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Switzerland

Writing a CV for Switzerland

Switzerland asks for more paperwork than almost anywhere else, and asks for it up front. The application is a Dossier — a bundle of evidence — and the part people underestimate is the Arbeitszeugnisse: the reference letters from every relevant employer, attached in full rather than summarised or offered later.

The other thing to get right is language. Write in the language of the advert: German across most of the country, French in the west, Italian in Ticino, English where the advert is in English. And Swiss German writing does not use ß — it is always ss.

Updated August 24, 2026

At a glance

What it is called
Lebenslauf / CV / Curriculum vitae
Length
Two pages, plus the attachments.
Photo
Expected, at least as much as in Germany.
Dates
Month and year. 03/2021 – 08/2024.
Personal details
Address, date of birth, nationality, and permit status if not Swiss or EU/EFTA.
Signature
Common, and never wrong.
Language
The language of the advert. Swiss spelling: ss, never ß.

What you send

  1. Motivationsschreiben — one page.
  2. Lebenslauf — two pages, with a photo.
  3. Arbeitszeugnisse — in full, from every relevant employer.
  4. Diplome und Zertifikate.
  5. Permit status, in one line, if you are not Swiss or an EU/EFTA national.

What catches people out

  • Arbeitszeugnisse are attached in full. A list of referees is not a substitute and will read as an omission.
  • The cover letter is a Motivationsschreiben and leans a little more on fit and motivation than a German Anschreiben does.
  • Salary comes up openly and early; adverts often ask for an expectation.
  • Permit status is a normal line for non-EU/EFTA applicants and saves a round of questions.
  • Keep the whole dossier under about ten megabytes. Scanned Zeugnisse are what break the upload.
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