Applying in Switzerland: the Bewerbungsdossier

A Swiss application is a Dossier. The word matters: what you send is a bundle of evidence, and it is more complete than what most other markets expect. A CV on its own, however good, reads as a partial application.

What the dossier contains

1. Motivationsschreiben — the cover letter, one page.
2. Lebenslauf — two pages, with a photo, chronological.
3. Arbeitszeugnisse — the reference letters from every relevant employer, in full. Not summaries, not contact details for referees: the actual documents.
4. Diplome und Zertifikate — degree and training certificates.
5. Work permit status, if you are not Swiss or an EU/EFTA national. One line is enough.

Which language

Write in the language of the advert. That is the whole rule, and it resolves nearly every case: German for most of the country, French in Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Jura and parts of Valais and Fribourg, Italian in Ticino, and English where the advert is in English — which is common in pharma, finance, and international organisations. If an advert appears in two languages, use the one you are strongest in.

Swiss Standard German is not Germany’s German, and the difference a reader will actually notice is the ß: Switzerland writes ss. "Strasse", "grösste", "gemäss". If you have a German CV, that one find-and-replace is worth doing.

How it differs from a German application

• The dossier is more complete: full Arbeitszeugnisse and diplomas are attached as standard, not offered on request.
• A photo is at least as usual as in Germany.
• The cover letter is called a Motivationsschreiben and leans slightly more on motivation and fit than on a formal recitation of qualifications.
• Salary is more often discussed openly and earlier, and adverts more often ask for an expectation.
• Permit status is a legitimate and expected line for non-EU/EFTA applicants — stating it saves a round of questions.
• Swiss spelling: ss, never ß.

Sending it

One PDF, in the order above, named with your surname and the role. Keep it under about ten megabytes — scanned Zeugnisse are what push a dossier over the limit, and a portal that rejects the upload silently is a real way to lose an application. Scan at 200–300 dpi in greyscale rather than photographing pages with a phone.