What South African employers expect to see on a CV

Many South African employers expect a CV to show your contact details, your matric and any further qualifications, a dated work history, relevant skills, languages, a driver's licence where the job needs it, and references. They also look for clear, honest, easy-to-read information rather than decoration.

Key points

• Employers want to find your qualification, your last jobs and your contact details within seconds.
• Dates, employer names and job titles must be clear and consistent.
• Languages, licences and transport matter for many local roles.
• Honesty is checked: qualifications and references may be verified.
• Expectations vary by sector, so read the advert and follow its instructions.

What do employers look for first?

Most readers scan before they read. In the first few seconds they look for who you are, where you are, what you do and whether you meet the basic requirements. Put these things where they are easy to see:

• Your full name and a working phone number.
• Your town or suburb, so they can see if you live within reach.
• Your most recent job title and employer.
• Your highest relevant qualification.
• Any licence or registration the job needs.

If a reader has to search for these, they may move on. A short profile and clear headings do most of the work.

What do they expect in the education section?

Employers expect to see matric (the National Senior Certificate) or an equivalent, and any further education. Give the name of the qualification, the institution, and the year you completed it. Show the NQF level where it clarifies the size of a lesser-known qualification.

Employers who need a particular qualification will often ask for proof later. Anything on your CV should match your certificate. If you have not finished, say what you completed and what remains. It is better to be clear than to be found out.

For technical, trade and professional jobs, include registrations, trade test results and professional body membership where relevant, with the registration number only if the advert asks for it.

How do they read the work history?

They read it as a story in dates. They expect jobs listed from most recent to oldest, with dates in a consistent format, and a title and employer for each. Gaps and short stints will be noticed, so a short, honest line of explanation usually works better than leaving a hole.

Many employers care about:

• Stability: do you stay in jobs for a reasonable time, or is there a reason for short ones?
• Progress: have you taken on more responsibility over time?
• Relevance: are the recent jobs close to the job on offer?

You can help the reader by writing what you did in each role in plain bullets and by showing growth, such as being given extra duties or training others.

Do they expect languages on the CV?

Often yes. South Africa has many official languages, and customer-facing, healthcare, education and public service employers pay attention to which ones you speak. List each one with an honest level: "fluent", "conversational" or "basic". If you can read and write a language but speak it less, say so.

Put languages in a short line near the end. Do not list a language you cannot use in a conversation.

What about a driver's licence and transport?

If the job involves driving, delivery, site visits or shift work with limited public transport, employers often want to know about your licence and transport. State your licence code and whether you have a professional driving permit if that applies. Say you have your own transport only if it is true and relevant.

For office jobs where driving is not needed, you can include your licence as an extra line or leave it off.

How do employers view personal details?

Employers differ. Older CV templates list date of birth, ID number, marital status, religion and number of children. Many employers do not need these to decide on an interview, and some applicants prefer to leave them out for privacy. Others may ask for specific details in an application form for legitimate reasons.

The safest approach is to put only what helps the reader decide and what the advert requests. Keep ID numbers and copies of documents for later stages. The article on personal details has more information.

Do they expect a photo?

Not normally. Most South African employers do not require a photo on a CV, though some sectors or individual employers may ask for one. Follow the advert. If you add one, use a clear, current, neutral headshot rather than a cropped social photo. If there is no instruction, you can leave it out.

How do they treat references?

Many employers will contact references before an offer, so choose people who know your work and are willing to speak. Ask them first. Include their name, role, organisation and contact details, or state that references are available on request and keep them ready. Make sure your referees know which job you are applying for and what you did for them.

If you are a school leaver, a teacher or community leader works well.

What do they expect for government and public sector jobs?

Public service adverts usually state exactly how to apply, which form to complete, which documents to attach and what to certify. Following the instructions to the letter matters more than the look of your CV. Applications that are late, unsigned or missing documents are normally not considered. The article on government jobs and the Z83 form explains this process.

What do they expect of tone and language?

Plain, professional English that is clear and free of spelling errors. Use short sentences and avoid slang. A CV that is neat and accurate suggests that you will be careful at work. Use consistent spelling: South African English follows British conventions, such as "organise" and "colour".

How long should the CV be?

Employers generally expect one page for school leavers and entry-level applicants, two pages for most people with experience, and more only for senior, technical or academic careers. They would rather read a focused two pages than a long list of every duty you have ever had.

What do employers dislike?

• Unexplained gaps or changing dates that do not add up.
• Qualifications that cannot be verified.
• Long lists of generic personal traits.
• Poor formatting that makes dates or titles hard to find.
• A CV with a different name or phone number from the application form.
• A very informal email address.
• Missing instructions followed, such as not attaching required documents.

How can I check my CV against these expectations?

Run through the following list:

1. Can a stranger find my name, town, phone and email in five seconds?
2. Are my last three jobs clear, with titles, employers and dates?
3. Is my highest qualification and matric easy to find and accurate?
4. Have I shown the languages and licences that fit the job?
5. Are my references willing and ready?
6. Have I followed every instruction in the advert?

Ask someone else to read it and tell you what they remember. That is what an employer will take away.

Frequently asked questions

What do South African employers look for in a CV?

They look for clear contact details, matric and relevant qualifications, a dated work history with titles and employers, relevant skills, languages, licences and references. Honesty, neatness and following the advert's instructions also matter.

Do South African employers verify qualifications?

Many do, especially for roles that require a specific qualification or registration. Employers may ask for certified copies, contact your institution or use a verification service. Only list what is true, and say clearly if something is unfinished.

Is a photo required on a South African CV?

Usually not. Practice varies by employer and sector, so follow the advert. If you add a photo, use a current, neutral headshot. If the advert does not mention one, leaving it out is a normal choice.

Should I list all my languages on a CV?

List the languages you can use in conversation, with an honest level for each. They are useful for many roles in South Africa. Do not list a language that you only know a few words of.

Next steps

Check your CV against the six-point list above and fix the first thing that fails. Then ask a friend what they notice in the first ten seconds. 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.