How to apply for a public service job

Before you start

Every rejection reason departments list in the circular is avoidable in advance. Work through this once per post, before the closing date is close:

1. Read the whole advert on its job page, including the department's NOTE block and the "as printed" text — the requirements paragraph is what the panel screens against.
2. Note the closing date and time, and where the application goes: a postal address, a hand-delivery office, an email address, or an online link. Some departments use a different address per post.
3. Get the current Z83 (effective 1 January 2021) from gov.za or any department. Not the old one.
4. Copy the reference number exactly as printed. It goes on the form and, for emailed applications, in the subject line.
5. Update your CV so that every requirement in the advert — qualification, years of experience, registration, licence — can be found in it with dates.
6. Start any slow paperwork now: a SAQA evaluation for a foreign qualification, professional registration renewals, or the Nyukela certificate for a senior post.

The Z83 form

The Z83 is the official Application for Employment form for public service posts. The circular is explicit that applicants must use the version that took effect on 1 January 2021, and that applications submitted on the old form are not considered.

Get the current form from any public service department, or download it from the DPSA (PDF). How to fill it in, section by section.

The parts people get wrong

• Sections A, B, C and D must be completed in full. Departments in this circular state that failing to complete, initial and sign the form leads to disqualification during selection.
• Sections E, F and G: the circular allows "refer to CV" where space is limited — except the question about conditions preventing re-appointment in Part F, which must be answered, and the declaration, which must be signed.
• Initial every page and sign the form. An unsigned Z83 is a common reason for rejection.
• Quote the reference number of the post. Where a post has no reference number, quote the post number and the exact job title.
• One form per post. Each advert must be accompanied by its own application form.

Your CV

Attach a recent, comprehensive CV. Departments commonly ask for your training, qualifications, competencies, knowledge and experience, with dates. Where a post asks for a specific number of years of experience, make the dates easy to check.

Where a department accepts email applications, several in this circular cap the total attachment size (10 MB is common) and require a single combined PDF. Zipped, IMG and JPEG files are commonly rejected. Check the specific advert.

Certified copies

Most departments in this circular ask for only the Z83 and a CV at application stage, and request certified copies of your ID, qualifications and service certificates from shortlisted candidates only, before the interview.

If your qualification was obtained outside South Africa, departments require a SAQA evaluation report. Start that process early — it takes time.

Senior posts: the NSG pre-entry certificate

For Senior Management Service (SMS) posts, the circular states that appointment is subject to completing the Nyukela pre-entry programme run by the National School of Government, and to submitting proof of it.

Details and enrolment: thensg.gov.za.

SMS shortlisting in this circular also involves a technical exercise and, for a small number of candidates, psychometric assessment.

Common disqualifiers

• Using the pre-2021 Z83 form.
• An incomplete or unsigned Z83.
• Missing the closing date — including the closing time, which many posts specify.
• Not quoting the reference number, or quoting the wrong one.
• Sending one application form for several posts.
• Emailing the wrong address, where a department uses a different address per post.
• Submitting false or fraudulent qualifications. Departments in this circular state that these are reported to the SAPS and a criminal case is opened.

Many departments state that if you have not been contacted within a set period after the closing date (often 3 months), you should consider your application unsuccessful.

After you apply

Departments in the circular are explicit that they do not acknowledge receipt and will contact shortlisted candidates only, usually within three months of the closing date; silence after that means the application was unsuccessful. Keep a copy of what you sent and when.

If you are shortlisted, expect to be asked for certified copies before the interview and to undergo the checks departments describe as personnel suitability checks: verification of qualifications, a criminal record check, a credit check for finance posts, reference checks (some departments say social media too), and security vetting where the post requires it. Appointment is subject to passing them. Senior posts add a technical exercise and, for the final few candidates, psychometric assessment.

The circular can also change a post after you have applied — extend its closing date, correct its reference or salary, or withdraw it. This site applies those notices to the job page with a note saying what changed and when, so the page you applied from stays the page to check. Alerts will tell you about new posts matching a search; they do not yet notify about changes to a post you applied for.