What to Include in a CV: Complete Guide for Job Seeker
Introduction
A well-written curriculum vitae (CV) can help you stand out when applying for jobs, internships, learnerships, graduate programmes and other employment opportunities in South Africa. Employers and recruitment teams use CVs to assess applicants’ qualifications, work experience, skills and suitability for advertised positions.
However, many job seekers struggle to decide which information to include, particularly when applying for their first job or when they have limited work experience.
Knowing what to include in a CV can help you present your qualifications and abilities clearly while making it easier for recruiters to identify your strengths.
Your CV does not need to be complicated or unnecessarily long. It should be accurate, professional, easy to read and tailored to the position you want.
In this guide, Jobkejob explains the essential sections of a professional CV, how to structure your information, common mistakes to avoid and practical tips for improving your job application.
What to Include in CV: Essential Sections Every Job Seeker Needs
A professional CV should provide employers with a clear overview of your background and qualifications. Although the exact requirements may differ between employers, most job applications benefit from the following sections.
1. Personal and Contact Information
Start your CV with your basic contact information so employers can identify you and contact you if you are shortlisted.
Include:
- Full name and surname.
- Professional telephone number.
- Professional email address.
- Town or city and province.
- LinkedIn profile, if relevant and professionally maintained.
For example, a job seeker living in Johannesburg could indicate Johannesburg, Gauteng, as their location.
You generally do not need to include your full residential address, identity number, marital status, religion or other sensitive personal information unless the employer specifically requests relevant information through an appropriate process.
Important: Check that your telephone number and email address are correct. A recruiter may be unable to contact you if these details contain mistakes.
2. Professional CV Profile or Personal Summary
A professional summary is a short introduction that highlights your qualifications, relevant experience, skills and career objectives.
It should explain what you can offer the employer without making unsupported claims.
For example:
A motivated and organised entry-level job seeker with strong communication, computer literacy and problem-solving skills. Eager to contribute to a professional team, gain practical workplace experience and develop further skills through an employment opportunity.
If you have work experience, use this section to highlight your relevant responsibilities, achievements or specialist knowledge.
Avoid vague statements that do not communicate your strengths. Your summary should be relevant to the position you are applying for.
3. Educational Qualifications
Education is particularly important for applicants seeking learnerships, internships, bursaries, graduate programmes and entry-level positions.
List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent qualification.
Depending on the vacancy requirements, include:
- Name of the qualification.
- Name of the school, college or university.
- Year completed or expected completion date.
- Relevant subjects or modules.
- Academic achievements, where applicable.
For example:
National Senior Certificate (Matric)
Name of School
Year Completed: 2024
If you are currently studying, indicate your qualification, institution and expected completion date.
Do not claim to have completed a qualification that you have not yet obtained. Employers may verify educational information during recruitment.
4. Work Experience
If you have previous employment experience, include your job title, employer, employment dates and main responsibilities.
List your most recent position first.
For each role, explain the work you performed and highlight achievements where possible.
For example:
Administrative Assistant
Company Name | January 2025 – December 2025
Responsibilities:
- Assisted with filing and maintaining documents.
- Responded to telephone calls and general enquiries.
- Updated administrative records.
- Supported daily office operations.
Whenever possible, describe achievements using specific, truthful results rather than listing duties alone.
If you have never worked before, do not leave your CV looking empty. You can include relevant volunteer work, school leadership responsibilities, community projects, practical training or other genuine experiences that demonstrate your abilities.
5. Skills Relevant to the Job
Employers often look for candidates whose skills match the advertised position.
Your CV should distinguish between technical skills and transferable skills where appropriate.
Examples of technical skills:
- Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Email and internet usage.
- Data capturing.
- Basic bookkeeping.
- Computer literacy.
- Customer service systems.
Examples of transferable skills:
- Communication.
- Teamwork.
- Time management.
- Problem-solving.
- Organisation.
- Attention to detail.
Only include skills you genuinely possess. If a position requires advanced Excel skills, for example, do not describe yourself as an advanced user if you have only basic knowledge.
Where possible, demonstrate how you used a particular skill through employment, education, training or practical projects.
6. Certificates and Additional Training
Include relevant certificates that strengthen your application.
