Applying in Switzerland

Personal details in a Swiss CV

Contact details belong in your CV. Date of birth, nationality, marital status and place of origin are different: tradition does not mean obligation.

Key point

Your name and contact details belong in a CV. Date of birth, nationality, marital status, children or place of origin are not automatically required. SwissCVPilot treats these fields as optional.

Swiss CVs traditionally include more personal information than CVs in some other countries. But tradition is not the same as a requirement.

The Swiss data protection authority highlights an important principle: employers should only process information relevant to deciding whether someone is suitable for the specific job, including under Art. 328b of the Code of Obligations and the principle of proportionality.

Name and contact details

First and last name, phone number and a reachable email address are the basics. Home location or address are still commonly included in Switzerland. If the full private address adds no value and is not requested, city and postcode may be sufficient in some cases.

Anna Muster
8000 Zurich
+41 79 123 45 67
anna.muster@example.ch

Date of birth

It is still common in some Swiss CVs, but there is no general obligation to include it.

SwissCVPilot tip

Include your date of birth if you consciously want to share it, not simply because the template contains a field.

Nationality and right to work

Nationality does not need to appear in every CV. In an international application, an existing Swiss residence permit or clear right to work may be more useful.

Residence permit B
or
Settlement permit C

Marital status, children, place of origin and birthplace

Details such as single, married or divorced were common in traditional Swiss CVs. For most roles they are not relevant to professional suitability. The same generally applies to children, family situation, Swiss place of origin and birthplace.

SwissCVPilot position: these fields should not be shown by default, but can remain available as optional information.

Driving licence

This can be relevant for field sales, transport, installation work or roles involving several locations. If mobility is not part of the job, it can be omitted.

LinkedIn, website and portfolio

An up-to-date LinkedIn profile, portfolio or professional website can support the CV. Only link to content that is current and useful.

Apprenticeship applications

Conventions can be different for young people applying for apprenticeships. Swiss career guidance recommends some additional personal information in that context. Those recommendations should not automatically be applied to every professional CV.

You decide what is visible

SwissCVPilot lets you switch personal details on or off for each CV.

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Sources and context