Resume template · Updated October 2026
Resume template for Switzerland and the Swiss application file
Short answer
Leslie works for a Swiss CV in finance or administration: profile, jobs newest first with gap-free month and year dates, a labelled languages row, education, then interests. A Swiss application usually adds work certificates and diplomas, and arbeit.swiss lists a photo with the personal details; Resumity prints no photo, so add it in Word. The fictional sample is a financial accountant at an industrial company near Zurich.
Download the Switzerland sample
Nadine is a fictional financial accountant. Replace every detail with your own before you send it.
The files are made in your browser by Resumity's own exporters, from this sample. The builder opens it as your own resume: click any line to replace it. Free plan, no watermark.
Why Leslie suits a Switzerland resume
Leslie prints work experience straight after the profile, so a continuous run of jobs, which arbeit.swiss and EURES both ask for, comes first. Its labelled skill rows give languages their own line, and the centred blue header adds a single restrained accent to a conservative finance CV.
Second choice: Henrietta. Henrietta, in black and grey, prints education right after the jobs; choose it if an apprenticeship and degree are central to the role.
What goes in each section, in Leslie's order
Leslie prints its sections in a fixed order, the same in the PDF and the Word file. Here is that order for this sample, and what to put in each section.
- Professional Summary. Name the accounting framework and the scope (entities, VAT, audit) in the first sentence and the role you want in the last. Keep it short: the work certificates in the file will back up the detail.
- Work Experience. arbeit.swiss asks for the most recent job first and a CV without gaps. The University of Zurich's career service wants months and years in the form 09/2008 - 09/2010, which is exactly how Resumity prints the sample's dates.
- Skills. The University of Zurich suggests terms such as mother tongue, business proficient, fluent or basic knowledge for languages, and points to the CEFR scale (A1 to C2). Leslie prints them in a labelled Languages row after the jobs.
- Education. List the degree and the apprenticeship newest first; the University of Zurich asks for reverse chronological order. EURES asks applicants with foreign qualifications to give their Swiss equivalents.
- Interests. The University of Zurich says to mention only hobbies you can say something meaningful about. For an accountant, a club treasurer role is ideal: it shows the same skills outside work and gives the interviewer an easy opening question.
The sample resume as text
The same content as the files above, so you can copy a line or compare it with your own.
Nadine Brunner
Financial Accountant, Industry and Fiduciary
Zurich, Switzerland | nadine.brunner@example.com | +41 44 555 0163 | linkedin.com/in/sample-nadine-brunner
Financial accountant with nine years in Swiss industry and fiduciary work, responsible for monthly and annual closing under Swiss GAAP FER. Handles VAT returns, intercompany reconciliation and audit preparation for four entities. Looking for a senior accountant or deputy head of accounting role in the Zurich area.
Experience
Financial Accountant, Limmattal Präzisionstechnik AG, Dietikon, Switzerland (03/2021 to Present)
- Run monthly and annual closing for the Swiss parent company and three subsidiaries under Swiss GAAP FER.
- Prepare quarterly VAT returns and the documentation for the external audit.
- Shortened the monthly close from eight to five working days by automating accrual lists in Abacus and Excel.
- Train and supervise one commercial apprentice each year.
Accountant, Zürichsee Treuhand Kontor AG, Zurich, Switzerland (08/2017 to 02/2021)
- Kept the books and prepared annual accounts for about 35 small business clients, from craft firms to medical practices.
- Prepared tax returns for small companies and sole traders.
- Ran monthly payroll for 12 clients with about 150 employees in total.
Interests
- Treasurer of a rowing club with 140 members since 2021: prepare the annual accounts and budget.
- Trail running: finished two mountain races in Graubünden in 2025.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, Limmat University of Applied Sciences (07/2017)
Federal VET Diploma (EFZ), Commercial Employee, Sihltal Vocational School (07/2013)
Skills
Monthly and annual closing, Swiss GAAP FER, VAT returns, Intercompany reconciliation, Abacus, SAP S/4HANA (FI), Excel, German (mother tongue), English (business proficient, C1), French (good, B2), Training apprentices
How to make the sample yours
Add your photo in Word
arbeit.swiss lists a photograph with the personal details, and EURES treats it as part of a standard application; the University of Zurich adds that when the ad does not ask, it is your choice. Resumity templates have no photo area, so insert it in the DOCX in Word.
Add personal details the header lacks
The University of Zurich lists date and place of birth, asks non-nationals to give their residence and work permit (L, B or C), and calls marital status and children optional. Resumity's header holds name, contact line and job title only; add a personal details line in Word.
Build the complete application file
arbeit.swiss describes a file of cover letter, CV, work certificates from former employers, diplomas and other certificates, newest first and combined into a PDF. Ask former employers for any missing work certificates in good time, as arbeit.swiss advises.
