Free CV builder
Create a professional, ATS-friendly CV for South African jobs in minutes. Fill in what you have, and we write a CV tailored to the job description, laid out so the screening software employers and recruiters use can actually read it. Edit it on the page, then download the PDF. Free, no signup, and the download is not locked behind an account.
Looking for a cover letter instead? Use the cover letter generator, it only takes a few lines about you.
The job you are applying for
This is what we tailor everything to. Even just a job title works.
About you
Work experience
Leave this empty if you have never worked. Your education and skills are enough.
Education
Skills and languages
Free. No signup, no watermark, and the PDF is not locked behind an account.
A word on paying for CVs. You should never pay for a CV in order to get a job, and no employer should ever charge you an application, registration, or "background check" fee. If someone is asking for money, check them here first.
Common questions
Is this CV builder really free?
Yes. There is no signup, no payment, no watermark, and no limit on downloading your PDF. We built it because South African job seekers are being charged for CVs they should never have to pay for. If any site asks you to pay to get a job or to make a CV to get a job, that is a scam.
Which CV template does this use?
One, deliberately. Most CV builders sell you a choice of templates, but the designed ones — columns, sidebars, icons, graphics, coloured blocks — are exactly what ATS software fails to parse, so a good-looking CV can score worse than a plain one. This builder uses a single clean layout with standard section headings, no columns and no graphics, which is what parses correctly and what a recruiter can scan in ten seconds. You are not choosing a design; you are getting the one that works.
Is a CV the same as a resume?
In South Africa the document is called a CV, and it is what every local employer asks for. "Resume" is the American word for broadly the same thing. If you are applying to South African companies, call it a CV and keep it to one or two pages.
What is an ATS and why does it matter?
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that scans CVs before a person sees them. South African employers commonly use PNet, Careers24, CareerJunction, Placement Partner and Talent Genie. If your CV is not formatted the way these systems expect, a real person may never read it. This builder uses standard section headings, plain formatting and keywords taken from the job advert so your CV parses correctly.
Can I use this if I have never worked before?
Yes. Leave the work experience section empty. Your matric or other education, your skills and your languages are enough to build a proper CV. Most entry-level retail jobs in South Africa do not require previous experience.
Do you store my personal information?
Your details stay in your own browser so you do not lose your work if the page reloads. We do not save your CV to our servers. Your ID number is never required, and we recommend leaving it off a CV you post online.
Should I put my ID number on my CV?
Generally no. Employers only need your ID number once they make you a genuine offer. Putting a full South African ID number on a CV you send to strangers or upload publicly is a real identity theft risk. Give it in person, at the point of hiring, and never as part of an "application fee" process.