Cookie Policy
This policy explains what cookies are, which cookies we use on Smart CV Builder, and how you can manage your preferences.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, tablet, or phone) when you visit a website. They allow the website to remember your actions and preferences over time, so you don't have to re-enter them every time you visit.
Similar technologies such as pixels, web beacons, and local storage work in a comparable way and are also covered by this policy.
Under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), cookies that can identify you as an individual are considered personal information. We are required to obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.
Your Cookie Consent
When you first visit Smart CV Builder, a cookie consent banner will appear. You can choose to:
- Accept all cookies including Analytics, Advertising, and Preference cookies
- Reject non-essential cookies only Strictly Necessary cookies will be placed
- Customise your preferences choose which categories to allow
You may change your preferences at any time by clicking "Cookie Settings" in the footer of our website.
Cookie Categories We Use
1. Strictly Necessary Cookies Always Active
These cookies are essential for the website to function. Without them, services like logging in, accessing your saved CV, and completing payment cannot work. They do not require your consent.
| Cookie / Technology | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Session cookie (WordPress/WooCommerce) | Maintains your logged-in session | Session |
| CSRF token | Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks | Session |
| WooCommerce cart cookie | Remembers your cart contents during checkout | 2 days |
| PayFast redirect token | Facilitates secure redirection to and from PayFast during payment | Session |
2. Analytics & Performance Cookies Consent Required
These cookies help us understand how visitors use Smart CV Builder which pages are popular, where users drop off, and how performance can be improved. All data is aggregated and does not personally identify you.
| Cookie / Technology | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics | Distinguishes users and tracks page views and behaviour | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes users (shorter-lived) | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics / GTM | Throttles request rate | 1 minute |
| _clck, _clsk, CLID | Microsoft Clarity | Session recording, heatmaps, and click tracking | 1 year |
| rank_math_* | Rank Math Analytics | SEO performance and search query tracking | Varies |
| Google Search Console | Search performance data (no client-side cookie server-side verification only) | N/A |
3. Advertising & Remarketing Cookies Consent Required
These cookies are used to show you relevant advertisements on other platforms and to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns. They are placed by our advertising partners.
| Cookie / Technology | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _fbp, fr | Meta (Facebook Pixel) | Tracks visits and conversions for Facebook/Instagram ads; enables remarketing audiences | 3 months |
| Facebook App ID | Meta | Associates website activity with Facebook platform for ad measurement | Session / persistent |
| _gcl_au, _gcl_aw | Google Ads | Measures ad clicks and conversions; enables Google Ads remarketing | 3 months |
| GTM (_gtm_*) | Google Tag Manager | Tag management container — fires advertising and analytics tags based on your consent | Session |
| li_fat_id, UserMatchHistory, AnalyticsSyncHistory | LinkedIn Insight Tag | Tracks LinkedIn ad conversions and enables LinkedIn remarketing audiences | 30 days 1 year |
| WooCommerce GA Events | WooCommerce / Google | Sends e-commerce purchase events (product viewed, added to cart, purchased) to Google Analytics | Session |
4. Functional / Preference Cookies Consent Required
These cookies remember your preferences and settings to provide a more personalised experience.
| Cookie / Technology | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawk.to cookies (TawkConnectionTime, twk_*) | Tawk.to | Enables live chat functionality; remembers chat session and user preferences | Session / 6 months |
| wp-settings-*, wp-settings-time-* | WordPress | Remembers display preferences for logged-in users | 1 year |
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You can update your cookie preferences at any time. Non-essential cookies will only be active if you have given your consent.
⚙ Open Cookie SettingsBrowser-level controls
You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View and delete cookies already stored on your device
- Block all cookies, or cookies from specific sites
- Set your browser to notify you when a cookie is placed
Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of Smart CV Builder, including your ability to log in or save your CV.
Browser instructions: Chrome · Firefox · Safari · Edge
Opt-out links for specific providers
- Google Analytics: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Google Ads personalisation: Google Ads Settings
- Facebook / Meta: Facebook Ad Preferences
- Microsoft Clarity: Microsoft Privacy Statement
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn Opt-out
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when we add or remove tracking technologies, or when the law requires. We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where the changes are significant, notify you via a banner on the site or by email.
For questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at [email protected].