The South African CV format: a complete guide

A South African CV is usually a clean, one to three page document in reverse-chronological order, with contact details, a short profile, work experience, education (including matric), skills, languages and references. Local details such as NQF levels, driver's licence codes and language ability are commonly expected, and a photo is often optional.

Key points

• The most common layout is reverse-chronological, with the latest job first.
• Matric, NQF levels, languages and driver's licence details are all worth showing clearly when they apply.
• Length depends on your history: one page for beginners, two for most people, three only for long careers.
• Personal details like ID number, marital status and religion are usually not needed.
• Employers differ, so follow any instruction in the advert before any general rule.

What does a South African CV usually contain?

A typical South African CV has the following parts, in this order:

1. Name and contact details.
2. A short profile or personal statement.
3. Work experience, most recent first.
4. Education and training.
5. Skills.
6. Languages.
7. Driver's licence, if relevant.
8. References.

Some people add volunteer work, awards, memberships or a short projects section. The key rule is to put the most useful information early and keep every line relevant to the job.

You will see older CVs with long "personal particulars" blocks that list date of birth, ID number, nationality, marital status, gender and health. That style is common in older templates. Many employers do not need these details to decide whether to interview you, and some of them can be a privacy risk. See the section below on what to leave out.

How do I set out contact details?

Put your full name, the town or suburb where you live, a mobile number and one professional email address at the top. Your full street address is not needed in most cases. If an employer needs it later, they will ask. A town and province is enough to show whether you are within reach of the job.

Make sure your phone number works and is one you will answer. If you check WhatsApp but not calls, say so only if it helps. Use a voicemail greeting that sounds professional.

How do I list education, including matric?

List your highest qualification first if you have post-school study. Then add matric. Use the full name: "National Senior Certificate (matric)", the school and the year. You do not need to list every subject unless you are a school leaver, or the subjects are relevant to the job, such as Accounting, Mathematics, Information Technology or Life Sciences.

For post-school qualifications, give:

• The qualification name, such as "National Certificate: Business Administration".
• The institution, such as a TVET college, university or private provider.
• The year you completed, or "in progress" with an expected date.
• The NQF level, if you know it and it adds clarity.

If a qualification is unfinished, say what you finished and be honest. For example: "Completed two years of a three-year diploma". Never imply you completed a qualification that you did not finish.

What are NQF levels, and should I put them on my CV?

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) ranks qualifications by level so employers can understand how they compare. Matric is a recognised school-leaving qualification, and higher levels cover things like certificates, diplomas and degrees.

You can add the NQF level in brackets after a qualification if it helps a reader understand its size, particularly for vocational or occupational qualifications where the name is not widely known. If you are not sure of the level, ask your institution or check the qualification on the official register. Do not guess. There is more on this in the article on NQF levels.

How should I show languages?

Languages are often worth listing in South Africa, especially for customer-facing work, call centres, healthcare, education and public service. List each language with a simple level: "fluent", "good conversational" or "basic".

Be honest. If you are asked to speak the language in an interview or on the job, they will find out.

A tidy line works well: "Languages: English (fluent), Afrikaans (fluent), isiZulu (conversational)."

What about driver's licence and own transport?

If the job involves driving or travel, list your licence code, for example "Code B" or "Code EB", and whether you have a professional driving permit (PrDP) if relevant. Write whether you have your own transport only if the job needs it. For a job in an office, a licence line is often optional.

If you are applying for a driving or machine operator job, add the details clearly: licence code, years of driving, vehicle types, and any endorsements.

Should I put a photo, ID number or date of birth?

You usually do not need to. A photo is optional in most South African job applications unless the advert asks for one. Your ID number is personal data and is often requested later, such as on an application form or at the contract stage. Leaving it off a CV that may be shared or stored reduces risk.

Date of birth, marital status, religion and number of children are generally not needed to judge whether you can do the job. Practice differs by employer and sector, so follow the instructions in the advert. If a form asks for details, it may be for a legitimate reason such as employment equity reporting or compliance, and the form is a better place than the CV.

See the related articles on personal details for more help deciding.

How long should a South African CV be?

There is no single rule. A school leaver or first-time job seeker can use one page. Most people with some work history use two pages. Three pages is usually only for long careers, senior roles or academic and technical CVs with extra detail. If you are going over, cut older roles and repeated duties first.

