How to Write a CV

CV Help South Africa

Learning how to write a CV helps you apply for jobs, learnerships, internships, graduate programmes, public service vacancies and youth opportunities with a clearer, stronger application.

This guide explains the best CV format for South African applicants, what sections to include, how to write a beginner CV, how to avoid mistakes and how to prepare a CV for learnerships, internships and government applications.

CV Quick Answer

A good CV should be clear, honest and easy to scan. It should show your contact details, education, skills, work experience, volunteering, achievements and references where relevant.

For jobs, learnerships and internships, your CV should match the advert. Do not send the same weak CV everywhere. Edit your profile, skills and experience so they fit the opportunity.

Best rule: keep your CV simple, readable and truthful. A clean one-page or two-page CV is better than a long document full of copied phrases.

CV Route Checker

Use this quick tool to decide what type of CV you should prepare first.

Choose your options above to see what to fix first.

Best CV Format for South Africa

Most applicants should use a simple reverse-chronological CV. This means your newest education, work experience or achievements appear first.

CV Section What to Include Keep It Short
Contact details Name, phone number, email address, town/city and province. Yes
Profile summary Two to four lines explaining who you are and what role you want. Yes
Education School, college, university, qualification and year completed or current year. Yes
Work experience Job title, employer, dates and main duties or achievements. Yes
Skills Computer, admin, communication, customer service, technical or field-specific skills. Yes
References Use “available on request” or list references if the advert asks. Yes

What to Put in Your CV

A CV should make it easy for the reader to see whether you fit the opportunity. Do not hide important information in long paragraphs.

Full name Use the name that matches your official documents and applications.
Phone number Use a working number. Recruiters often move on if they cannot reach you.
Email address Use a professional email address, not a joke name or shared account.
Location Town/city and province are usually enough. Avoid putting your full home address unless required.
Education List your latest or highest education first.
Skills Include skills that match the job, learnership or internship advert.

How to Write a CV With No Experience

No work experience does not mean your CV must be empty. You can include school achievements, subjects, projects, volunteering, leadership, church/community work, small jobs, helping a family business, computer skills and training.

No Experience Item How to Use It Example Wording
School subjects Show subjects linked to the opportunity. Mathematics, Accounting, Business Studies, Computer Applications Technology.
Volunteering Show responsibility and teamwork. Assisted with community event registration and crowd control.
School leadership Show communication and reliability. Class representative responsible for communication between learners and teachers.
Small jobs Show basic work habits. Helped with stock packing, cleaning, customer assistance or deliveries.
Computer skills Useful for admin, retail, call centre, internships and learnerships. Basic Microsoft Word, Excel, email and online forms.
Beginner CV tip: focus on reliability, willingness to learn, communication, computer skills and any real responsibility you have handled.

CV Profile Summary Examples

Your profile summary should be short. It should not sound like copied motivational speech.

Applicant Type Better Profile Summary
School leaver Motivated matriculant with good communication skills, basic computer knowledge and a strong interest in entry-level work and learnership opportunities.
Learnership applicant Reliable entry-level applicant seeking a learnership where I can gain workplace experience, complete structured training and build practical skills.
Graduate Recent diploma graduate with academic training in my field and interest in gaining practical workplace experience through an internship or graduate programme.
Experienced worker Experienced worker with practical background in customer service, administration and team support, looking for a role where I can contribute reliable daily performance.

CV for Learnerships

A learnership CV should show your education level, location, availability, basic skills and why you fit the programme. It does not need to look like an executive CV.

  • Show your latest school result or matric certificate.
  • Include subjects that match the learnership field.
  • List any computer, admin, customer service or technical skills.
  • Include volunteer work or small jobs if you have no formal work experience.
  • Make sure your phone number is correct and reachable.

Related guide: learnerships.

CV for Internships

An internship CV should connect your qualification to the field. Recruiters want to see what you studied, what skills you have and whether you can learn in a workplace.

