Download the editable Word version, use the PDF as a finished example, and follow the guide to write each section for local, remote and international applications.
One-column, professional and built to stay easy to read for people and recruitment systems.
Different sectors, employers and recruiters prefer different things. A useful CV simply makes it easy to understand who you are, what you have done, which skills matter for the role and how to contact you.
South African CVs can be more detailed than a US-style résumé, but that does not mean longer is automatically better. Relevance matters more than filling pages.
| Detail | South African application | International / remote application |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Include | Include |
| Email & mobile | Include | Include with +27 |
| City & province | Usually sufficient | Add South Africa |
| Full street address | Usually unnecessary | Leave out |
| Photo | Practice varies; optional | Usually better omitted |
| Date of birth / age | Usually unnecessary on the CV | Leave out |
| ID number | Provide later if legitimately required | Leave out of the CV |
| Race / gender | Follow the employer's separate application process if requested | Leave out of the CV |
| Driver's licence | Include when relevant | Only when relevant |
| References | Some local recruiters still request them | Usually supplied later |
| Salary expectation | Only when requested | Only when requested |
South Africa recognises 12 official languages, including South African Sign Language. Language ability can be valuable, especially in customer-facing roles, but list only levels you can genuinely sustain.
A hardworking, dedicated and motivated individual seeking an opportunity to grow within a dynamic organisation.
Administrative assistant with four years' experience supporting operations in retail and services. Strong in scheduling, document control and supplier coordination, with daily use of Excel and Sage.
A useful formula is: action verb + what you did + tool or volume + outcome or purpose.
Duties included customer service and dealing with queries.
Handled 60 to 80 customer queries daily by phone and email, resolving billing and delivery issues and escalating complex cases with complete notes.
Responsible for admin and filing.
Maintained records for a 25-person branch, processing around 200 documents a month and preparing monthly reports for the branch manager.
Excel, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Sage, Pastel, SAP, Salesforce, HubSpot, data capturing, invoicing, switchboard systems and stock control are much more useful than a list of unsupported adjectives.
If a vacancy names a system you genuinely know, make sure it appears naturally in your CV.
Matric: list the National Senior Certificate, school and year. Recent school leavers can add relevant subjects and results. If you have years of work experience, the qualification and year are usually enough.
Tertiary: list the qualification, institution and completion year. Add an NQF level when you know it accurately.
Learnerships: include the programme, the relevant SETA or accredited provider where appropriate, and the NQF level if confirmed. If there was a workplace component, describe the actual work under experience too.
Internships, learnerships, vacation work, volunteering, community roles, school leadership, family-business work and freelance work can all demonstrate responsibility when described properly.
Volunteered at a community centre.
Coordinated a food-parcel programme for eight months, managing a roster of six volunteers and maintaining distribution records.
Two pages is a practical target for many experienced South African candidates, while a school leaver may only need one. A longer CV can still be appropriate for a long career, but old or irrelevant detail should not push out stronger recent experience.
International and US-focused applications usually benefit from a shorter résumé-style version.
Keep a clean Word copy for editing. PDF is useful when a vacancy accepts it because it preserves the layout, but always follow the file format requested by the employer or portal.
Recruitment systems differ. A simple one-column document with standard section headings, selectable text and no essential information trapped inside icons, graphics or decorative text boxes reduces unnecessary parsing problems.
“Excel 80%” or graphic skill bars are hard to interpret for both humans and software. Use words and examples instead.
For the broader process, see the remote work guide for South Africa.
Thando-Mokoena-CV.pdf.The document uses the same Virtustant template system as our other candidate resources, but the content is built around South African conventions.
All names, companies and results are dummy examples. Replace the example content, delete the guidance notes and tailor the CV before sending it.
Straight answers on format, photos, ID numbers, references, matric, ATS and Word versus PDF.
There is no single official format. A clear CV normally includes contact details, a professional summary, work experience in reverse chronological order, education, skills and relevant supporting information.
Practice is mixed. A photo is not necessary for most applications, and it is usually omitted for international applications. Follow any specific employer instructions.
It is safer to keep your ID number off a CV that is sent widely. Provide identity information later when a legitimate employer or process requires it.
Some South African employers and recruiters still request references, while others ask later. Keep two suitable references ready and ask their permission before sharing their details.
Use the space your experience genuinely needs. One page can work for a school leaver, while many experienced candidates use around two pages. Relevance matters more than hitting a fixed number.
List the National Senior Certificate, school and year. If you recently left school, relevant subjects and results can help.
Yes when it is relevant. Include the programme and confirmed qualification details, and describe any workplace component under experience if it demonstrates useful skills.
A simple CV with standard headings, selectable text and a clear one-column structure. Recruitment systems differ, so no layout can guarantee perfect parsing everywhere.
Keep a Word copy for editing. Send the format the vacancy or application portal asks for. PDF is useful when accepted because it preserves the layout.
No. It helps an employer understand your profile clearly, but progression depends on how well your experience matches the role.
A strong CV is one part of the process. Your experience, tools, communication and availability still need to match the role itself.