Your CV: professional registration is often the filter

A CV has one job: to make someone decide, in seconds, that you are worth reading properly.

What it needs

• Name and contact. A phone number with WhatsApp and a professional email address.
• Location. City and province.
• Experience. Employer, role, dates and what you actually did.
• Education. Qualifications, institution and year.
• Professional registration and certifications, with numbers where applicable.

What to leave out

ID number, marital status, number of dependants, religion. Note that employment equity information is sometimes requested separately by employers on their own forms — that is where it belongs, not on your CV.

Professional registration matters

SAICA, SAIPA, ECSA, HPCSA, SACAP and similar registrations are frequently threshold requirements rather than extras. State them with your registration number.

Getting past screening

Larger employers use systems that read plain text:

• Simple format, no tables or columns
• Use the exact words from the advert
• Avoid graphics and design-heavy layouts

Mining and industrial

Safety certifications with validity dates, specific equipment and systems, and any experience with mine health and safety regulations.

BPO and customer service

Language ability, accent neutrality where relevant to the client market, shift flexibility and systems experience.

Technology

Portfolio, GitHub and demonstrable products count more than the CV itself.

Describe the work, not the title

"Financial Accountant" says little. "Prepared monthly management accounts for three subsidiaries, managed a R40 million annual budget and led the audit process with external auditors" says a great deal more.

Use numbers wherever you have them.

Length

Two to three pages is accepted in South Africa, which is longer than in many markets. Detail on qualifications and registration is expected.

Keep it current

A complete profile means employers find you in their searches. Review registration and certification dates first.