Offer references on request
The University of Zurich advises against listing referees unless the advertisement asks, suggesting "References will be made available upon request"; arbeit.swiss adds that a separate sheet can be handed over at the interview.
Two pages, three at most
arbeit.swiss sets three pages as the maximum and the University of Zurich says two to three; EURES recommends no more than two A4 pages. Resumity prints on A4, so the preview matches what the employer sees.
Keywords to keep where they are true
Terms this kind of resume is usually searched for. Use the posting's exact wording, and only for work you have done.
- financial accounting
- monthly closing
- annual financial statements
- Swiss GAAP FER
- Swiss Code of Obligations
- VAT returns
- intercompany reconciliation
- external audit
- accruals
- payroll
- Abacus
- SAP FI
- German
- English
- French
Mistakes to avoid
- Unexplained gaps between dates; arbeit.swiss and EURES both ask for a complete CV without gaps.
- Sending the file without work certificates, which arbeit.swiss counts as part of a complete application.
- Hobbies you could not talk about for a minute in the interview.
- Printing referees' names and phone numbers on the CV when the advertisement has not asked for them.
How the sample PDF reads in text extractors
We exported this sample with Resumity's PDF exporter in Chrome on 2026-10-29 and read the file back with three open-source text extractors. This shows whether software that turns a PDF into text can recover it; it is not a test of any commercial applicant tracking system. How we test templates.
| Extractor | Name, email, phone | Headings | Bullets intact |
|---|---|---|---|
| pdf.js 4.10.38 | All found | 5 of 5 | 7 of 7 |
| pdftotext (Xpdf) 4.00 | All found | 5 of 5 | 7 of 7 |
| pypdf 6.13.0 | All found | 5 of 5 | 7 of 7 |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a photo on a Swiss CV?
It is usual: arbeit.swiss lists a photograph with the personal details, and EURES treats it as part of the standard application. The University of Zurich adds that if the ad does not ask for one, the choice is yours. Resumity templates print no photo; add it in Word.
What personal details does a Swiss CV include?
The University of Zurich lists name, full address, phone, email, and date and place of birth. Non-nationals should give their residence and work permit (L, B or C); marital status and children are optional.
How long can a Swiss CV be?
arbeit.swiss sets three pages as the maximum and the University of Zurich says two to three, while EURES recommends no more than two A4 pages.
What are work certificates, and do I send them?
They are written references from former employers. arbeit.swiss counts them, with diplomas and certificates, as part of a complete application file, ordered newest first and combined in a PDF. For a speculative application, EURES says to send only the letter and CV.
How do I show language levels on a Swiss CV?
The University of Zurich suggests terms such as mother tongue, business proficient, fluent and basic knowledge, and recommends the CEFR scale from A1 to C2. The sample gives both.
Will applicant tracking systems read this Leslie PDF?
The sample PDF read back with its contact details, all 5 section headings and all 7 bullets intact in three open-source text extractors (pdf.js, pdftotext and pypdf). Commercial systems such as Workday, Greenhouse or Taleo were not tested, and each employer configures its own.
Guides and templates for this resume
- Want a Job Abroad? This International Resume Format Actually Works (2026 Guide)
- Accountant resume
- How to List Languages and Proficiency Levels on a Resume
- German CV format (Lebenslauf) for Indian applicants
- How to Explain an Employment Gap on a Resume, With Examples
- Resume template for Austria: writing an Austrian Lebenslauf
- Resume template for Belgium: how to set out a Belgian CV
Sources, checked 29 October 2026
We opened every page below on that date. Pay, rules and requirements change, so check the source before you rely on a detail.
- arbeit.swiss (Swiss public employment service, SECO): Tips on applying for jobs (The application file includes cover letter, CV, work references, diplomas and certificates; the CV should be complete with no gaps and no more than three pages, with personal details including a photograph, work experience newest first, education, language skills, interests and references "on request"; summarise the documents in a PDF.)
- University of Zurich, Career Services: Resume / CV (Two to three pages; photo optional when the ad does not ask; personal details include full address, date and place of birth, residence and work permits (L/B/C) for non-nationals, marital status and children optional; reverse chronological; months and years without gaps (09/2008 - 09/2010); language terms and CEFR levels; only meaningful hobbies; "References will be made available upon request".)
- EURES (European Labour Authority): Living and working conditions: Switzerland (How to apply for a job) (CV no longer than two A4 pages, preferably tabular, with a photograph and personal details (full name, address, phone, date of birth, nationality); avoid gaps; give Swiss equivalents of qualifications; copies of diplomas and certificates of employment are normally included, but speculative applications send only letter and CV.)
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