How to create a Swiss CV

Swiss employers are looking for a specific format in CVs, which can be different to other countries

If you are looking for a job in Switzerland, it is important that your CV is written with the expectations of the local employers.

Here you can find simple instructions that can tailor your CV for each individual application, as well as a number of things you shouldn’t forget when writing your CV and cover letter.

How to write your CV if you are looking for a job in Switzerland? Tips and rules:

Length

Be sure to keep it concise by listing your main experiences and skills. In most cases, your Swiss CV should be two pages long.

In addition, bullet points are very efficient on CVs, so make sure you use them instead of text chunks.

Grammar and fonts

Double-check your grammar and spelling; in Switzerland, employers are known to pay special attention to detail.

Use simpler-to-read fonts: Helvetica and Arial usually do the trick.

Don't even think about using something like Comic Sans

Personal information

A CV must begin with your personal information, including your full name, date of birth, nationality, residence status, address, contact information (your LinkedIn, email, phone number), and professional photo.

By the way, if you don't have a professional photo, check out realfakephotos.com

Swiss employers may also ask for your marital status and gender.

It's also good to include an introduction on your CV to describe your most important accomplishments and experiences relevant to the job you are applying for

(tailor your CV to every job you're applying for)



Your work experience

This is your time to shine!

In this section of your CV, you should list all relevant work experiences for the job you are applying for.

Describe the key aspects of your job experiences in bullet points.

Use this opportunity to list the responsibilities behind each position and use your relevant experience to support your application in the same way as you would in a cover letter.

List the tools you've used e.g. Adobe Creative Suite. This helps employers get a better picture of what you did in your last job.

Make yourself stand out and outline what a great asset you are. But don't overdo it. Lying on your resume is a bad idea.

Qualifications and Education

Next, you'll need to add your education in chronological order and the dates and names of specializations and certifications/qualifications you received.

You can also list specific courses that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

For example: if you're applying for a Marketing Manager job, list the marketing courses you took in university 🚀

Languages and skills

Switzerland has 4 national languages, so you can imagine languages play an important role when looking for a job.

Include the languages you speak, your software or professional skills and any awards you may have received.

Be aware that hiring managers in Switzerland don't like to read long or detailed descriptions of your interests/hobbies

Especially if they are not related to the vacancy 🤐

In summary, to write a professional Swiss CV, follow these steps:

• Add your personal contact information

• Add a summary to your CV.

• Indicate your work experience.

• Indicate your professional skills in an easy-to-read form

• See if you can add figures and numbers along with bullet points to make your resume more impressive and concise at the same time.

• Add a professional photo to your CV.

• Reduce your resume to 2 pages.

• Try to write your CV in the language indicated in the job posting. Although most job posts are fine with English.

To increase your chances of finding a job in Switzerland, make sure that your CV has the correct content and follows the expected (Swiss) format.

Switzerland has a set of CV expectations and distinct work culture, so tailoring your CV is an important part of finding a job.

Despite the 4 national languages we discussed above, try to write your application in the same language as the job posting that you are interested in.

Interested in finding a remote job in Switzerland?

You can directly browse and apply for the latest remote jobs in Switzerland! Good luck with your job hunt!