These may include computer courses, occupational training, first aid, health and safety training, customer service courses or other recognised learning programmes.
For every certificate, provide the course name, training provider and completion date where relevant.
You do not need to list every course you have ever attended. Prioritise training that relates to the vacancy.
If an employer requests certified copies of certificates, prepare the documents according to the instructions in the advertisement.
7. Achievements and Volunteer Experience
Achievements can help you demonstrate your abilities, particularly if you have limited formal employment experience.
Examples include:
- Receiving an academic award.
- Participating in a relevant community project.
- Serving as a school prefect or student representative.
- Completing a practical project.
- Volunteering for an organisation.
- Receiving recognition for good performance.
Explain what you accomplished and why it is relevant.
For example, if you organised a school event, you could highlight your planning, teamwork and communication skills.
Make sure all achievements and activities listed on your CV are accurate and can be explained during an interview.
8. Professional References
Some employers request references to verify your experience, performance or suitability for a position.
If references are requested, include people who have agreed to serve as referees and who can speak honestly about your abilities.
Suitable references may include former supervisors, managers, lecturers or teachers, depending on your circumstances.
Provide their names, professional positions and appropriate contact details only with their permission.
If references are not required at the application stage, you can state that references are available on request, where appropriate.
Never invent referees or provide another person’s contact information without permission.
How to Format a Professional CV
Understanding what to include in a CV is important, but presentation also matters.
Recruiters should be able to find your qualifications, experience and skills without struggling to read the document.
Use the following formatting guidelines:
- Choose a clear, professional font such as Arial, Calibri or Aptos.
- Use readable font sizes and consistent headings.
- Keep spacing and margins consistent.
- Use bullet points to make responsibilities and achievements easier to scan.
- Avoid excessive colours, decorative graphics and unnecessary design elements.
- Check spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Save your CV in the file format requested by the employer.
For many entry-level applications, a concise CV of one or two pages is a practical starting point. More experienced professionals may need additional pages to explain relevant experience and achievements.
There is no universal CV length requirement. Focus on including the information necessary to demonstrate your suitability for the position.
If an employer provides an application template or specifies a particular format, follow those instructions.
What to Include in a CV for First-Time Job Seekers
First-time job seekers often believe they cannot create a strong CV because they have never held a formal job.
This is not necessarily true. Employers recruiting for entry-level positions may consider education, transferable skills, practical training and willingness to learn.
If you have no formal work experience, structure your CV around the following sections:
- Contact information.
- Professional profile.
- Educational qualifications.
- Relevant skills.
- School projects or academic achievements.
- Volunteer work or community involvement.
- Relevant certificates and training.
- References, if required.
For example, a matriculant applying for an administrative learnership could highlight computer literacy, communication skills, attention to detail and relevant school subjects.
A graduate applying for an internship could emphasise their qualification, relevant academic projects, research experience and technical skills.
The key is to show employers what you can contribute while being honest about your level of experience.
Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
Even qualified applicants can weaken their applications by submitting poorly prepared CVs.
Avoid these common mistakes:
1. Spelling and grammar errors
Proofread your CV carefully. Errors can make your application appear rushed or unprofessional.
2. Using the same CV for every vacancy
Adapt your professional summary, skills and relevant experience to match each position.
3. Including false information
Never exaggerate qualifications, employment history or skills. Employers may verify information during recruitment.
4. Providing incorrect contact details
An incorrect telephone number or email address can prevent an employer from reaching you.
5. Adding irrelevant personal information
Keep your CV focused on information relevant to the position and follow the employer’s application instructions.
6. Using an unprofessional email address
Choose an email address based on your name or another appropriate professional identifier.
7. Submitting incomplete documents
Read the vacancy advertisement carefully and provide every document required at the application stage.
8. Ignoring application instructions
Some employers require a particular subject line, reference number, document format or online application process. Failure to follow instructions may affect your application.
How to Tailor Your CV to a Job Advertisement
A targeted CV makes it easier for employers to identify the relationship between your background and the position.
Start by reading the vacancy advertisement and identifying the essential qualifications, skills, duties and experience requirements.
Next, compare those requirements with your own background.
Highlight relevant qualifications, responsibilities, achievements and skills that you genuinely possess.
