A well-written CV can make an important difference when applying for jobs in South Africa. Your CV introduces you to a potential employer and gives them an overview of your education, qualifications, skills, work experience and achievements.
If you are wondering how to write a CV in South Africa, this guide will show you what to include, how to structure your CV and how to make it relevant to the job you are applying for.
Whether you are a school leaver, graduate, student, first-time job seeker or experienced professional, the basic principles of creating a professional CV remain the same: keep it clear, accurate, relevant and easy to read.
What Is a CV?
CV stands for Curriculum Vitae. It is a document that provides information about your education, qualifications, skills, work experience and other information relevant to employment.
The South African Government describes a CV as a short description of your education, employment history and skills. It is used by employers when considering candidates for interviews.
Your CV should give an employer a quick understanding of:
- Who you are
- What qualifications you have
- What skills you have
- Where you have worked
- What experience you have gained
- What you can contribute to the organisation
Your CV should also be adapted to the particular position you are applying for.
How to Write a CV in South Africa
There is no single CV format that every South African employer requires. However, a professional CV should be organised into clear sections and should present information in a logical order.
A typical CV can include:
- Personal details
- Professional profile or career objective
- Education and qualifications
- Work experience
- Skills
- Certifications and training
- Achievements
- Languages
- References
Not every applicant needs every section. For example, a school leaver may have little or no formal work experience, while an experienced professional may place greater emphasis on their employment history.
1. Add Your Personal Details
Start your CV with your basic contact information so that an employer can easily contact you.
Your contact section can include:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- City or town
- Province
- LinkedIn profile, if applicable
For example:
Kamogelo Moholoeng
Pretoria, Gauteng
Phone: 000 000 0000
Email: example@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/example
Avoid using an unprofessional email address. If necessary, create an email address using your name.
Should You Include Your ID Number?
You generally do not need to put sensitive personal information at the top of every CV unless it is specifically required by the employer or application.
Always read the job advertisement carefully to determine what information and documents the employer requires.
For South African public-sector applications, the requirements can differ from ordinary private-sector applications. Government vacancies may require applicants to complete a Z83 and attach a CV and other documents specified in the advertisement.
2. Write a Professional Profile
A professional profile is a short introduction near the beginning of your CV.
It should briefly explain who you are, what you do and what you can offer an employer.
For example:
Motivated IT support professional with experience providing technical assistance to users, troubleshooting hardware and software problems, and supporting Microsoft 365 environments. Strong communication, problem-solving and customer-service skills with a focus on resolving technical issues efficiently.
If you do not have work experience, you can write a profile based on your education, skills, interests and career goals.
Example for a School Leaver
Motivated and hardworking school leaver with strong communication, teamwork and computer skills. Eager to gain workplace experience and develop professional skills while contributing positively to an organisation.
Keep your profile relatively short. The purpose is to introduce yourself rather than tell your entire career story.
3. Include Your Education and Qualifications
Your education section should show your relevant qualifications and educational background.
Depending on your experience, you can include:
- Qualification
- Institution
- Year completed
- Major or specialisation
- Relevant achievements
For example:
National Senior Certificate
ABC High School
Completed: 2026
Or:
Advanced Diploma in Information and Communication Technology
ABC University
Completed: 2025
If you are a recent graduate, your education section can appear near the top of your CV because your qualifications may be particularly relevant to the position.
As you gain more work experience, your employment history can become more prominent.
4. Add Your Work Experience
Work experience is one of the most important sections of many CVs.
List your most recent or current position first and work backwards.
For each position, include:
- Job title
- Company or organisation
- Location
- Employment dates
- Main responsibilities
- Achievements where relevant
For example:
IT Support Technician
ABC Technologies | Pretoria, Gauteng
January 2025 – December 2025
- Provided first-line technical support to users.
- Installed and configured computers and software.
- Troubleshot hardware, software and network-related problems.
- Assisted users with Microsoft 365 applications.
- Recorded and followed up on support requests.
