South African CV Format — The Basics
- Length: 3–5 pages is standard in South Africa — longer than UK or US norms. Senior professionals may go to 6 pages.
- Personal details: Unlike UK/US CVs, South African CVs traditionally include: ID number (optional but sometimes requested), date of birth, nationality, language proficiency, and criminal record status (clean). These are often included due to employment legislation requirements.
- Photo: A professional photo is commonly included in South African CVs, though it is not mandatory. Use a business-appropriate headshot.
- References: Always include 3 professional references with full contact details at the end of your CV. This is standard in South Africa.
- BBBEE status: Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment status may be included, particularly when applying for roles at large corporates or public sector organisations where employment equity is a priority.
SA CV Structure
1. Personal Details
Full name, contact number, email, physical address (city and province), ID number (optional), date of birth, nationality, languages spoken, and driver's licence (if applicable).
2. Career Objective / Profile
3–5 lines summarising your experience, expertise and career goals. Be specific. South African employers value candidates who are clear about what they bring and what they are looking for.
3. Core Competencies / Skills
A list of 8–12 key professional skills relevant to the role. Both technical and soft skills are commonly listed — though technical skills should come first.
4. Work Experience
Reverse chronological order. Company name, job title, employment dates, brief company description if not widely known. 5–8 bullet points per role covering duties and achievements. South African CVs traditionally include more detail per role than UK or US documents.
5. Education and Qualifications
All qualifications listed in reverse chronological order — include matric (high school), degree, postgraduate qualifications, and professional certifications. SAQA-aligned qualifications should be named correctly (NQF Level, if applicable).
6. Training and Development
Courses, workshops, and professional development activities — commonly listed as a separate section in South Africa.
7. Professional Memberships
SAICA, SACNASP, ECSA, HPCSA, SACSSP — professional body membership is important for regulated professions and should be listed with membership numbers where appropriate.
8. References
3 professional references with name, job title, company, phone number and email. Always obtain written permission before listing anyone as a reference.
Industry-Specific Notes
- Mining and engineering: Include GCC (Government Certificate of Competency), ECSA registration, safety training, and equipment competencies
- Finance and accounting: SAICA, CIMA, or ACCA qualifications are essential; include CA(SA) designation if applicable
- Healthcare: HPCSA registration number mandatory; include practice number and speciality registration
- Legal: Law Society registration, admission date, courts of practice
- IT: Standard international format works; local employers also value certifications from AWS, Microsoft, Cisco, and Oracle
Applying to South African Companies From Abroad
If you are applying from outside South Africa, make sure to: address your work permit or visa situation clearly (in the cover letter, not the CV), state if you are a South African citizen or have the right to work, and be explicit about your relocation plans or willingness to relocate.