The South African CV format: what to include
South African employers expect a CV that is easy to scan: clear headings, your details first, then your education and experience. Here is what goes in each section and what you can leave out.
Updated 24 October 2026 · By Tumelo Vincent Tau
The usual order
- Personal and contact details
- Profile or career objective (two or three sentences)
- Education
- Work experience
- Skills and languages
- References
The traditional South African layout lists education before work experience. If you already have a few years of work experience, putting your work experience first is also fine.
Personal details: what to include
| Detail | Include? |
|---|---|
| Full names and surname | Yes |
| Phone number, email, area you live in | Yes. A full street address is optional. |
| ID number and date of birth | Many South African employers expect them. If you post your CV publicly online, you can leave your ID number off and give it when an employer asks. |
| Nationality, and work permit if you are not South African | Yes |
| Driver's licence | Yes, with the code, if you have one |
| Languages | Yes: home language and others, and how well you speak and write them |
| Gender and race | Optional. Some employers ask for them for employment equity reporting. |
| Marital status, health, criminal record | Optional. Traditional South African CVs often list them, but no employer needs them on a CV. Give them only if the advert or application form asks. |
Education
Start with your highest qualification. Give the institution, the qualification and the year (or "in progress"). For matric, add your subjects. Short courses and certificates can go in their own section.
Work experience
- Newest job first.
- Company name, your job title and the dates (month and year).
- Three to six duties per job, starting with an action word: "Served", "Checked", "Packed", "Managed".
- A reason for leaving is common on South African CVs. Keep it short and neutral, such as "contract ended".
Skills and references
List practical skills (computer programs, equipment, licences) and personal strengths you can back up. Give two or three references with their name, relationship to you, company and phone number, or write "Available on request".
Length and file
- Two to three pages is normal; one to two pages for a first job.
- Send a PDF named with your name, for example "Thabo Mokoena CV.pdf".
- Attach copies of your ID and certificates only when the advert asks for them.
- Applying on a job website? Use a simple, ATS-friendly layout (see the guide on ATS-friendly CVs).
The Classic SA layout, ready made
CV Maker SA's Classic SA template is the traditional bordered South African layout with boxed headings and "Label : value" rows, and it is ATS-friendly. You can also choose from 99 other designs, and switch at any time without retyping anything.