The resume is an essential document that you need to have in order to land a new job. A resume tells the employer about your skills, qualifications, experience and more. Updating your resume every year is a good idea because it will ensure that it reflects the growth in your skill set as well as any work experience that you may have earned over time.

Apart from providing all the information about you, it has to be formatted in a way that is easy for employers to skim through. It should not be more than 2 pages and should be very concise.

Do remember to include all relevant skills and experience in the resume so that employers can get an accurate picture of what you offer, there are no misunderstandings or questions from their end. 

Also read: 5 Most Demanding jobs in South Africa

When it comes to the workplace world in South Africa, you need the right skills as well as a resume that will get you hired. The resume has to be concise and easy to read for employers who often have a stack of resumes to go through.

The different sections of your resume needs to be perfect, from the layout and design, to the skills that are listed on there.

This article will guide you through how you can write an effective resume in South Africa with tips on what skills should be listed and how they should be presented.

1. Decide Which Type of Résumé You Want.
   In order to find a job, you need to have a résumé that will catch the attention of employers. To start, you will need to decide which type of résumé you want.
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2. Create a Header for your Resume
   Resumes are a necessity for anyone who is looking to find employment. They should be well-designed, concise, and professional to increase the chances of being selected for an interview.
3. Write an Eye catching CV Summary
   Your CV is your one chance to convince a potential employer that you're the right person for the job. A short, eye-catching CV summary is one of the most important parts of this document.
4. List Your Experiences or Skills for a Specific Job

The following is a list of skills I have that are relevant to this position

-Excellent communication skills
-Ability to work under pressure, with attention to detail
-Strong organizational skills
Additional Information
-I am a self-starter and can work autonomously
-I am proficient in Microsoft Office, and able to learn new programs quickly
-I have experience with data entry and research

1. List Your Activities and interest for CV

Volunteering is a way to help improve your CV and it also helps in developing skills.

A CV that lists volunteer experience can show how much the candidate has contributed to the society and how they are a good person.

The best way to list your volunteering experience in a CV is to include the name of the organization, what you volunteered for and at what point you joined.

A volunteer experience can be a great way to build experience and skills, as well as show dedication and commitment to a particular cause.

Different people may volunteer for different reasons. Some volunteers might want to learn new skills or give back to their communities; others might want to ease the burden on their families by doing work they had once done themselves.

The benefits of volunteering don't stop at an individual's bank account or the CV. Volunteering has been shown in many studies to provide physical, mental, social and emotional rewards for the individual that range from improved moods or self-esteem, increased social networks or help with resilience against depression

"Volunteer experience can be a great way to build experience and skills, as well as show dedication and commitment." - Introductory Paragraph

EXAMPLE: I am a full-time undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts and Science and hope to pursue a career in graphic design. For my CV, I have listed a variety of activities I've been involved in, such as volunteering at a website for children with disabilities, and participating in Art Gallery Live on campus.
Activities and Interests
- Volunteering at folowing hospital
- Participating in Art Gallery Live

Other Examples of Experience and Skills
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• I have completed my Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Language at the University of West London. I am now pursuing my Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science.
• I would like to list all my relevant education, training and qualifications.
• I have completed an undergraduate program as well as a postgraduate program in business administration at two highly-regarded universities with excellent academic reputation.
• I have also completed professional certificates from reputable institutions such as Harvard, University of Pennsylvania and IIFT Delhi.
• I am currently pursuing an MBA from prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science, which is one of the most renowned higher education institutions globally.

Educational Achievements

List down all your qualifications and educational achievements in your curriculum vitae.

The education section is the most important part of any CV. Having a degree only gets you so far when looking for a job. Your experience, skills, and qualifications are what employers want to see. Employers use this section to judge how well qualified you are for the position or job they are trying to fill. It is also an opportunity for you to highlight any past achievements that might not be listed elsewhere on your CV.

You will want to include information about where and when you went to university with details such as: major, minor, grade point average (GPA), date and location of graduation, etcetera. This information should all be linked back to the relevant experience it relates too such as "graduated from University.