Skip to content
The Mzansi Post

Type a few words, such as "SRD appeal" or "UIF calculator". The search runs in your browser. We don't send or save what you type.

    Free CV maker

    Fill in your details and get a neat South African CV, ready to save as a PDF or a Word file. It's free, with no sign-up and no payment, and what you type never leaves your phone or computer.

    Updated

    Make your CV

    What you type stays on this device. We don't send it or save it, so it's gone when you close or reload the page. Save your CV as a PDF or Word file before you leave.

    Your details

    Your town or suburb, and province. Your street address isn't needed.

    Career goal

    Write it in your own words, for this job. Don't copy one from the internet.

    Education
    Your highest qualification first. Courses and certificates count too.
    Qualification 1

    Such as National Senior Certificate (matric), a diploma or a short course.

    The year you finished, or that you are studying now.

    One per line. Your matric subjects help if you have little else.

    Languages
    Language 1
    Skills

    One per line, such as computer skills, cash handling or a driver's licence. Only skills you can give an example of.

    Work experience
    Your most recent job first. Part-time jobs, learnerships and volunteer work count.
    Job 1

    Month and year.

    Month and year.

    Two or three lines, one per line. Start each with a doing word: served, sorted, led, trained.

    The Z83 asks for it in section F.

    Positions of responsibility and awards

    One per line, such as prefect, team captain, club secretary or a school award.

    References
    Two or three people who know your work or character. Ask each one first, so they expect a call.
    Reference 1

    Such as manager at your last job, or your teacher.

    Personal details, only if the advert asks

    Leave these out unless the employer asks for them. A CV passes through many hands, and scammers collect ID numbers. Government posts ask for your ID number on the Z83 instead.

    Such as Code B.

    Before you send it

    Checks appear here as you fill in your CV.

    Look

    Save as PDF opens your browser's print screen: choose Save as PDF as the printer.

    The outline: your CV appears here as you type

    A young woman smiling at her phone at a desk, with a laptop, a mug and an open notebook beside her

    How to use the CV maker

    1. Fill in each part. Leave out what doesn’t apply to you: empty parts don’t appear on your CV.
    2. Read the checks under “Before you send it”. Tick the Z83 box if the CV goes with a government application.
    3. Choose a look, then save your CV as a PDF, download it as a Word file, or copy it as text for a job portal.

    Nothing is saved on this page. Keep it open until your CV is saved. If you need to stop, download the Word file: you can carry on in Word or Google Docs.

    Saving your CV on a phone

    • PDF: “Save as PDF” opens your browser’s print screen. Choose Save as PDF as the printer, then save. On an iPhone, spread two fingers on the page preview in the print screen to open it as a PDF, then use the share button to save it to Files.
    • Word: the file goes to your downloads. You can open it in Word or Google Docs to change it later, or print it.
    • In an app: if you opened this page from Facebook, Instagram or another app, open it in Chrome or Safari first. An app’s own browser may not save or print files.

    Prefer to start from a blank page? Download the blank CV template (Word file) and type into it.

    What the CV maker puts in, and in what order

    Your CV follows the order in our guide to a South African CV: your name and contact details, a career goal, education, languages, skills, work experience, positions of responsibility and awards, and references.

    • No work experience yet? Tick the box in the experience part. It becomes “Experience and activities”, for volunteer work, school and community roles, informal jobs and projects.
    • Personal details such as your ID number and date of birth are hidden under their own heading. The government’s CV guide lists them, but add them only when the advert asks: a CV passes through many hands, and scammers collect ID numbers.
    • No photo. A photo is optional on a South African CV, so the CV maker keeps the file simple and leaves it out.

    For a government post

    The DPSA asks for a Z83 and a detailed CV with every application. In sections E, F and G of the Z83 you may refer to your CV, as long as it gives the same information. When you tick the Z83 box, the checks look for what those sections ask for:

    • Section E: the school or college and the year for each qualification.
    • Section F: the dates of each job and the reason you left it.
    • Section G: how each reference knows you, and their phone number.

    Our Z83 checklist covers the rest of the application.

    How this works

    • Everything happens on your device. The PDF comes from your browser’s own print screen, and the Word file is made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else, or stored. That is why the page can’t keep your CV for later.
    • The checks look for missing parts: a way to reach you, dates, references with phone numbers, and the Z83 sections. They can’t judge how good your CV is, or tell you whether you meet a post’s requirements.
    • The page count is an estimate. Check the PDF or Word file before you send it.
    • It’s free, with no sign-up, no watermark and nothing to pay to download your CV. The Department of Employment and Labour says no person may charge a work seeker a fee for employment services, so don’t pay anyone to “submit” your CV.

    Next steps

    Write a cover letter to go with your CV, and prepare for the interview. Register your CV for free on ESSA, the Department of Employment and Labour’s work-seeker service.

    Official help

    Official channels only. We don't run any of them.

    Tool results are general information based on the rules on this page. Only the official agency can confirm your own details. Terms and disclaimer.