South African CV template: how to set out your CV

Henrietta prints a summary, then work experience, then education and a skills grid, in black and grey on one column. UCT asks for reverse chronological order, one font at 10 to 12 points and plain rather than decorated templates, and UKZN's handbook favours clean sans-serif type; this page follows all of that.

Second choice: Meridian. Meridian puts skills before the jobs, a fit for experienced applicants in technical fields.

Henrietta template details and test results

Henrietta prints its sections in a fixed order, the same in the PDF and the Word file. Here is that order for this sample, and what to put in each section.

1. Professional Summary. UCT calls the profile optional: if you use it, keep it specific, no longer than four points, and about your education, interests and skills.
2. Work Experience. UCT counts part-time, vacation, volunteer and internship work and asks for action words that show your impact. List everything newest first.
3. Education. UCT's example lists degrees newest first with merit awards and averages, then the National Senior Certificate (matric) with distinctions and school leadership roles. Put online courses under a separate heading.
4. Skills. UCT suggests five to seven skills, each with evidence of where you used it, from technical and IT skills to communication. UKZN also asks whether you hold a driver's licence, so add it if the job needs one.
5. Referees. Use the extra list for referees. UCT's example gives each referee's name, position, organisation and email only; UKZN's handbook lists name, relationship, company, address, phone and email. Ask them first.

The same content as the files above, so you can copy a line or compare it with your own.

Terms this kind of resume is usually searched for. Use the posting's exact wording, and only for work you have done.

• data analysis
• SQL
• Python
• Power BI
• Excel
• data cleaning
• dashboards
• reporting
• statistics
• stakeholder communication
• BCom
• National Senior Certificate

• A photograph, unless the employer asks for one, as UCT advises.
• More than two pages for a job application, outside academic CVs.
• Claiming skills without evidence; UCT asks for examples of where you used each one.
• Family or friends as referees, which UKZN's handbook tells you to avoid.
• Spelling errors and typos; UCT says applications can be rejected for them.

We exported this sample with Resumity's PDF exporter in Chrome on 2026-10-29 and read the file back with three open-source text extractors. This shows whether software that turns a PDF into text can recover it; it is not a test of any commercial applicant tracking system. How we test templates.

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We opened every page below on that date. Pay, rules and requirements change, so check the source before you rely on a detail.

1. University of Cape Town Careers Service: Creating a Great Curriculum Vitae (CV) (CV as a marketing tool tailored to the job or bursary; headings that fit your experience; skills with evidence; no repetition; error-free, as applications can be rejected for spelling errors; the CV is part of an application package with cover letter, ID or passport, certificates and academic records; reverse chronological order; one font, size 10 to 12, Arial or Calibri; plain templates; CVs typically two pages unless employers ask otherwise, academic CVs longer; no photograph unless requested; one professional email and hyperlinked LinkedIn; optional profile of no more than four points; education example with degree, merit awards and the National Senior Certificate with distinctions; work experience includes part-time, vacation, volunteer and internships; five to seven skills with evidence; referees with email addresses only; additional information on leadership, community work and sport.)
2. University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN): CV Writing Handbook (Examples and advice relate to CVs for jobs in South Africa; be selective and tailor to the job; it is against the law to lie on your CV; in almost all cases no longer than two sides of A4, academic CVs add a page, some organisations expect one page; sans-serif font such as Arial at 10 to 12; PDF recommended; order sections for the audience; mention a driver's licence and software skills; referees: former supervisors, co-workers, clients, teachers, volunteer organisations, not family or friends; list name, relationship, company, address, phone and email; ask referees first.)