Applications
Personal details on a Swiss CV
Swiss CV conventions vary by employer and sector. A photograph or date of birth may appear in traditional examples, while international recruitment systems often focus on professional experience. Separate customary presentation from information needed to assess your application.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026
Make contact straightforward
Include your name, professional email, reachable telephone number with country code and current city or region. Add a portfolio link when it helps demonstrate your work. If relocating, describe the intended move accurately. An invented Swiss address creates avoidable confusion about interviews, availability and residence.
Choose personal information deliberately
SECO describes a photograph as optional in its CV guidance. Choose whether it supports the presentation you want, and check the employer's instructions. Birth date, marital status and family plans generally add little evidence of professional suitability. The FDPIC explains that employers may collect information needed to assess suitability for the role; sensitive questions require a relevant basis. Use professional experience and verifiable work examples to demonstrate competence.
Explain employment eligibility accurately
Where relevant, state your citizenship or current Swiss permit and any conditions you know. For example, identify an existing B permit precisely rather than describing every B permit as unrestricted. EU/EFTA citizenship and residence in an EU country are different facts. For third-country applicants, the employer may need to apply for admission. Keep passport scans and permit copies for an appropriate verified stage. Review the CV's PDF metadata as well as visible text before sending it, especially when reusing an old template.