Applications
Building a Swiss application dossier
A Swiss application often brings together a CV, a motivation letter and supporting certificates. The useful starting point is the vacancy's requested evidence: a research laboratory, a hotel and a software company may expect different material.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026
Build a readable core
Put your most relevant experience near the beginning of the CV, with dates, responsibilities and concrete outcomes. Explain unfamiliar employers or qualifications briefly. Use the letter to connect two or three requirements with your experience and explain your interest in this particular role. State your actual location and realistic availability when relocation matters.
Select supporting evidence
SECO's application guidance includes employment certificates, diplomas and relevant training certificates. Organise each group with the newest document first. For an experienced technician, a recent safety qualification can be more useful than every school certificate. Keep a complete archive ready, and follow the employer's requested scope. A referee's contact details can be supplied later with consent.
Check the delivery route
If the portal has separate fields, upload documents to those fields. For email, use clear filenames and readable PDFs, respecting size limits. Open the exported files on another device and check that text can be selected. Save the vacancy, the exact submitted version and the confirmation. This makes interview preparation easier if the advertisement disappears. Only send identity or other sensitive documents through an appropriate, verified process when their purpose is clear.