Skills / Job Search & Entry-Level Careers

CV Writing and Job Applications

By the end, you can produce a one to two page South African CV, a short cover letter or email, and a correctly completed job application, and track your applications.

Job-ready skillAbout 12 hours3 stagesFree

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A CV and a short cover message are often your only chance to get an interview. South African employers expect a clear, honest CV of one to two pages with contactable references, and public service jobs need the official Z83 form as well.

Turn on JavaScript to track your progress. The lessons are:FoundationsUnderstand what goes on a South African CV and what to leave out.Task: Write a first draft CV on a phone or library computer with: contact details (phone, professional email, area you live in), a short profile, education (with matric results if relevant), any work, volunteer or school leadership experience, skills, and two contactable references you have asked permission from. Leave out your ID number, photo, religion and marital status.Core skillsTailor your CV and write a cover letter or cover email for a specific vacancy.Task: Find a real vacancy on SA Youth, ESSA or a company website. Change your CV to match three keywords from the advert, and write a cover email of no more than 150 words. Save both as PDF with clear file names (for example Thabo_Mokoena_CV.pdf).Applied practiceApply for real opportunities, including a public service post, and keep a record of every application.Task: Submit at least five real applications in two weeks, including one government post using the latest Z83 form. Keep a tracker (paper or Google Sheets) with date, employer, job, closing date and follow-up date. Write down what you changed between applications.

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What competent looks like

Has a clean one to two page CV saved as a PDF
Tailors the CV and cover email to each advert
Has two references who have agreed to be contacted
Can complete a Z83 form correctly
Keeps a tracker of applications and follow-ups

The South African route

No qualification is needed. South African CV norms: one to two pages, contactable references, no need for a photo or ID number, and certified copies of qualifications only when asked. Public service posts are advertised in DPSA vacancy circulars and need the Z83 application form.

Free resources

SA Youth work-seeker platform
Harambee / SA Youth
Public service vacancy circulars
Department of Public Service and Administration
Free online courses
Alison

These links go to free courses and sites run by other organisations. We chose them in October 2026 but do not run them, so check costs, dates and entry requirements on their site. Broken link? Tell us.

Jobs it can lead to

Any entry-level role
Learnership applicant
Internship applicant
Public service entry-level applicant
Retail or call centre applicant