Apprenticeship application photo: take it yourself instead of going to a studio
Published
In Switzerland, an application for an apprenticeship usually includes a CV with a photo. The picture doesn't have to come from a photo studio. It should be recent and tidy, and show your face clearly. With a smartphone, daylight and a second person, it takes just a few minutes.
This guide explains what goes into the application dossier, what a good application photo looks like and how to take one yourself at home.
When applications are sent
Many companies advertise their apprenticeships at the start of the last year of compulsory school, about a year before the apprenticeship begins in August. It pays to apply early, as soon as a suitable position is advertised. Positions are still available later in the school year. If you apply late, it's best to call first and ask whether the position is still open.
For the photo, this means: have it ready before you send your first dossier.
What goes into the application dossier
The cantonal career guidance services recommend a complete dossier with these parts:
- Cover letter, tailored to the company and the profession
- CV with photo
- Copies of school reports
- Reports from taster apprenticeships, if they were positive
- Results of aptitude tests such as Multicheck or Basic-Check, if the company asks for them
Today, the dossier is usually sent as a PDF by email or through an online form. The photo usually goes in the top right corner of the CV. If you design a cover page, it can go there instead.
What a good application photo looks like
An application photo is not a passport photo. It can be friendly and show a bit of your personality. A few rules still apply:
| Good | Better not |
|---|---|
| A recent photo that shows you as you look today | A picture from two years ago |
| Head and shoulders, looking at the camera | Full-body shot or profile view |
| A natural, friendly smile | Pulling faces or a forced grin |
| A calm, light background | Living room, posters, other people |
| Clean clothes that suit the profession | Sunglasses, a cap, large logos |
| Sharp and evenly lit | A selfie, filters, a crop from a holiday photo |
On clothing: there's no need to dress up. For a commercial apprenticeship, a shirt, a blouse or a plain jumper works well. For a craft or trade, a clean, single-coloured top is enough. What matters is that you feel comfortable and look well-groomed.
Photo studio, career centre or phone?
Where the photo is taken matters less than whether it looks professional. You have three options:
Photo studio. You get advice, and the lighting and background are right. In return, you need an appointment, the trip there and a suitable budget.
Photo corner at a career information centre. Some career information centres (called BIZ in German-speaking Switzerland) have a photo corner where you can take an application photo. Ask at your local centre.
Phone at home. With good light and a second person taking the picture, a phone photo can look really good. What's usually missing is a calm background and a clean crop. Photo Express takes care of that: you take the photo with step-by-step guidance, the background is automatically replaced with a neutral light grey and the image is cropped to the right format.
What you need
- Format: portrait, head and shoulders. At Photo Express this is called "CV International" (same proportions as a passport photo, 933 × 1200 pixels). For profile pictures on online platforms, there is the square "CV Square Headshot" (1200 × 1200 pixels).
- Background: calm and light. Photo Express automatically replaces it with a neutral light grey.
- Expression: friendly. Unlike in a passport photo, you can smile here.
- File or paper: usually an image file for your CV and PDF dossier.
- Price: CHF 8.90 for the file. You only pay after you've seen the result.
No account needed, and your photo is processed in Switzerland.
Step by step: your application photo with a phone
- Have someone else take it. Ask a parent, sibling or friend to take the photo. A selfie at arm's length distorts the face.
- Use the rear camera. It usually takes the better picture. Give the lens a quick wipe first.
- Look for soft daylight. Face a window, but stay out of direct sunlight. A ceiling light directly above you casts shadows under your eyes.
- Keep your distance from the wall. That way, no shadow falls behind your head. There should be no lamps, windows or other people behind you.
- Hold the camera at eye level. Shots from below or above distort proportions.
- Take several shots. Breathe out, relax your shoulders and smile naturally. With Photo Express, you can retake the photo as often as you like until you're happy with the result, and you only pay afterwards.
- Name the file properly. Save the photo as, for example, "Photo_Firstname_Lastname", insert it into your CV and export the dossier as a PDF.
Paper or file?
For most apprenticeship applications, the file is all you need. You insert the photo into your CV and send everything as a PDF. For a paper dossier, you print the photo together with your CV.
You only need a separate paper photo if you prefer to stick it on. For that, you can order printed photos from Photo Express, sent by post to your address in Switzerland (CHF 14.90, file included). See Prints and delivery for details.
A note for parents
You can help a lot with the apprenticeship search without writing the application yourself. The photo is a good opportunity: take ten minutes at the weekend, take the photo and choose the best shot together. Afterwards, it's worth proofreading the whole dossier. Career guidance services also recommend having a second person read it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a photo required in an apprenticeship application in Switzerland?
It isn't mandatory. In Switzerland, though, a photo on the CV is customary, and career guidance services list it as part of the dossier.
Can I smile in my application photo?
Yes, definitely. A natural smile comes across as likeable. The strict passport photo rules, with a neutral expression and closed mouth, don't apply here.
Can I just use a passport photo?
You can, but it isn't ideal. Because of the neutral expression, passport photos look stern. A friendly application photo usually makes a better impression.
Can I use the same photo for all my applications?
Yes, as long as it's recent. If your appearance has changed noticeably, for example with a new haircut or new glasses, take a new one.
Which format do I need for online platforms?
Many platforms show profile pictures as squares. The "CV Square Headshot" at 1200 × 1200 pixels works well for that.
How much does the application photo cost at Photo Express?
CHF 8.90 for the digital file, CHF 14.90 with printed photos sent by post to a Swiss address. You pay by credit card or TWINT, and only after you've seen your finished photo.
