CV Mistakes That Keep South African Job Seekers From Getting Interviews

1. A generic CV for every job. Read the advert and mirror its key skills and keywords (only where they honestly apply to you).

2. No clear summary at the top. Two or three lines on who you are and what you offer beats a vague “hardworking individual seeking opportunity.”

3. Listing duties instead of results. “Responsible for cashier duties” says little. “Processed 200+ transactions a day with zero till shortages” says a lot.

4. A messy layout. Use one clean font, clear headings, and no photos or decorative graphics, which can confuse applicant tracking systems.

5. An unprofessional email address. Use something close to your name.

6. Missing contact details or location. Employers filter by area, so include your town or city.

7. Never updating it. Refresh your CV every time you finish a course or gain a skill.

Once your CV is solid, volume matters. Browse the latest South African vacancies on Work-Force and apply to roles that match.

Worried about fake adverts? Read how to spot job scams in South Africa.