You have more to show than you think
Employers hiring for entry-level roles expect limited work history. They look for reliability, willingness to learn and basic skills. You can show these through school, studies, volunteering, sport, church or community work, and informal jobs.
What to put first
Lead with a short profile, then education (matric results or your qualification), then a 'Skills' section, then 'Experience and activities'.
Fictional examples
These examples are invented to show the pattern.
- Class representative, Grade 11 to 12: collected and passed on class concerns to teachers each term.
- Weekend helper at a family spaza shop: served customers, handled cash and helped count stock.
- Volunteer, community soup kitchen: prepared and served meals on Saturdays.
Keep it to one or two pages
A focused one-page CV is fine for a first job. Add a short cover letter to explain your interest in the role.