(the one I wish someone had handed me when I was spamming 200 applications and getting ghosted)
I’m that guy who went from 0 interviews in 2020 to 9 offers in 2023 (and picking the one that doubled my salary). I’m not a recruiter, I’m just a normal ou from Joburg who figured out the game the hard way. Here’s everything I know now – the stuff that actually moves the needle in 2025.
1. Stop using that 2012 template your cousin sent on WhatsApp
In 2025 recruiters spend 6–8 seconds on the first scan. If your CV looks like a matric farewell speech with Comic Sans and a photo from 2009, it’s going straight to the “no” pile. Clean, modern, ATS-friendly is the only way.
My current template (the one that got me into Capitec, Discovery AND a German fintech in the same month):
– Font: Calibri or Arial 11pt (recruiters hate tiny fonts)
– Margins: 1.5 cm all sides
– One single column (two-column CVs break in 90% of applicant systems)
– PDF only – never Word (formatting dies on their laptop)
– File name: Thabo_Ngwenya_Senior_Developer_2025.pdf (not “CV updated final final really.pdf”)
2. The first ⅓ of page 1 is make-or-break
That top section must scream “hire me” before they even scroll.
Do this exact order (I tested it):
– Full name (big and bold)
– Phone number (the one you actually answer)
– Email (thabo.ngwenya@gmail.com – not sexythabo69@yahoo.com)
– LinkedIn link (custom URL – linkedin.com/in/thabongwenya)
– Location: Sandton, Johannesburg (not “Willing to relocate” – that scares Gauteng companies)
Then the killer headline (this replaced the useless “career objective” nonsense):
“Full-Stack Developer | 6 years building scalable fintech platforms | Reduced payment processing time 68% at Yoco”
Replace with your reality. Data analyst?
“Data Analyst | Power BI + SQL + Python | Saved R4.7m in fraudulent claims at Old Mutual”
Recruiters told me they literally read that one line and decide to keep reading.
3. Work experience – reverse chronological, but brutal with the weak stuff
Rule I live by now: If you can’t prove you made money, saved money, or saved time – cut it.
Bad example everyone still uses:
“Responsible for data entry and filing”
2025 version that got me interviews:
“Processed 1 200 invoices monthly with 99.8% accuracy, enabling finance team to close books 4 days early every month”
Use the X-Y-Z formula Google uses internally:
Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]
Examples:
– Reduced customer onboarding time [X] from 12 days to 3 days [Y] by automating KYC checks with Python + RPA [Z]
– Grew social media audience [X] from 8k to 120k in 9 months [Y] by creating Tik Tok-first content strategy [Z]
4. The education section – most of us get this wrong
If you have more than 3 years experience, education moves to the bottom. Yes, even if you’re proud of that BCom.
What I do now:
2025 – Python for Data Science Bootcamp – Explore Data Science Academy
2018 – BCom Informatics – University of Pretoria
That bootcamp goes first because it’s more recent and more relevant than my degree from seven years ago.
5. Skills section – stop listing 50 things
Pick the exact 8–10 skills the job advert mentions and put them in the same order.
Job advert says: SQL | Python | Power BI | Azure | Stakeholder management
Your CV must have those five in that order, plus maybe three more you actually rock at.
Pro tip: Put proficiency bars or just bold the ones you’re 9/10 at. Recruiters told me they search for keywords – if “Tableau” is in the advert and not on your CV, you’re invisible.
6. The secret sauce nobody talks about: the hidden “culture” paragraph
I started adding three bullet points under my most recent job that have nothing to do with technical skills but everything to do with why people want to work with me:
– Known for explaining complex tech concepts to non-technical stakeholders (EXCO now understands why we need to migrate to cloud)
– Volunteered to mentor three junior devs – all three got promoted in 2024
– Organised monthly team braais that actually improved morale (yes, I wrote that and got laughs in interviews)
South African companies still hire for culture fit. Show you’re not a robot.
7. References – here’s what actually works in 2025
Don’t write “References available on request” – that’s 1998 vibes.
Do this instead:
“Happy to provide references from:
– Rachel Mokoena (Previous Head of Engineering – Yoco)
– Pieter van der Merwe (Current Manager – will provide contact after first chat)”
Shows you’re not scared and you’ve got people who will actually say good things.
8. The stuff that got me blacklisted (don’t do this)
– Photo unless the advert asks (most corporate SA still doesn’t want it – subconscious bias is real)
– ID number, marital status, age, gender (POPIA violation anyway)
– Every single matric subject (nobody cares that you got 68% for LO)
– “Career objective” that says “seeking a challenging role to grow my career” – delete forever
9. Final checklist I run before hitting send (takes 45 seconds)
– Is my phone number clickable?
– Is the file under 1.5 MB?
– Did I customise the headline for THIS job?
– Did I spell the company name right? (I once wrote “Standchart” instead of “Standard Bank” – instant trash)
– Did I remove “To whom it may concern” from the cover letter? (Yes, I still attach a short one – 12 lines max)
I keep all my CV versions in a Google Drive folder named by company. When Old Mutual rejected me in January, I reapplied in June with the new version – got the job in August.
Look, the job market is brutal right now, but a sharp CV still cuts through the noise like a hot knife through braai butter. Take the whole of next weekend, rewrite yours using this formula, get one friend who’s brutally honest to read it, then start applying like a machine.
If you want, send me your CV (DM or email) and I’ll red-pen it for free – I’ve done it for like 40 people already and most of them are employed now.
You’ve got this. 2025 is the year your salary stops being a meme. Go write that CV and make them fight over you.