Electrician CV example

A complete example CV for a electrician in South Africa, then the bullets that make it work, rewritten from weaker versions with the reason for each change.

A fictional example. Pieter Botha is not a real person, and the employers, dates and numbers are made up to show the shape of a good CV. Use your own facts: never copy someone else's.

Pieter Botha

Qualified electrician (trade tested)

Rustenburg, North West · Cell: 0XX XXX XXXX · pieter@example.com

Profile

Trade-tested electrician with six years in plant maintenance: fault finding on motors, motor control centres and PLC-controlled equipment. Works safely to lockout procedures and is on the standby roster.

Skills

Fault finding on three-phase motors and starters
Motor control centres
PLC basics (Siemens)
Low-voltage installations
Reading electrical drawings
Lockout and permit to work

Work experience

Maintenance electricianJun 2021 to present

Processing plant, Rustenburg

Fault-find and repair conveyors, pumps and motor control centres on a plant that runs 24 hours.
Carry out the planned maintenance schedule for 120 motors; unplanned breakdowns fell by about a quarter in a year.
Follow lockout and permit-to-work procedures on every job, with no lost-time injuries.
On the standby roster for after-hours call-outs.

Apprentice electricianJan 2018 to May 2021

Electrical contractor, Rustenburg

Wired domestic and commercial installations under a qualified electrician and completed the trade test in 2021.

Education and qualifications

Trade test: electrician, 2021
N3 Electrical Engineering, TVET college, 2017
National Senior Certificate (matric), 2015

Licence

Code 08 (B)

Languages

Afrikaans, English, Setswana (basic)

References

Available on request

Before and after: the bullets that make it work

Before: ~~Fixed breakdowns.~~
After: Fault-find and repair conveyors, pumps and motor control centres on a plant that runs 24 hours.
Why: Names the equipment you know, which is what the advert screens for.
Before: ~~Did maintenance.~~
After: Carry out the planned maintenance schedule for 120 motors; unplanned breakdowns fell by about a quarter in a year.
Why: Scale and a result turn a duty into an achievement.
Before: ~~Safety conscious.~~
After: Follow lockout and permit-to-work procedures on every job, with no lost-time injuries.
Why: Names the procedure and the record instead of claiming a quality.

South African details to get right

Put the trade test and your N-level first. If you're registered to issue Certificates of Compliance for electrical installations, say so and give the registration category: many adverts ask.
Give each qualification its NQF level: matric (the National Senior Certificate) is at level 4, and employers use the levels to compare qualifications. If you're unsure of a level, the institution or SAQA can tell you. Source: SAQA: NQF level descriptors.
Leave out your ID number, date of birth, marital status and a photo unless the advert asks for them. Contact details, your area and your work history are enough to be shortlisted.
Keep it in one column with plain headings (Profile, Skills, Work experience, Education). Tables, text boxes and two-column templates often confuse the software that reads CVs first.

Turn your CV into a tailored application

Upload your CV once. Every morning Honde finds South African jobs that fit it and scores your match. Paid plans also tailor your CV and cover letter to each advert, using only what's in your CV. Free to start.

Create your free account

More CV examples

Before you apply

Build an ATS-friendly CV
Practical tips to help you stand out.
Complete your Z83 form
Step-by-step guidance for government jobs.
Spot job scams
Learn how to identify and avoid common scams.