For example, if a position involves administrative support, emphasise your computer literacy, recordkeeping, organisation and communication skills.
If you are applying for a technical learnership, highlight relevant subjects, practical training and technical knowledge.
Use terminology from the advertisement where it accurately describes your experience. Do not add skills or qualifications simply because they appear in the vacancy requirements.
Finally, review the application instructions and ensure your CV supports the information provided on the application form.
Before Applying, Make Sure You Have Prepared Your Documents
Before submitting an application for a job, internship, learnership or other opportunity advertised on Jobkejob, use this checklist:
- Update your CV.
- Ensure your contact details are correct.
- Upload clear certified documents if requested.
- Double-check your academic information.
- Apply well before the closing date.
- Keep copies of your application confirmation.
Submitting an incomplete application may reduce your chances of being shortlisted.
Remember that certification requirements and document validity periods may differ between employers. Follow the specific instructions in the official vacancy advertisement.
Never pay an unofficial recruitment fee or share sensitive personal information with an unverified recruiter.
Why a Good CV Matters When Applying for Jobs in South Africa
South African job seekers encounter different application requirements depending on the employer, industry and type of opportunity.
Government vacancies may require specific application forms and supporting documents. Private companies may use online recruitment portals, email applications or applicant tracking systems. Learnerships and internships may require proof of qualifications, academic records or evidence that applicants meet particular eligibility criteria.
A well-prepared CV helps you present your information consistently across these different application processes.
However, a CV does not guarantee an interview or job offer. Employers also consider eligibility requirements, the quality of applications received, assessments, interviews and other selection criteria.
For this reason, job seekers should prepare their documents carefully and apply only for positions for which they meet the stated requirements.
Jobkejob encourages applicants to read vacancy advertisements thoroughly, verify closing dates and use official employer application channels whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Include in a CV
1. What information should I include in my CV?
Include your contact details, professional summary, educational qualifications, work experience, relevant skills, certificates and achievements. Add references when requested or where appropriate.
2. How long should a CV be in South Africa?
A one- or two-page CV is a practical starting point for many entry-level applicants. Experienced candidates may need more space to explain relevant responsibilities and achievements. The appropriate length depends on your experience and the employer’s requirements.
3. Can I apply for a job without work experience?
Yes. You can apply for positions that accept candidates without previous employment experience. Highlight your education, transferable skills, practical training, academic projects and volunteer activities.
4. Should I include my photograph on my CV?
A photograph is generally unnecessary unless the employer specifically requests one or the position has a legitimate reason for requiring it. Follow the instructions in the vacancy advertisement.
5. Must I include references on my CV?
Not always. Include references if the employer requests them. Otherwise, you may state that references are available on request, if appropriate.
6. Should I attach certified copies of my qualifications?
Attach certified documents when the advertisement or application process requires them. If certification is not requested, check the employer’s instructions before submitting additional documents.
7. Should I use the same CV for every job application?
It is better to tailor your CV to each vacancy. Highlight the qualifications, skills and experience most relevant to the advertised position while keeping all information accurate.
8. What should I name my CV file?
Use a professional, easily identifiable filename, such as Lerato_Sechaba_CV.pdf. Change the example to your own name and follow any specific naming instructions provided by the employer.
9. Can I create a CV without a computer?
Yes. You can prepare a CV using a smartphone or a computer at a library, educational institution or other accessible facility. Use a readable layout and check the final document before submitting it.
10. What is the most important part of a CV?
There is no single section that guarantees success. Your CV should clearly demonstrate that you meet the vacancy’s essential requirements and possess relevant qualifications, skills or experience.
Final Thoughts
Creating a professional CV is an important step towards improving your job search. By presenting your contact details, qualifications, skills and experience clearly, you make it easier for employers to assess your suitability for available opportunities.
If you are a first-time job seeker, remember that you can still prepare a useful CV by highlighting your education, transferable skills, practical training and achievements.
Before submitting an application, check your information carefully, follow the employer’s instructions and ensure that all required documents are included.
Visit Jobkejob.co.za for career advice, job opportunities, learnerships, internships, bursaries and other useful information for South African job seekers.
A strong CV cannot guarantee employment, but a carefully prepared application can help you present your abilities professionally and take the next step in your career.
