Safer job searching · 3 min read
How to check a job advert in South Africa before you apply
Find the original notice, compare its application route and protect your money and documents.
A convincing logo or a forwarded PDF does not prove that a vacancy is real. The safest starting point is the organisation's own recruitment page. Use this short routine before applying for a public or private role in South Africa.
Find the original advert
For a national or provincial public-service role, start with the South African Government's jobs page and the current Public Service Vacancy Circular. Then read the hiring department's instructions. The Department of Employment and Labour also lists its own vacancies and points applicants to the circular.
For a company role, open the employer's careers page from its main website rather than trusting only a forwarded link. Search for the exact title, duty station and reference number. If the vacancy is absent, contact the employer using details published on that website.
Compare the details before sharing documents
Match the role title, employer, location, qualifications, closing date and application address against the original notice. A screenshot can be old even when someone forwards it today. Check whether the employer asks for a portal submission, an email or a form for this particular role.
Do not assume every public employer uses the same application form. The Department of Employment and Labour says its advertised vacancies require a Z83, but the specific current advert controls how you apply. Avoid sending identity documents to a different address because a social post asks for them.
Treat payment requests and lookalike sites as warnings
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure warned of fake vacancies that copied its identity, sent applicants to a lookalike site and demanded a supposed verification fee. The department told applicants to check its official site or the government vacancy circular. Verify the address and application route before paying or uploading personal information.
A message is not genuine just because it names a real official, carries a crest or calls a fee refundable. Contact the organisation through a number or address found independently on its official website.
Keep a record of your application
Save the original advert URL or PDF, the date you applied, the reference and your submission confirmation. Compare later messages with this record before sending more documents. Use work.net.za to discover openings, then apply through the linked original source.
If a listing here appears closed or its destination no longer matches the role, report it through our contact page. We can check the original and correct or remove the card.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a vacancy real if it appears in a WhatsApp group?
A group post is only a lead. Find the same current vacancy on the employer's site or the relevant official public-service channel before applying.
Should I pay a verification or placement fee?
A demand for money before an application is a warning sign. Check the employer's own published instructions and contact it through an independently found channel.