What you need to do to land a job in South Africa
Recruitment service Pnet has broken down the most important things that job seekers must consider in their online profiles to make themselves stand out to recruiters.
Job titles, work experience and educational levels are among the top factors South African recruiters use to filter CVs from prospective candidates for vacancies.
This is according to the latest Pnet Job Market Trends Report, which looks at recruiter data from over 6 million CVs viewed, recommended, or shared annually on Pnet.
“Understanding how recruiters assess and engage with job seekers’ profiles and CVs can give candidates a valuable edge in a competitive job market,” says Anja Bates, Head of Data at Pnet.
“From showcasing their skills in the best possible light to ensuring their profile can be found by recruiters, their CV and online profile is key to standing out and getting noticed.”
Recruiters are searching for more than just a job seeker’s qualifications when they search Pnet’s candidate database.
They will need accurate, complete and accessible information to make contact quickly, and have easy access to availability, employment equity status, detailed location and salary expectations.
The report highlights several areas that candidates must consider to stand out, including:
- Make sure your name matches your other profiles or professional work
- Make your profile more searchable and visible with industry terminology
- Ensure your job titles match your skillset
- Specify where you’ are’re situated and where you’re willing to be
- Highlight your relevant past experience, skills and education
Make sure your name matches your professional life
Firstly, one’s name matters, as one in three recruiters search for candidates by specific names.
If one’s name doesn’t match the name they use in other online profiles or professional settings, their online profile may never appear.
Make your CV or profile more visible
Visibility is also crucial, as highly sought-after candidates are sourced by employers and recruiters more than 100 times per year.
Job seekers will need to make their profile searchable or “open to offers” to increase their chance of being found. This will be the “Open to Work” tag for LinkedIn users.
Job titles are important
46% of recruiters’ searches and are based on job titles. When a candidate adds their desired past or current job titles to their CV and profile, they sould also use common and industry-standard titles.
Avoid company-specific terms or cute titles like ‘social media unicorn’ as a recruiter may never see them.
Location matters
With remote work becoming common in the Covid-19 pandemic, there aren’t many remote roles on offer in South Africa.
Nine out of 10 job ads in South Africa specify a location. A current and preferred job location can ensure a job seeker’s profile appears in relevant recruiter searches.
Past experience is key
Pnet said that all kinds of work-relevant experience matter, and internships, part-time work, or project roles are key to getting a foot in the door.
Education is crucial as eight of ten roles require some level of education. Including a full educational background gives recruiter a chance to assess a job seeker’s suitability at a glance.
20% or recruiters are also using skill-specific searches, meaning that job seekers need to make sure their hard and soft skills are clearly detailed.
Jobs in demand
Making yourself stand out in South Africa’s job market is vital, as the country’s tough economy has made it highly competitive.
Many candidates are competing for a few jobs, and the scenario is unlikley to change dramatically for the foreseeable future.
Pnet’s most recent data showed a 10% decline in the job market between May 2023 and May 2025, indicating ongoing volatility.
More positively, there was a 7% month-on-month increase in the job market from April to May 2025, meaning pressures are easing within the tough landscape.
The top five trending job roles in May were:
- Pharmacist (Medical & Health sector)
- Warehouse Operations (Warehousing & Logistics sector)
- Purchasing & Procurement (Finance sector)
- Business Analysis (Information Technology sector)
- Business Development (Business & Management sector)
Sectors on the rise include Cleaning, Maintenance & Repair (+39%), marketing (+30%) and Design, Media & Arts (+20%).
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