How To Create A CV in South Africa

What is a CV?

In English, a curriculum vitae is a short written summary of a person’s career, qualifications, and education. This is the most common usage in British English. In North America, the term résumé is used, referring to a short career summary.

How To Create A CV in South Africa

Step 1: Plan your CV
 

Before you sit down to draft the perfect CV, make sure you have all the information you’ll need. This includes:

  • Personal information: This includes you name, contact details and ID number
     
  • Working experience: List your working experience, starting with your most recent job and working your way back to your first job. Include the dates you started and left, the companies’ names, and a summary of your key duties at each job.
     
  • Education: Here you’ll need to list all your qualifications, starting with the most recent and ending with your first. Remember to add in the start and end dates, as well as the names of the institutions you attended.
     
  • Skills: Write down all the necessary skills you acquired at your various jobs.
     
  • References: List the names, positions and current contact details of colleagues who can give insight into your work performance. Remember to ensure that you have their permission before listing their names.

Step 2: Design your CV
 

There are many ways to create your CV and with countless apps and digital tools, it just got easier. Remember that your CV style needs to suit the type of job you’re applying for.

Try the following options:

  1. Use an online CV creator like The CV Centre, cvmaker, CV Creator or Visual CV.
     
  2. Design your CV or choose a template that suits you at The CV Centre, Credit Compare, Business Owl or Job Mail.
     
  3. Try LinkedIn’s CV builder. This feature takes all the information you’ve registered on the site and creates a professional CV. It also gives you the choice to choose from CV styles to suit your application. 

Step 3: Your cover letter
 

Your CV cover letter will be the first thing most recruiters see so it is important to write a cover letter for each job you apply for.

Remember, the CV is about your skills but the cover letter should give recruiters an idea of whether you meet the company’s requirements. Read the job advertisement so that the content in your cover letter matches the requirements in the advertisement. 

Step 4: Review


Now that you have designed your CV, here are 10 tips to remember when planning your CV:

  1. Never apply for a job if you have not read the job advertisement properly. Ensure that you meet all the requirements first.
     
  2. Try not to include unnecessary information. You do not need to include your religion, a photo (unless it is requested), your political affiliation or your date of birth.
     
  3. Be creative when you describe your personality or skills. Avoid using words the recruiter may have seen in 50 other CVs.
     
  4. Be credible. If your CV mentions specific skills, remember to back this up with previous job experience and a reference you can attest to this.

Step 5: Finalise your CV

Use this checklist below to make sure your CV is error-free.
If you have missed any of the blocks, go back and rework your CV.

How can I improve my CV in South Africa?

Focus on the most recent and relevant and shorten previous roles. Explain any gaps in employment. Use powerful action verbs to start sentences, e.g. improved, negotiated, reduced, etc. Include any relevant skills, professional associations, volunteer experience, and even hobbies but keep it brief.

What app can I use to make a CV in South Africa?

Intelligent CV will make the best curriculum vitae for you, by using the correct words/ keywords, the CV templates, and the correct South Africa format, which are the key to success.

More than 50 CV templates are available for South Africa and each Resume template & CV template is available in 15 colors.