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Every application for a public service post must use the new Z83 form, in use since 1 January 2021. Departments reject old versions without reading them, so download the current form from the department's website or the DPSA site each time. Fill in every section, and copy the post name and reference number exactly as they appear in the advert. Applying for more than one post? Complete a separate Z83 for each. Sign it: an unsigned Z83 counts as incomplete.

Attach a detailed CV with your qualifications, your work history with dates, and at least two contactable references. Most departments now ask only for the Z83 and CV at first. Send certified copies of your ID and qualifications only when the advert asks for them, or once you are shortlisted.

Use the exact email address, postal address or e-Recruitment portal named in the advert, because each post can have its own. Apply well before the closing date: late applications are not considered, and inboxes fill up on the last day. If you hear nothing within three months of the closing date, treat the application as unsuccessful and keep applying.

A learnership is a structured programme that leads to a registered qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). It runs with a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), so the qualification is recognised across the country. You split your time between classroom learning and practical work, and you sign an agreement with the employer and the training provider. Most learnerships ask for matric (Grade 12), some for subjects such as Maths or Physical Science, and many are aimed at unemployed young people. You get a monthly stipend to cover costs like transport and food, not a full salary.

An internship gives you workplace experience in your field rather than a new qualification. It is usually for graduates or diploma holders who need experience to land their first job. Government internships typically run 12 to 24 months and pay a stipend of around R8,000 a month; today's listings show R8,172 to R8,174.75.

In short: choose a learnership if you want a qualification, and an internship if you already have one and need experience.

Many banks, retailers and large employers run CVs through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a person reads them. The software scans for the skills and job titles in the advert, so a CV it cannot read may never reach a recruiter.

• Keep the layout simple. One column, clear headings (Profile, Experience, Education, Skills) and a common font such as Arial or Calibri.
• No tables, text boxes, icons or photos. The software often scrambles or skips them.
• Use the advert's keywords. If it asks for "customer service" and "MS Excel", write those exact words where they are true for you.
• Most recent job first, with dates and one or two results for each role.
• Save it as a PDF named with your full name, unless the advert asks for Word.
• Add two contactable references with current phone numbers, and tell them to expect a call.

Before you send it, read it once more against the advert: every requirement you meet should be easy to spot in the first half page.

Fake adverts target the people who need work most. The first rule is simple: never pay to apply. A real employer, government department or SETA will not ask for money for an application, interview, uniform, training, medical test or "placement fee". If anyone asks you to pay, buy airtime or share a banking PIN, it is a scam, however official it looks.

Check every advert against the employer's official website or careers portal before you send documents. Government posts appear in the DPSA vacancy circular and on department websites. Be wary of recruiters who only talk on WhatsApp, use free email addresses, promise a job without an interview, or pressure you to decide today. Don't send copies of your ID to unknown numbers; they can be used for fraud.

If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Report scams to the South African Police Service, and warn your friends by sharing this guide.