thesis, with an automatic table of contents and clean page numbering, often bills between 40,000 and 150,000 FCFA depending on length.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mini case study
Ndèye, 24, a management graduate in Thiès, is looking for an assistant job. She completes the course in 3 weeks, at a little over 3 hours a week, and pays 50,000 FCFA with Orange Money.
While job hunting, she formats theses for students. With two 50-page theses at 1,500 FCFA per page during defence season, she earns 150,000 FCFA, three times the course price. If she then lands a secretary job at 150,000 FCFA a month, the course cost equals a third of her first salary. This is a scenario, not a promise: the number of orders depends on her network and the season.
FAQ
Do I need computer skills before starting?
Yes, you need to manage files and open Word. If not, level 1 of the track covers the computer, files and email before this 10-hour course.
Which version of Word do I need?
A recent desktop version of Microsoft Word is recommended. Styles and sections work the same way on versions from the last 10 years.
How long does it take?
About 10 hours in total. At 1 hour a day, you finish in 2 weeks.
Does the certificate really help with hiring?
It can be verified online and lists the skills assessed through 2 projects. Attached to the CV you rebuilt during the course, it gives the recruiter concrete proof.
How do I pay?
With Wave or Orange Money, 50,000 FCFA. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Take the next step. Enroll in Word professionnel : CV, rapports et documents qui inspirent confiance: 10 hours, 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR), verifiable certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
