7 Things You Need to Remove from Your CV to Stay Safe and Professional in South Africa 2025

The rise of identity theft and online scams in South Africa has prompted us to protect ourselves and be mindful of what we share when applying for jobs. The main purpose of a CV is to highlight your strengths, relevant experience, and skills and not dwell too much on your personal information that scammers can use for something illegal. The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is also there to protect people from harm by protecting their personal information and giving them the right to know how their information will be handled.

Here are the 7 things you should remove from your CV to keep your personal data safe.

1. ID Number

Why Should You Remove Your ID?

The employer may request your ID number later in the hiring process if necessary. Putting it out there on your CV for everyone to see may result in identity theft.

What Can You Do Instead?

Highlight that you are a South African citizen or have the necessary working documents and will be available to provide any proof if there is a need. An ID number may be requested, usually after shortlisting candidates, so there is no need to put it on your CV.

2. Detailed Address

Why Should You Remove Your Full Address from Your CV?

Putting your full address on your CV does not add any value to it. Exposing your exact full address may leave you vulnerable to security risks, with people using your address for online scams.

What can you do instead?

Sometimes employers may need an idea of where you stay just to find out if you will be able to commute to work every day without fail. In this instance, mentioning the city you are in or the province on your CV is enough; anything else can be provided on a later stage.

3. References’ Personal Information

Why Should You Remove Personal Information About Your References on Your CV? 

A POPIA-compliant CV in South Africa protects referees from privacy risks and prevents them from unauthorized contacts and identity theft. POPIA does not allow you to publicly share your referee’s personal data and contacts.

What Can You Do Instead?

Indicate that you have reliable contacts for reference, and they will be provided privately if there is a need. Reference contacts are usually required on that final hiring process; in that way, you can directly give them to your employer and not risk exposing them to the wrong hands.

4. Consent to Use Personal Data (Under POPIA)

Why Should You Include It?

To show your awareness of POPIA regulations, include a short sentence, usually at the bottom of your CV, giving permission to your potential employer to use your personal information accordingly. You are required to give consent under South Africa’s POPIA to show that you agree to share your information responsibly.

This act confirms to the employers that they are allowed to use your data in a responsible manner that will protect you and the company legally.

Add a short message at the bottom of your CV that goes like this: 

5. Unnecessary Personal Details (Religion, marital status, age, gender etc)

Why Should You Remove Such Information On Your CV?

Your South African CV is meant to convince your potential employer that you are the perfect candidate for the position, meaning you should focus on your merits and qualifications. Including unnecessary details like religion, marital status, and age may lead to biases and distract from your professional profile.

What Can You Include Instead?

Unnecessary personal details will not add any value to your CV; the details may even overshadow your skills and achievements and deviate focus to the wrong things. Stick to sharing qualifications, relevant experience, and skills.

6. Photos or Personal Social Media Links

Why Should You Remove a Photo on Your CV in South Africa?

Your picture shows your race, gender, ethnicity, or lifestyle, sometimes your religion, which your potential employer does not need to know. To prevent biases and discrimination during the hiring process, it’s safer to remove your photo or social media links. Social media is your personal space and reveals your personality and personal lifestyle, which does not even take away your merits, but it can still bring biases and unnecessary judgement.

What can you do instead?

Keep your CV professional and only provide links to relevant professional profiles, like LinkedIn profiles, that also focus on your professional achievements and qualifications.

7. Too Much Job Description Detail

Why Should You Not Expose Too Much on Your CV?

Over Explaining your job descriptions makes your CV lengthy and ends up taking away from the key points. No potential employer has time to read a 7 page CV, so to stay on the safe side, just write key points highlighting your relevant skills and achievements.

What Can You Do Instead?

Read what is required on the job listing and focus on mentioning experience and skills that are needed for the job you are applying for. Keep your responsibilities short, clear, and relevant to what you are applying for. It would be wise to tailor your CV according to each job you are applying for.

Why Are These Changes Important?

The above changes will help you a lot in protecting yourself from online scammers and risk theft of identity by oversharing your personal data. They also polish your CV to be more precise and focus on your achievements and qualifications rather than your personal life. Removing these 7 things from your CV in South Africa may also be beneficial because:

• Protection from Identity Theft: To limit the risk of your personal details being in the wrong hands and your identity being stolen.
• Compliance with POPIA: POPIA regulations obligate companies to protect candidates’ personal information, and limiting this unnecessary information will help you and the company abide by the law.
• Reducing Bias: Removing unnecessary personal information helps employers focus more on your relevant experience and skills and avoid unconscious biases.
• Avoiding Online Scams: A merit-focused CV reduces chances of being a victim to online scammers.

Final Tips to Keep Your CV Safe and Professional in South Africa

• Check Your Digital Footprint: Sometimes employers may search you online to learn more about their potential hire; make sure you polish your professional image online to match what you have presented on your CV.
• Use a Professional Email Address: Create an email that has your full professional names that you apply with to appear professional and to prevent your job emails from getting lost in your personal mail.
• Review POPIA Regulations: Understand POPIA regulations to manage your data responsibility by knowing your rights as a job seeker in South Africa. 
• Be Cautious When Sharing Your CV Online: Verify the site you are applying for first before uploading your CV online and only upload your details on reputable job boards.

Conclusion

A merit-based CV highlights your qualifications, relevant skills, experience, and every accomplishment that is relevant to the job you are applying for. Removing the above unnecessary personal details boosts your chance of landing the job you are looking for and protects you from unconscious biases, online scammers, and identity thefts. Understand your rights as a job seeker with POPIA regulations to protect yourself from irresponsible use of your personal data. Following these rules on what to remove on your CV will ensure that you stay safe and professional while looking for a job in South Africa.