This is the first part a Recruiter will see when they open your CV. Introduce yourself to the person who’s doing the hiring. Start off by giving a brief description of your expertise and career goals. This is probably the most important part of your CV and acts as a hook to keep the person reading your CV and looking more closely at your skills and work history.

• Your name and surname
• Main contact number (usually your mobile)
• Email address
• Town and city, country you live in
• Your age
• Your ID/Passport number
• Your race and gender
• Include if you are disabled
• Include if you have a valid driver’s licence (and what code)

Share with the person (that will be looking at your CV) your career objectives, preferred industries you would like to work in, preferred job titles and your willingness to relocate if the right position presents itself.

Did you know that if you are willing to relocate, recruiters and employers will consider you for a position if your CV blows them away and you’re willing to work in another city or province? Make sure you tell them on our CV.

Even if you do not have a tertiary qualification (just Matric) you are still required to complete this field. Start by listing recent qualifications:

• Title of qualification
• Where you studied
• Date of completion
• Skills & final grades

If you are currently studying, include it. Just make sure that you mention the completion date. So, you don’t have a tertiary qualification, now what? A lot of people are unable to study after high school but there are other ways to get training and job skills through many institutions and online sources.

Your work experience will have a big influence on whether you make it to the next stage or not, depending on the type of job you are applying for. Start off by listing your most recent work experience:

• Your full job title
• Company you worked for
• Your start and finish dates
• Your salary/cost-to-company
• A brief summary of duties
• Achievements (if any)
• Notice period
• Reason for leaving

If you have little to no work experience, bulk up your CV by giving more details about your studies. You can also highlight the skills you’ve learned and explain how they can help you in your next job.

Do you volunteer, participated in a job-shadowing programme, work part-time or freelance for a friend? Add that to your work experience too. Your CV is an opportunity to grab the attention of a Recruiter, so why not make the most of it the first time around.

It depends from person to person or the type of job you are applying for, but other information you can decide to add to your CV includes:

• Any awards of special accolades you have received.
• Memberships to professional bodies.
• Have you been published? Tell them here.
• Any other special interests that might help your application.

Your online CV is your passport to a better career. It’s also your chance to make a good and lasting first impression on recruiters and employers.

• Keep it short – 2 A4 pages or less.
• List your education history.
• Clearly list your work experience.
• List your duties and responsibilities.
• Be consistent with your format.
• Use positive terms and good English.
• Spell check your CV before using it.
• Edit your CV for each job application.
• Ensure your contact details are correct.
• Keep your online CV up-to-date.