How to Write a CV That Gets Shortlisted in South Africa

Most recruiters spend less than a minute on a first read of a CV. Your goal is not to tell your whole life story — it is to make it easy for someone to see, quickly, that you can do the job.

Keep it to two pages

For most entry-level and mid-level roles, two pages is enough. If you are a matriculant or recent graduate, one page is fine. Use a simple layout, a readable font and clear headings. Avoid photos, graphics and tables that may not display properly when the CV is uploaded to an online system.

What to include

1. Contact details — your full name, cellphone number, a professional email address and the town or suburb you live in. You do not need your full street address.
2. A short profile — two or three sentences about who you are and the kind of role you want. Make it specific: “Matriculant with a Code 8 licence and two years’ experience in retail stock control” says far more than “hard-working and motivated”.
3. Work experience — most recent first. For each job include the employer, your title, the dates and three to five bullet points about what you did and achieved.
4. Education — your highest qualification first. Include your matric year and school, and any certificates, learnerships or short courses.
5. Skills — practical skills that match the job advert: computer programs, languages, licences, machinery, PSIRA grade, SANC or SACE registration and so on.
6. References — two people who can confirm your work, with their permission. “Available on request” is also acceptable.

Personal information: less is more

You are not required to include your ID number, marital status, religion or health information on a CV. Share sensitive personal information only when an employer genuinely needs it later in the process, and only with a recruiter you trust. Government applications have their own form (the Z83), which asks for the information the department needs.

Match every CV to the advert

Read the job advert carefully and use the same words it uses. If the advert asks for “debtors reconciliation” and you have done it, say so in those words. Many employers use software that scans CVs for keywords, and human recruiters do the same thing with their eyes.

No experience? Show what you can do

If you have not worked formally yet, include:

• Volunteer work, church or community projects and school leadership roles
• Part-time or informal work, such as tutoring, helping in a family business or piece jobs
• Skills courses, including free online courses
• Your matric subjects and results if they are relevant to the job

Final checks before you send

• Save and send your CV as a PDF named clearly, for example “Thandi-Mokoena-CV.pdf”
• Check spelling and dates carefully
• Make sure your phone is on and your voicemail works
• Never pay anyone to “guarantee” you a job. Legitimate employers do not charge application fees.

Once your CV is ready, set up a job alert so new opportunities come to you instead of the other way around.