How do I handle references?

Choose two or three people who have seen your work and are willing to speak for you, such as a recent manager, a supervisor or a teacher. Ask for permission before you list them. Write their name, position, organisation and a contact number or email.

Many applicants write "References available on request" and keep the details ready. Either approach is acceptable, as long as you can supply them quickly when asked. Make sure your referees know which jobs you are applying for.

What do government and public sector applications need?

Government posts often use a standard application form that sits alongside the CV. You are asked to complete it in full and attach certified copies of documents. Always read the advert carefully for what to submit and by when. If you are applying for public service jobs, see the article on government jobs and the Z83 form.

How do I make my CV easy to read?

Use a clear, common font at a readable size, dark text on a white background, and standard headings such as "Work experience" and "Education". Avoid tables, text boxes and images that carry information, because they can be misread by software and are hard to use on a phone. Save as PDF unless the advert asks for Word. Name the file with your name, for example "Thandi-Mokoena-CV".

How should I write my work experience?

For each role, list job title, employer, town and dates, then two to five bullets. Explain tasks and results in plain language. Here is an example for a fictional person (Thandi Mokoena), written as sample wording only:

"Receptionist, Greenfield Dental Practice (example employer), Pietermaritzburg

• Greeted patients, booked appointments and managed a daily diary for two dentists.
• Handled payments and sent accounts to medical aid companies.
• Kept the waiting area and reception records tidy and in order."

Use the same format for every role so the page looks consistent.

What does a CV for a learnership or entry-level job look like?

Keep it short and direct. Include your matric subjects and results only if the advert asks for them or they are strong and relevant. Show any short courses, volunteering, community work or part-time work. State clearly the learnership or entry-level role you want. See the article on learnerships for specific advice.

What does a quick before and after look like?

Many older South African templates open with a block of personal particulars. Here is how a fictional CV for Thandi Mokoena could be tightened. These are examples only.

Before: A long header with full street address, date of birth, ID number, marital status, nationality, gender, health, religion and a passport photo, followed by a paragraph beginning "I am a hard-working person".

After: Name, suburb and town, mobile number, email address. Then a profile: "Debtors clerk with five years in a manufacturing company. Experienced in capturing invoices, following up on late accounts and preparing month-end schedules. Seeking an accounts role in a growing business."

The second version is shorter, safer to share, and gives a recruiter facts they can use. Nothing that the employer needs is lost, because anything required for a contract or an equity form can be supplied at the right time.

How do I know when a detail is worth including?

Use a simple test for any line on your CV: does it help the reader decide whether you can do this job? A licence code for a delivery job passes. Your religion rarely does. A language passes for a client-facing role. A long list of school sports from many years ago usually does not, unless you are a school leaver.

What about applying outside South Africa?

CV norms vary by country. A South African CV may need changes in length, personal details, spelling and terms for qualifications. Look up local norms and adjust before applying. The articles on UK, US and other formats explain the differences.

Common mistakes on South African CVs

• Listing ID number, marital status and religion by default.
• Writing "NQF level" with a number that you have not verified.
• Using a photo that is informal or cropped from a group picture.
• Writing long blocks of text instead of clear bullets.
• Forgetting to update the CV when a qualification or job changes.
• Naming a referee without asking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard CV format in South Africa?

The usual format is reverse-chronological: contact details, a short profile, work experience from newest to oldest, education including matric, skills, languages and references. It is typically one to three pages. Employers may add their own requirements in the advert, so follow those first.

Should I put my ID number on my CV?

It is usually not necessary. Your ID number is sensitive personal information, and an employer can ask for it later in the process. Leaving it off a CV that may be shared or stored is a sensible default, unless the advert specifically requests it.

How do I list matric on a South African CV?

Write "National Senior Certificate (matric)" with the name of your school and the year you finished. Add subjects and results if you are a school leaver or if the subjects are relevant to the job. You can leave them out once you have post-school study or work experience.

Do I need to include my driver's licence on my CV?

Include it if the job involves driving or travel, or if the advert asks for it. State the licence code and any professional driving permit. For many office or shop jobs it is optional, though it can be useful for roles that need transport to different sites.

Next steps

Open your current CV and compare it with the order in this guide. Move your strongest information higher, and remove personal details you do not need. If you want a guided way to put this together, you can build your CV step by step with CV Sorted: it is free to build and preview.