General Worker CV example

A General Worker CV for South African employers: what to write, the duties and skills to list, a cover letter and tips.

Updated 29 October 2026 · By Tumelo Vincent Tau

1. An example profile

A short profile at the top of your CV says who you are and what work you want. Change it to fit your own experience:

Hard-working and reliable general worker with two years of experience on construction sites and in a warehouse. Physically fit, punctual and used to working safely in a team.

2. Duties to list

Under each job like this in your work experience, list three to five of the duties you really did:

Load and offload deliveries
Clean and maintain work areas, tools and equipment
Assist artisans and supervisors with daily tasks
Move stock and materials safely by hand and with trolleys
Dig, carry and prepare materials on site
Follow health and safety rules and wear PPE
Report damaged equipment and hazards to the supervisor

3. Skills and certificates

Skills employers look for in this job:

Physical fitness
Health and safety awareness
Basic tool handling
Teamwork

Also list, if you have them:

Driver's licence (with the code), if you have one
Health and safety induction or first aid course
Any building, gardening or warehouse experience, even piece jobs

4. Tips for General Worker jobs

Show that you are reliable: employers of general workers care most about people who arrive every day and on time. Say it in your profile and let your references confirm it.
Write down every kind of physical work you have done, including piece jobs, gardening and helping on building sites, with the dates.
Mention safety: that you wear PPE, follow site rules and report hazards. It matters on every site.

5. An example cover letter

Send a short cover letter with your CV, naming the post and the reference number from the advert:

Dear Hiring Manager

Re: Application for the post of General Worker

I would like to apply for the post of General Worker, as advertised. Please find my CV attached.

For the past two years I have worked as a general worker for a building contractor, where I loaded and offloaded materials, kept the site clean and helped the bricklayers every day. I am fit, I follow safety rules and my supervisor can confirm that I was never late.

I am available for an interview at any time and can be reached on 072 123 4567. Thank you for considering my application.

Yours faithfully
Thabo Mokoena

More help: how to write a cover letter, a CV with no work experience and job interview tips.