Do not simply list everything you did. Focus on responsibilities and achievements that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
5. What If You Have No Work Experience?
Not having formal work experience does not mean you cannot create a good CV.
If you are a student, graduate or first-time job seeker, you can highlight:
- Education
- School projects
- University projects
- Internships
- Volunteering
- Part-time work
- Freelance work
- Leadership experience
- Community activities
- Relevant skills
- Certifications
- Short courses
For example, if you are applying for an administrative position and helped organise events at school or university, you can mention the organisational, communication and teamwork skills you developed.
The important thing is to be honest. Do not invent employment history or qualifications.
6. List Your Skills
Create a dedicated skills section that highlights abilities relevant to the position.
Examples include:
Technical Skills
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft 365
- WordPress
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- Computer troubleshooting
- Networking
Soft Skills
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Customer service
- Adaptability
- Organisation
Avoid creating a huge list of skills simply to make your CV appear longer.
Instead, read the job advertisement and identify the skills the employer is actually looking for.
7. Add Relevant Certifications and Training
Certifications can strengthen your CV, particularly when they are relevant to the job.
Examples include:
- Microsoft certifications
- IT certifications
- First Aid certificates
- Project management certificates
- Short courses
- Industry-specific training
- Computer courses
- Driver’s licence, where relevant to the position
Include the name of the certificate, the organisation that issued it and the year if appropriate.
8. Include Languages
Language skills can be useful when applying for jobs in South Africa.
You can list languages and indicate your level of ability.
For example:
Languages
- English – Fluent
- Setswana – Native
- isiZulu – Conversational
Only claim a language level that accurately represents your ability.
9. Include Achievements
Achievements can help your CV stand out because they demonstrate what you have accomplished.
These could include:
- Academic achievements
- Awards
- Leadership positions
- Sports achievements
- Workplace achievements
- Volunteer recognition
- Competition results
- Successful projects
Whenever possible, explain the result or impact of the achievement rather than simply listing an award.
10. Add References
References are people who can provide information about your character, skills, work ethic or previous employment.
Possible references include:
- Previous managers
- Supervisors
- Lecturers
- Teachers
- Internship supervisors
- Community leaders
Always ask someone for permission before listing them as a reference and make sure their contact details are current.
You can also write:
References available upon request
if you prefer not to include their details directly on your CV.
The South African Government recommends using credible references and checking with them before an interview to make sure their details are still correct and that they are willing to act as a reference.
What Is the Best CV Format in South Africa?
A simple, professional and easy-to-read format is generally appropriate.
A basic structure could look like this:
FULL NAME
Contact details
Location
LinkedIn profile
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Short introduction about yourself, your experience and career goals.
EDUCATION
Qualification – Institution – Year
WORK EXPERIENCE
Job Title – Company – Dates
- Responsibility or achievement
- Responsibility or achievement
- Responsibility or achievement
SKILLS
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
CERTIFICATIONS
- Certificate – Institution – Year
LANGUAGES
- Language – Level
REFERENCES
Reference Name – Position – Organisation – Contact details
The City of Ekurhuleni also recommends keeping a CV simple, clear and easy to follow rather than focusing primarily on making it visually attractive.
How Long Should a CV Be?
There is no universal rule that says every CV must be exactly one or two pages.
The appropriate length depends on your experience and the requirements of the position.
A school leaver may only need one page, while someone with several years of professional experience may need two or more pages.
The most important thing is to avoid unnecessary information.
Ask yourself:
Does this information help demonstrate that I am suitable for the job?
If it does not, consider removing it.
Should You Put a Photo on Your CV?
A photograph is not necessary for most job applications unless the employer specifically requests one or the industry/application requires it.
Your qualifications, skills and experience should remain the focus of your CV.
If an employer requests a photograph, follow the instructions in the job advertisement.
How to Make Your CV Stand Out
A good CV does not need complicated graphics or excessive colours.
Instead, focus on presenting useful information clearly.
1. Tailor Your CV
Do not send exactly th
