Writing a CV for Geneva
Geneva is uniquely international — the UN and dozens of NGOs, private banking and wealth management, luxury watchmaking, trading and life sciences. Applications here are often bilingual and the bar for polish is high. Here's what's specific to Geneva.
Language: French locally, English internationally
Geneva is French-speaking, so a French CV helps for local employers. International organisations, NGOs and multinationals frequently operate in English. Stating two strong languages (French + English) is a genuine advantage — rate them honestly (A1–C2). HelvetiaCV lets you produce the same CV in French and English from one profile.
International organisations use their own forms
Many UN-system roles ask for a specific personal-history form (e.g. a P11/PHP) rather than a free-form CV. For everything else — private sector, NGOs' operational roles, consultancies — a standard Swiss-format CV with photo, personal details and a two-page layout is expected.
Tailor to Geneva's sectors
- Private banking & wealth management: discretion, credentials, quantified results — see the finance CV guide.
- International / NGO: emphasise languages, multicultural experience and concrete impact.
- Luxury & trading: precision, client focus and relevant industry exposure.
Work permit & cross-border context
Geneva has many cross-border (frontalier) workers. Be clear about your status (EU/EFTA, B, C, or G permit for cross-border) so recruiters immediately know you can be hired.
Build a Geneva-ready CV
Swiss templates in French and English (plus DE/IT). Pay once, no subscription.
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