The short version
We do not store your CV data. Everything you type into a CV template stays in your browser. When you close the tab, that data is only kept locally on your device (for auto-save convenience) — it never reaches our servers or any third party.
1. Who we are
CV Online SA ("we", "us", "our") operates the website cvonline.co.za. The site provides free CV templates and an in-browser CV builder for job seekers in South Africa. We are the Responsible Party for the purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013, "POPIA").
2. What information we process
We process two distinct types of information:
(a) CV information you enter into the builder — your name, contact details, job history, education, references, and any other content you add to a CV template. This data is processed exclusively in your browser. It is not transmitted to our servers, to Google, or to any third party. When you click "Download PDF" or "Download Word", the file is generated locally on your device.
(b) Anonymous site analytics — we use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the site (pages viewed, time on page, country, device type). Google Analytics does not receive any of the CV data you enter. IP addresses are anonymised before being processed.
3. Where your CV data is stored
Your CV content is saved to your browser's local storage (a small space on your device reserved for this website) so that if you accidentally close the tab or refresh the page, your work is not lost. This data:
- Stays on your device only
- Is not accessible to us or to anyone else
- Is cleared when you clear your browser data, use private/incognito mode, or click the "Reset" button on a CV page
- Is not linked to any account (we do not have user accounts)
4. Cookies and tracking
We use the following cookies and similar technologies:
Essential (localStorage) — to save your in-progress CV locally on your device. This is not a cookie in the traditional sense and does not transmit data.
Analytics (Google Analytics 4) — anonymous usage statistics. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the official Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, or by using your browser's privacy settings to block analytics cookies.
5. Your rights under POPIA
Under POPIA you have the right to:
- Access any personal information we hold about you
- Request correction or deletion of your information
- Object to processing of your information
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator
In practice, because we do not store your CV data on our servers, we have no personal information to correct or delete. To remove the locally saved draft on your device, click "Reset" on any CV template page, or clear your browser's site data for cvonline.co.za.
For complaints, the Information Regulator can be contacted at inforegulator.org.za.
6. Third-party services
The site uses the following third-party services:
- Google Fonts — loads web fonts (Fraunces, DM Sans) from fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com. Google may log the IP address of your request as part of their standard access logs.
- Google Analytics 4 — anonymous site usage analytics (see section 4).
- Netlify — our hosting provider. Netlify may log request metadata (IP, user agent, timestamp) for security and operational reasons.
7. Children's privacy
The CV builder is aimed at job seekers aged 16 and over. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. Because we do not collect any personally identifying information from anyone, this is a low-risk service for all age groups.
8. Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent change. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
9. Contact
For any privacy questions or to exercise your POPIA rights, please contact us via the contact details published on cvonline.co.za. We aim to respond within 30 days.