Are you looking for a learnership or internship but do not have work experience yet? A professionally prepared CV can help you highlight your education, skills and potential to employers.
Most job seekers find it hard to prepare their first CV, since they do not have any work experience. Fortunately, a good CV can be prepared by mentioning your qualifications, skills, school project, volunteer activities and learning attitude.
In this article, Job Opportunities SA guides you on how to write a CV for learnerships and internships, what information to mention and how to avoid some mistakes.
1. What Is a CV?
A curriculum vitae, commonly known as a CV, is a document that introduces job seekers to potential employers. A CV summarises an individual's education, skills and work experience, among other important information.
Employers therefore use CVs to determine if an applicant meets the requirements of a specific job position or learnership programme.
A good CV needs to be clear, honest and relevant to the work opportunity that it is addressing.
2. Mention Your Contact Details
It is important to mention your contact details near the beginning of your CV to enable an employer to contact you.
Details that you may need to include are:
Your full name.
Your active cellphone number.
A professional email address.
Your general location, such as a town or city.
Your bank details or personal ID number should generally not be included on a CV, unless the application process explicitly requires this information. Always avoid using an unprofessional email address if you have the option to change it. If you need to, you can easily create a new professional email address that includes only your name.
3. Prepare a Short Personal Profile
A personal profile is a short paragraph that describes your personality, interests and career objectives. A personal profile could be as simple as:
Personal Profile
I am a motivated and responsible individual seeking an opportunity to gain practical experience through a learnership or internship. I am willing to learn, work with a team and develop skills that will support my professional growth. I am committed to completing assigned tasks and following workplace instructions.
This example can be adjusted to suit your own situation. Avoid, however, including characteristics or skills that do not represent you.
4. Mention Your Educational Qualifications
It is important to mention your academic qualifications, since you are most likely applying for your first job.
Start by mentioning your highest qualification and provide the name of the institution as well as the year of completion.
For example:
Education
National Senior Certificate (Grade 12)
Example Secondary School
Year completed: 2025
If you have a diploma, degree, certificate or other relevant qualifications, make sure to include them as well.
Remember to only mention qualifications that you have completed or are currently studying towards.
5. Mention Your Skills
You can have many skills, even if you have never held a job before.
Some skills that you can include, for instance, are:
Communication.
Teamwork.
Time management.
Problem-solving.
Basic computer skills.
Customer service.
Organisation and recordkeeping.
Attention to detail.
Willingness to learn.
Try to include the skills that match the requirements in a learnership or internship advertisement that you are applying for. For example, a learnership opportunity for an office administration position may require computer literacy, organisational skills and good communication, whereas a retail internship may require more focus on customer service and teamwork.
6. What Should You Include If You Have No Work Experience?
Do not worry too much if you have never worked before. You can still prepare a good CV by mentioning activities such as school or college projects, volunteer work, community activities or student leadership.
Explain what you did during these activities and what you learned.
For example, if you participated in a school-based project, you may describe how you collaborated with other students, organised information or completed tasks before a deadline.
Avoid making up work experience or mentioning an employer if you have never worked there.
7. Mention Certificates and Other Training
If you have any relevant certificates or training records, make sure to include this information in a separate section.
These can include computer literacy, first aid, customer service or other short courses that may be relevant to the opportunity that you are applying for.
Make sure to mention the course name, the training provider and the year of completion whenever possible.
Only include courses that you have actually completed or are currently studying towards.
8. Use a Simple and Professional CV Format
A CV does not have to look expensive or include special colours to look professional. However, you should make sure to:
Use clear headings.
Use a readable font.
Use consistent spacing.
Use bullets where appropriate.
Avoid spelling mistakes.
Make sure to mention relevant skills and qualifications that match the position that you are applying for.
Save the document as a PDF if the employer has specifically asked for this file type.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to CVs for learnerships and internships is to keep it to one or two pages. Always follow the specific instructions that come with a learnership or internship advertisement.
9. Example of a Simple CV Structure
You can use the following structure when preparing your own CV.
FULL NAME
Cellphone: [Your phone number]
Email: [Your professional email address]
Location: [Your town or city]
PERSONAL PROFILE
Write two or three sentences describing your career goals, strengths and interest in the opportunity.
EDUCATION
Qualification: [Your qualification]
Institution: [School, college or university]
Year: [Year completed or expected]
SKILLS
[Skill you genuinely have]
[Another relevant skill]
[Computer or communication skill]
EXPERIENCE OR RELEVANT ACTIVITIES
Include any relevant work, volunteering, projects or practical assignments. If you have none, you can leave this section out or include relevant school or community projects.
CERTIFICATES
List any relevant courses or certificates you have completed.
REFERENCES
Provide references only as appropriate and with the person's permission. Follow the employer's instructions about whether references are required.
Replace every bracketed example with your own information before sending your CV to an employer.
10. Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
Before submitting your CV, check that you have not made these mistakes:
Spelling mistakes and incorrect contact details.
Information that is false or exaggerated.
An email address that looks unprofessional.
Long paragraphs that are difficult to read.
Irrelevant information that does not support your application.
Listing qualifications you have not earned.
Sending a CV that does not match the application instructions.
Uploading a document that is a difficult to open or read.
Ask someone you trust to check your CV if you need help with spelling or formatting.
11. Tailor Your CV to Each Opportunity
Avoid sending the same CV to every employer without checking the requirements for a specific opportunity.
Read the advertisement and identify what qualifications and skills the employer is looking for.
If you are applying for an administration learnership, for instance, make sure to include relevant computer, communication and organisational skills. If you are applying for a customer service internship, on the other hand, make sure to include genuine communication, problem-solving and teamwork experiences.
Keep your information truthful and make sure that it matches the stated requirements.
12. How to Submit Your CV
Follow the instructions provided by the employer when submitting your CV.
Some employers require online applications, whereas others accept applications by email or through a recruitment portal.
Before submitting:
1. Make sure that your CV is complete.
2. Make sure that your contact details are correct.
3. Attach the documents requested in the advertisement.
4. Use the required file format.
5. Follow any instructions about the email subject line or reference number.
6. Submit your CV before the closing date.
7. Keep a copy of your application.
Never pay someone who promises to guarantee a learnership, internship or job placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a learnership with a CV and Grade 12 certificate?
You can apply if you meet the specific learnership's requirements. Some programmes require Grade 12, whereas others accept different educational levels or qualifications.
Do I need work experience to apply for an internship?
Not always. Some internships are aimed for graduates who need to gain workplace experience. However, other programmes may require previous experience or specific qualifications.
Must I include a photograph on my CV?
Only include a photograph if the employer specifically requests it and the request is appropriate for the application. A professional CV generally does not need a photograph.
Should I include my ID number on my CV?
Avoid including sensitive personal information unnecessarily. Provide an ID document through the employer's official application process if it is required.
Can I create my CV using a cellphone?
Yes. You can use a word-processing application on your cellphone to prepare and save your CV. Before submitting it, make sure that the layout looks readable and that the file opens correctly.
Conclusion
Writing a professional CV is an important step when applying for learnerships and internships in South Africa. Even with little work experience, you can present your education, skills, achievements and willingness to learn clearly.
Make sure to spend time preparing your CV, checking the application requirements and making sure that all the information that you have provided is accurate.
Job Opportunities SA will continue to provide practical CV advice, bursary information, education guidance, learnership resources and internship information to help South Africans prepare for their future careers.
Always use official application channels and make sure to verify the requirements before submitting your personal information.
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