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Domestic Worker

Domestic Worker CV example and template (South Africa)

Domestic workers are employed directly by private households across South Africa to clean, cook, do the washing and ironing, look after children and care for pets. A family reading your CV is deciding whether to trust you in their home and with their children, so they look first at how long you stayed with previous families, what each family will say about you, and what work you can do well.

The example below is for a domestic worker with about fifteen years in private homes, including caring for young children. If this is your first time applying for domestic work, write down what you already do at home or for relatives, such as cooking for a big family, caring for younger brothers and sisters, or looking after an elderly grandparent. Add a reference from a neighbour, pastor or teacher who can speak about your honesty, because families care about trust more than anything else.

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Domestic Worker CV example

Patience Sithole

Domestic worker and nanny with 15 years in private homes

078 555 0193 · patience.sithole@example.co.za · Randburg, Gauteng

Profile

Trusted domestic worker with fifteen years in private homes in Johannesburg's northern suburbs, including five years as a live-in nanny for two young children. Keeps a home clean and organised, cooks healthy family meals, and does laundry and ironing with care for delicate fabrics. Comfortable with dogs and cats, holds First Aid Level 1 and can supply references from previous employers. Looking for a live-out post in Randburg or Fourways.

Work experience

Domestic Worker (live-out)

Private household, Ferndale, Randburg | Apr 2019 – Present

Clean a four-bedroom house to a weekly schedule, including bathrooms, kitchen and windows
Wash and iron clothes for a family of four, including school uniforms and work shirts
Cook evening meals four nights a week and prepare children's lunchboxes
Fetch two children from school and supervise homework until their parents come home
Feed and walk the family's two dogs and look after the house when the family is away

Domestic Worker and Nanny (live-in)

Private household, Fourways, Johannesburg | Feb 2014 – Mar 2019

Cared for twins from six months to five years old, including feeding, bathing and nap routines
Cleaned the house, did all laundry and ironing, and kept the children's rooms tidy
Cooked meals for the children and baked for birthday parties
Left when the family emigrated to Australia

Domestic Worker (part-time)

Private household, Bryanston, Johannesburg | Mar 2011 – Jan 2014

Cleaned the house and did the washing and ironing three days a week
Watered the garden and cared for the family's cats

Education

Grade 10

Ngwanamago High School, Giyani, 2008

Skills

House cleaning and organising
Laundry and ironing
Cooking and baking
Childcare for babies and school children
Caring for dogs and cats
First aid for children

Certificates

First Aid Level 1, St John South Africa, 2023

Achievements

Stayed with the same family for five years as a live-in nanny until they emigrated
Registered for UIF by both full-time employers

Personal details

Nationality:: South African
Languages:: Xitsonga (Home language), isiZulu (Fluent), English (Good)
Notice period:: One month
Availability:: Monday to Friday, live-out only

References

Mrs Karen Smith

Employer since 2019, Private household, Ferndale

082 555 0166

Mr David Cohen

Employer 2014 to 2019 (now living abroad), Private household, Fourways

083 555 0127 · david.cohen@example.co.za

Domestic Worker CV summary you can copy

Change the details so they are true for you.

Trusted domestic worker with fifteen years in private homes in Johannesburg's northern suburbs, including five years as a live-in nanny for two young children. Keeps a home clean and organised, cooks healthy family meals, and does laundry and ironing with care for delicate fabrics. Comfortable with dogs and cats, holds First Aid Level 1 and can supply references from previous employers. Looking for a live-out post in Randburg or Fourways.

Skills to list on your Domestic Worker CV

Daily and weekly house cleaning, including bathrooms, kitchens and floors
Laundry, ironing and caring for delicate and school uniforms
Cooking family meals, baking and preparing children's lunchboxes
Caring for babies and young children, including bathing, feeding and nap routines
Helping children with homework and school routines
Walking, feeding and brushing dogs and caring for cats
First aid for small injuries, burns and choking
Keeping the house safe for children, such as locking away medicines and chemicals
Making beds, changing linen and keeping cupboards tidy
Watering the garden and caring for indoor plants
Shopping for groceries on a budget and keeping a shopping list
Following the alarm and gate rules of the house
Keeping private family matters confidential

Duties written as strong bullet points

Cleaned a four-bedroom house to a weekly schedule, including deep cleaning of bathrooms, kitchen cupboards and windows
Washed and ironed clothes for a family of four, caring for school uniforms, work shirts and delicate fabrics
Cooked healthy evening meals four nights a week and prepared lunchboxes for two school children
Cared for a baby from four months old, including bottle feeds, bathing, nappy changes and sleep routines
Fetched children from the school gate and supervised homework until their parents came home
Fed and walked two dogs every day and took them to the vet with the owner's instructions
Kept cleaning chemicals and medicines locked away and gave first aid for small cuts and burns
Looked after the house, alarm and pets while the family was on holiday

Tips for a stronger Domestic Worker CV

Make your references easy to phone

Families almost always phone your previous employers before they offer you a job. For each reference, give their full name, the suburb you worked in, the years you worked for them and a phone number that works. A good reference from a family you stayed with for five years can get you the job on its own.

Say how long you stayed with each family

Staying with one household for many years shows loyalty and trust. Write the start and end month and year for every family. If you left because the family emigrated, moved or no longer needed help, add a short line saying so, so that the new family does not wonder.

Explain live-in or live-out clearly

Write whether each job was live-in (you lived on the property) or live-out (you travelled each day), and say which one you want now. Families often only consider one, so this saves time for both of you.

Separate childcare from cleaning

Many families need a domestic worker who is also a nanny. If you have looked after babies or school children, give it its own lines with the children's ages, such as "cared for twins from 6 months to 4 years". Parents will read this part more closely than anything else.

Questions people ask

What law covers domestic workers in South Africa?

Sectoral Determination 7 sets the working conditions for domestic workers, such as working hours, overtime, leave and notice periods. Domestic workers also fall under the national minimum wage. You do not need to put this on your CV, but knowing your rights helps when you discuss a new job.

Should my employer register me for UIF?

Yes. An employer must register a domestic worker who works more than 24 hours a month for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and pay the monthly contributions. On your CV you can mention that a previous employer registered you, because it shows you were formally employed and can prove your work history.

What should I write if I have no matric?

Write the last grade you completed and the school, for example "Grade 10, Ngwanamago High School, 2008". Most families care more about your experience, references and skills than your school results. Add any short course you have done, such as first aid or childcare, below your schooling.

Is a first aid certificate useful for a domestic worker?

Yes, especially if you will look after children or an elderly family member. A First Aid Level 1 course takes a day or two and teaches you what to do with choking, burns and falls. Parents feel much safer leaving their children with someone who has done the course.

Should I list the families' surnames on my CV?

You can write "Private household" followed by the suburb, and give the family's name and phone number in the references section. This keeps your CV respectful of their privacy while still letting a new employer check your work history.