  • Put your qualification and institution near the top.
  • Include your academic record or major subjects if relevant.
  • Add student projects, practical training, research, group work or presentations.
  • List software, tools or technical skills used in your field.
  • Show part-time work or volunteering if it proves responsibility.

Related guide: internships.

CV for Government Jobs

Government applications often require both a CV and the correct official application form. For South African public service posts, this is commonly the Z83 form.

Your CV must match the job advert. Use the reference number correctly, follow the document instructions and make sure your CV supports the minimum requirements in the advert.

Important: a strong CV will not save an application that uses the wrong reference number, wrong email address, incomplete Z83 form or missing required documents.

Related guide: Z83 form.

Common CV Mistakes

Wrong phone number Recruiters cannot contact you, so your application may be skipped.
Unprofessional email A strange or joke email address can make your application look careless.
Too much personal information Do not overload your CV with unnecessary private details.
Long copied summary Generic motivational paragraphs make the CV harder to read.
No dates Education and work history should show years clearly.
Fake experience False information can damage interviews, reference checks and future opportunities.

How Long Should a CV Be?

For most entry-level jobs, learnerships and internships, one to two pages is enough. A CV should be long enough to show useful information, but short enough for someone to scan quickly.

Applicant Type Recommended Length Reason
School leaver 1 page Usually limited education and experience.
Learnership applicant 1 page Focus on education, skills and availability.
Internship applicant 1 to 2 pages May need to show qualification, projects and skills.
Experienced worker 2 pages Needs space for relevant work history and achievements.

CV File Name and Format

Save your CV with a simple file name so recruiters can identify it easily.

Good file name: Thabo-Mokoena-CV.pdf

PDF is usually safer because it keeps the layout stable. Use Word format only when the advert specifically asks for it.

  • Do not name your file “new cv final final 2”.
  • Do not send screenshots of your CV.
  • Do not send a blurry scanned CV.
  • Check that the file opens before submitting.
  • Keep the file size reasonable for online applications.

Do You Need a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is only useful when it is targeted. Do not send a long copied letter that says nothing specific.

Use a short cover letter when the advert asks for one, or when you need to explain why you fit the job, learnership, internship or graduate programme.

Cover Letter Part What to Write
Opening Say which role you are applying for and where you saw the advert.
Middle Mention your qualification, skills or experience that match the advert.
Closing Thank them and say your CV is attached for consideration.

CV Safety and Job Scams

Your CV contains private information. Be careful where you send it.

Verify the advert Check the employer website before sending documents to a random email or WhatsApp number.
Do not pay application fees Be careful of people asking for money to shortlist, interview or appoint you.
Protect banking details Do not share banking PINs, card details, OTPs or app passwords.
Limit private details A CV normally does not need your full ID number, bank account or full home address unless the official process requires it later.

How to Write a CV FAQs

What should I put on my CV?

Include your contact details, short profile, education, work experience, skills, achievements and references where relevant.

How do I write a CV with no experience?

Use your education, subjects, projects, volunteering, small jobs, leadership roles, computer skills and any real responsibilities you have handled.

Should my CV be one page or two pages?

Most school leavers and learnership applicants can use one page. Internship applicants and experienced workers may need one to two pages.

Should I include my ID number on my CV?

Only include sensitive identity details when the official application process clearly requires it. For many CVs, your name and contact details are enough at first stage.

Should I send my CV as PDF or Word?

PDF is usually safer because it keeps the layout stable. Use Word format only when the advert asks for it.

Can SRDTool.com get me a job with my CV?

No. SRDTool.com is independent and cannot guarantee jobs, interviews, shortlisting, learnerships, internships or appointments.

Independent Disclaimer

SRDTool.com is independent and is not affiliated with any employer, recruiter, SETA, SA Youth, NYDA, DPSA, university, TVET college, training provider, public entity or South African government department. Official applications, shortlisting, interviews, appointments and hiring decisions are controlled by the relevant employers and official platforms.