Guide · South Africa
CV format in South Africa: what to include and what to leave out
Employers in South Africa expect a short, clear CV that is easy to scan. There is no single official format, but a few local habits are worth following. This guide covers them, and gives two examples: one for a student or grade 12 school leaver and one for someone with work experience.
The basics
Length: one or two pages
A student or school leaver should fit on one page. With several years of experience, two pages is fine. Do not add pages to look more senior.
Order: newest first
List jobs and education starting with the most recent. If you have little work history, put education first. If you have experience, put it first.
Contact details
Full name, a professional email address, your phone number with the country code (+27) and your town or city. Make sure the number works on WhatsApp if employers may use it.
Matric and education
If you are early in your career, list your matric (National Senior Certificate, NSC) with the school, the year and your subjects. Adding your results is optional, but it helps when they are good, especially in the subjects that fit the job. If you have a diploma or degree, list it first and keep the matric to one line.
Leave out personal details
No photo, and no religion, marital status or date of birth. They do not help the employer judge your work. Give your ID number only if the advert or application form asks for it.
Driver's licence
Mention it if the job needs driving, or if the advert asks for it. Write the code, for example Code B, and say if you have your own transport.
Languages
South Africa has many working languages, so list the ones you speak and how well, for example English (fluent) and isiZulu (home language). This can matter for customer-facing jobs.
References
Many employers ask for references. If the advert does, list two people with their name, job title, organisation, phone and email. Ask them first. If the advert does not ask, "References available on request" is enough.
File format
Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. Name the file with your name, for example Thandi-Nkosi-CV.pdf, not CV-final-2.pdf.
Example: grade 12 school leaver or student
Without work history, use space for matric, school activities, volunteering, short courses and skills. The details below are made up. Replace them with your own true ones.
Header
Thandi Nkosi · Durban · +27 70 000 0000 · thandi.nkosi@example.com
Profile
Grade 12 school leaver looking for a part-time or entry-level retail job. Friendly with customers, reliable and comfortable with a till and basic maths.
Education
National Senior Certificate (matric), Example High School, Durban, 2025. Subjects: English Home Language, isiZulu First Additional Language, Mathematical Literacy, Business Studies, Life Orientation, Tourism, Consumer Studies.
Activities
Tuck shop volunteer, Example High School, 2024 to 2025: served learners during break, handled cash and counted the takings with a teacher.
Skills
Customer service, cash handling, basic Microsoft Word and Excel, teamwork, English and isiZulu (fluent).
References
Available on request.
Example: with work experience
With a few years of work, put experience first and keep education short. Use one or two lines per achievement, and only claims you can explain in an interview.
Header
Pieter van der Merwe · Cape Town · +27 70 000 0001 · pieter.vandermerwe@example.com
Profile
Administrative assistant with three years of experience in a small logistics office. Handles invoices, supplier emails and the filing system.
Experience
Administrative Assistant, Example Logistics (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town, 2022 to present. Capture supplier invoices, answer client emails and book deliveries. Keep the weekly delivery schedule up to date and follow up on missing documents.
Education
National Diploma in Office Management, Example University of Technology, 2018 to 2021. Matric, Example High School, 2017.
Skills
Microsoft Office, invoice capturing, scheduling, client emails, Code B driver's licence, Afrikaans and English (fluent).
References
Two references: name, title, organisation, phone and email.
One CV is not enough
Many employers in South Africa receive applications by email or online form, and some use software that looks for the words in the job advert. If the advert says "invoice capturing" and your CV says "typing up bills", the match is weaker. Read each advert, and use its words for the skills you really have.
Check your CV against a job, free
Paste your CV and a job advert into the free checker. You see which keywords you cover and which you miss, with no sign-up. If you want to edit your CV for that job, CVora suggests changes line by line, with the reason for each. You accept or reject every one, and nothing is invented.
Local habits change by employer and sector. When an advert gives its own instructions, follow them.