This guide will take you step-by-step through the process of tailoring your CV to suit these early career opportunities. Even if you have limited work experience, you’ll learn how to present your academic, volunteer, and leadership achievements in a professional way that employers will value.     

1. Understand the Purpose of Your CV     

Your CV is more than a summary of your background—it’s your personal marketing tool. For entry-level roles like internships or learnerships, employers aren’t expecting years of experience. Instead, they’re looking for potential: your attitude, your willingness to learn, and how your education or experiences make you a good fit for the programme.     

Your goal is to demonstrate:     

2. Start with a Clear, Professional Layout     

A clean and simple format helps employers quickly find the information they need. Use a standard font (like Arial or Calibri), size 11 or 12, and keep the document to 1–2 pages.     

Key sections your CV should include:     

3. Write a Purposeful Career Objective     

This short paragraph at the top of your CV should explain who you are and what you're looking for. Tailor this to each opportunity by mentioning the specific programme or field of interest.     

Example:     

A motivated and hardworking recent graduate in Environmental Science seeking an internship through the EPWP to gain practical experience in environmental management. Passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to conservation efforts while building professional skills.     

Avoid vague statements like “looking for a job” and focus instead on how you aim to grow and contribute.     

4. Highlight Your Education     

List your most recent education first, including the institution, qualification, and year of completion. If you’re currently studying, mention your expected completion date.     

Example:     

National Diploma in Civil Engineering      
Cape Peninsula University of Technology – Expected Completion: November 2025     

Include:     

This is especially useful when applying to SETAs or SANRAL, where your field of study must align with the programme.     

5. Include All Relevant Experience – Even If It’s Not Formal Employment     

Learnerships and internships do not expect extensive work experience. Include:     

For each role, use bullet points to describe what you did and what you learned.     

Example:     

Volunteer Tutor – IkamvaYouth      
March 2023 – November 2023     

Focus on transferable skills like teamwork, time management, and problem-solving.        

6. Emphasise Skills That Match the Programme     

Go through the job advert carefully and identify the skills they’re looking for. Then, reflect those same keywords and skills in your CV.     

Common skills valued in youth programmes include:     

Tip: Use specific examples that demonstrate these skills rather than just listing them.     

7. Showcase Achievements & Extracurricular Activities     

Employers want to see that you’re active and engaged. Include any:     

Example:     

Participated in SANRAL Bridge Building Competition (2022) – Team placed 3rd out of 20 schools in the Western Cape region.     

These experiences help set you apart and show initiative.     

8. Select Strong References     

Choose people who can speak positively about your character, work ethic, or academic abilities. These might be:     

Always ask for permission before listing someone as a reference. Include their name, title, organisation, contact number, and email.     

9. Tailor for Each Opportunity     

While it may be tempting to use the same CV for every application, tailoring it makes a big difference. Review the requirements for each programme and adjust your objective, skills, and achievements to match.     

If you’re applying to multiple programmes (e.g., YES Programme vs. a SETA internship), highlight different strengths depending on the focus—entrepreneurship and adaptability for YES, technical and academic focus for SETAs.     

10. Review and Edit     

Before sending out your CV:     

First impressions matter—your CV should reflect professionalism and attention to detail.