Career guides

Practical advice for every step of your job search, written for South African job seekers.

Government jobs

The Z83, vacancy circulars, salary levels and what happens after you apply.

How to fill in the Z83 form, section by section — A plain-English walk through the new Z83 application form for South African government jobs: what each part asks, the mistakes that get applications rejected, and how to submit it.
How to find and apply for government jobs in South Africa — Where public service posts are advertised, how to read a DPSA vacancy circular, and a step-by-step process for applying to national and provincial departments.
Public service salary levels explained — What "salary level 5" or "level 9" means in a government advert, how notches work, what an all-inclusive package is, and how occupation-specific dispensations fit in.
NQF levels explained: what Grade 12, a diploma and a degree mean in job adverts — A clear guide to the National Qualifications Framework levels 1 to 10, how school, college and university qualifications fit in, and how to read qualification requirements in adverts.
Vetting and background checks for government jobs: what to expect — What personnel suitability checks are, which checks shortlisted candidates for public service posts go through, and how to prepare so they do not delay your appointment.

CVs that get shortlisted, cover letters and motivation letters.

How to write a CV that gets shortlisted — What South African recruiters look for in a CV, how to structure it, what to leave out, and how to tailor it to each advert so it survives the first sift.
How to write a CV with no work experience — A practical guide for school leavers and graduates: what to put on your first CV, how to turn school, study and volunteering into evidence of skills, and a simple layout to follow.
How to write a cover letter (with a simple structure you can reuse) — When you need a cover letter in South Africa, what to put in each paragraph, how long it should be and how to make it specific to the job.
How to write a motivation letter for a bursary, learnership or internship — What selection committees look for in a motivation letter, a structure to follow, and how to write about your circumstances and goals honestly and convincingly.

Panel interviews, the STAR method and the questions you will be asked.

Competency-based interviews and the STAR method — How panel interviews in the South African public service and many companies work, what "competencies" are, and how to answer with the STAR method — with worked examples.
Common interview questions and how to answer them — The questions South African job seekers are asked most often — strengths, weaknesses, salary expectations, why you want the job — and what a strong answer looks like for each.
How to answer "Tell me about yourself" — A simple present–past–future formula for the most common opening interview question, with examples for school leavers, graduates and experienced candidates.
What to do after an interview — How to follow up after a job interview in South Africa: thank-you emails, when to call, how to handle rejection and how to use feedback for the next application.

Learnerships, internships and programmes for young job seekers.

Learnerships, internships and graduate programmes: what is the difference? — How learnerships, internships, apprenticeships and graduate programmes work in South Africa, who they are for, what they pay and how to find and apply for them.
Youth employment programmes in South Africa: where to start — An overview of national platforms and programmes that help young South Africans find work experience, training and first jobs, and how to make the most of them.

Finding jobs, staying organised and avoiding scams.

How to spot a job scam — The warning signs of fake job offers and recruitment scams in South Africa — upfront fees, fake government posts, WhatsApp recruiters — and what to do if you are targeted.
How to track your job applications (and why it gets you more interviews) — A simple system for keeping track of every job you apply for — what to record, how to organise it and how it helps you follow up, prepare for interviews and improve your results.
How to use LinkedIn to find a job in South Africa — How to set up a LinkedIn profile that recruiters find, how to search and apply for jobs on it, and how to network without feeling awkward.

Payslips, UIF and negotiating your salary.

How to claim UIF when you lose your job — Who can claim unemployment benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, which documents you need, how to apply online or at a labour centre, and the deadlines to keep in mind.
Understanding your payslip: gross pay, PAYE, UIF and other deductions — A line-by-line guide to a South African payslip: what gross and net pay mean, which deductions are compulsory, and what to check every month.
How to negotiate your salary — How to research a fair salary in South Africa, understand basic pay versus cost to company, and negotiate an offer confidently — including what is and is not negotiable in the public service.