Older South African CVs often started with a page of personal details: ID number, marital status, religion, health and more. Today most of that is unnecessary, and some of it puts your privacy at risk.
Include
- Full name, phone number and a professional email address
- Town or city (not your full street address)
- LinkedIn or portfolio link, if you have one
- Driver’s licence code and own transport, if the job needs it
- Work permit status, if you are not a South African citizen
Leave off
ID numberFull home addressMarital statusReligionHealth detailsSalary historyPhoto (unless asked)
Your ID number is needed later for background checks, but you do not need to share it with every company that sees your CV. Under POPIA, employers should only collect what they need for the decision they are making.
Builder tip: Toolzeroo keeps your CV in your own browser. Nothing is uploaded, so your details stay on your device until you send the PDF.
Avoid: sending copies of your ID, certificates and payslips with a first application unless the advert asks for them.