How to Write a CV in South Africa: A Step-by-Step Guide

Start with the job you want

A strong CV is written for a particular kind of job. Before you write anything, read a few adverts for that role and note the skills and duties that keep appearing. Those are the things your CV should show first.

What to include

• Contact details: your full name, phone number, email address, and city and province.
• A short professional summary of three or four lines.
• Work experience, starting with your most recent job, with dates and what you achieved.
• Education: your highest qualification first, with the NQF level if you know it, and your National Senior Certificate (Matric).
• Skills that match the job, including software you can use.
• Languages you speak, and your driver's licence code, such as Code 08 (EB).
• References, with their permission, or a note that they are available on request.

What to leave out

• Your ID number. An employer can ask for it later, once there is a real need. Sharing it on a CV puts you at risk of identity theft.
• Banking details and health information.
• Your race, religion or marital status, unless you choose to share employment equity status for a specific application.
• A photo, unless the advert asks for one. Photos can confuse applicant tracking systems and can invite bias.

Describe results, not just duties

"Responsible for sales" tells an employer very little. "Grew monthly sales by 15% over six months" tells them what you can do. Start each bullet with a verb such as managed, reduced or delivered, and use real numbers wherever you honestly can.

Keep it clear and short

Two pages is usually enough for most people, and one page is fine early in your career. Use a simple font, clear headings and consistent dates. Check the spelling carefully, then ask someone you trust to read it.

Save it the right way

Send a PDF unless the advert asks for something else, so the layout stays the same on every device. Name the file clearly, for example Thandi-Dlamini-CV.pdf.