CV format for South Africa
In South Africa, you apply with a CV. It runs to one or two pages, with no photo. Personal details stop at your contact information. Work experience comes before education.
At a glance
Format: British and Commonwealth CV
Shared with Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and 45 other countries.
- Photo
- No photo
- Length
- 1 to 2 pages
- Personal details
- Contact details only
- Leave out your age, ethnicity, marital status and religion.
- Section order
- Experience first
- References
- Expected
- Two or three named references.
- Local name
- CV
- Special fields
- Personal statement
- Paper
- A4
- 210 × 297 mm
These are each country’s usual conventions, not rules. Real practice varies by employer, industry and seniority, and it is changing with anti-discrimination law, screening software and remote hiring: photos are fading even where they were traditional, and multinationals usually expect none. Treat this as a starting point.
How it is written
Two or three references are expected. Leave out your age, ethnicity, marital status and religion, in line with the Employment Equity Act.
- Opens with a personal statement: two or three sentences that work like an executive summary.
- Factual and focused on competencies and achievements, with plain formatting.
- South Africa is the exception: two or three named references are expected.
What to leave out
A photo
A CV in South Africa carries none.
Age, ethnicity, marital status and religion
Leave them out, in line with the Employment Equity Act.
Questions
Do I need a photo on a CV in South Africa?
No. A CV in South Africa carries no photo.
How long should a CV be in South Africa?
One or two pages.
Which personal details go on a CV in South Africa?
Only your contact details. Leave out your age, ethnicity, marital status and religion, in line with the Employment Equity Act.
Does education or work experience come first in South Africa?
Work experience comes first, then education.
Should I list references on a CV in South Africa?
Yes. Two or three named references are expected.
Applying for a job in South Africa?
CVMake detects the job’s country from the posting and formats the CV for it.
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