CV Bricklayer (Mason): Example and Template
This is what a convincing CV for bricklayers and site foremen in the Swiss construction industry looks like - with figures on volumes, deadlines and safety.
Currently 20 open Bricklayer / Mason positions in Switzerland, across 4 cantons. Groupe Grisoni advertises the most.
CV example — two-page template
This template is editable straight away — or upload your existing CV and it is carried into this layout automatically.
What qualification do I need as a bricklayer in Switzerland?
The standard qualification is the Federal VET Diploma as a Bricklayer EFZ after a three-year apprenticeship, followed by further training as foreman, site foreman or construction manager.
Always state the exact title on your CV: Bricklayer EFZ, the two-year EBA Certificate as a Construction Practitioner, or a qualification obtained abroad. If your diploma is from Portugal, Italy, France or Kosovo, indicate whether it has been recognised by the SBFI or whether you are pursuing equivalence through validation of prior learning or under Article 32 BBV. HR staff in the main construction industry need this information to determine your wage category under the national collective labour agreement (LMV).
Further training in the main construction industry brings direct pay increases and responsibility: Foreman in the main construction industry, Site Foreman with a Federal PET Diploma, Site Manager HF, or specialisations in concrete repair, scaffolding and sewer construction. List these with the institution and year, for example Polierschule Campus Sursee 2021. If you are still in training, state the expected qualification with the year - this counts as a plus, not a gap.
Equally important are the certificates without which you are not permitted to work on many construction sites: SUVA crane operator licence category A or B, forklift licence, plant operator courses, PSAgA fall protection training, and first aid. List these in a separate section with the expiry or renewal year, as construction companies check their validity as early as the interview stage.
How do I present my work experience as a bricklayer convincingly?
For each position, describe the type of buildings, your span of control, and three to four results with volumes, square metres, deadlines or costs.
Start each position with a context sentence: new build, renovation, refurbishment, civil engineering or concrete repair, project size and construction volume in CHF. A sentence such as 'Shell construction of multi-family homes with project volumes of CHF 2 to 14 million' says more than a list of tasks. Add whether you worked on an hourly wage, on a piecework basis or within the site management organisation, and which stages you were responsible for.
Quantify your work with figures that count on a construction site: cubic metres of concrete, tonnes of reinforcement, square metres of masonry or formwork, number of employees managed, weekly cycles, deadlines met or beaten, additional works in CHF, and days without accidents. Instead of 'carried out masonry work', write 'averaging 18 m2 of brick masonry per day, 22 new-build projects in four years'. Figures like these demonstrate speed, quality and reliability.
If you have worked through temporary employment agencies, summarise these assignments under a single entry and state the types and duration of the assignments, rather than listing ten short positions. Seasonal interruptions in winter are normal in the main construction industry and can be explained with a reference to bad-weather or short-time working arrangements. Also mention the regions and language areas you have worked in - bilingualism is a genuine advantage on construction sites in the Seeland region, Valais or Fribourg.
How long should the CV be, and does it need a photo?
Two pages are enough; a professional portrait photo is customary in Switzerland and a clear advantage in the construction industry.
Stick to a maximum of two pages: contact details, short profile, skills with certificates, work experience from the last ten to fifteen years, education and languages. Summarise older positions in a single line. A photo in work clothing or a neutral portrait builds trust; avoid holiday snapshots and selfies.
Swiss-specific details belong in the header: place of residence with canton, nationality or permit type B, C or G, cross-border commuter status, driving licence category B or BE, and whether you have your own vehicle. Also state your willingness to travel and whether you accept weekly residence away from home - many companies work on construction sites away from the head office. A note on your earliest starting date and your salary expectations, for example CHF 85'000 per year based on the LMV, saves a follow-up question.
Submit a PDF with a clear file name, for example CV_Baertschi_Bricklayer.pdf, and attach copies of your EFZ, Fachausweis, crane operator licence and work references. A brief reference note with the name, position and phone number of a former site manager or foreman carries more weight in the construction industry than any adjective. Before sending, check that all figures, dates and locations are correct - inconsistencies are immediately noticeable at interviews.
Where Bricklayer / Mason are hired in Switzerland
How the 20 open positions are spread across the cantons.
Figures as a table
| Canton | postings |
|---|---|
| Waadt | 6 |
| Genf | 4 |
| Wallis | 4 |
| Freiburg | 1 |
Which languages the postings require
Of 19 postings that state a language — in brackets, those requiring professional level.
Figures as a table
| Language | postings |
|---|---|
| French | 19 (19) |
| German | 1 (0) |
Who hires Bricklayer / Mason in Switzerland
Employers with the most open positions. Staffing agencies are excluded.
Figures as a table
| Employer | postings |
|---|---|
| Groupe Grisoni | 2 |
| Jules Rey SA | 1 |
| Hans Leutenegger SA Lausanne | 1 |
| DOMINO SWISS HR | 1 |
Full-time or part-time?
How the positions are advertised.
Figures as a table
| Workload | postings |
|---|---|
| Vollzeit / plein temps | 19 |
| Temporär | 1 |
The CV in full
To read through and reuse.
Nicolas Bärtschi
Bricklayer / Mason EFZ, Site Foreman with Federal PET Diploma
Bricklayer EFZ with 12 years of experience in new-build and renovation construction, Site Foreman with a Federal PET Diploma since 2021 on construction sites with project volumes of up to CHF 14 million. I lead teams of 8 to 16 people, plan formwork and concreting stages in accordance with SIA 262, and handle quantity surveying, reporting and site coordination with construction management and subcontractors. Bilingual German/French, experienced on construction sites in the Seeland region, Espace Mittelland and Suisse romande.
What sets me apart
Fair-faced concrete class SB3/SB4: Planning of formwork patterns, tie rod grids and joint layouts in accordance with SIA 262/1; on 1'200 m2 of fair-faced concrete walls, the rework rate was below 2 percent.
Stage planning with cycle-time control: I break down shell construction work into weekly cycles for reinforcement, formwork and concreting, keeping the schedule accurate to within 3 days through weekly target-actual comparisons.
Safety without work stoppages: As safety officer, I consistently implement SUVA fall protection, scaffolding approvals and excavation slopes - 640 days without a lost-time occupational accident.
Bilingual site management: Instructions, reports and site coordination in German and French, plus site-level Italian and Portuguese for mixed teams from 5 nations.
Key achievements
24 apartments completed to shell stage in 11 months. Completed the shell construction of a residential development with 4'800 m3 of concrete and 320 t of reinforcement 3 weeks ahead of schedule, documenting and approving CHF 180'000 of additional works.
Reduced material loss from 6 to 2 percent. Introduced new cutting and pallet logistics for brick and sand-lime brick, saving around CHF 42'000 per year across three construction sites.
Renovation during ongoing occupancy. Structural openings, 38 core drillings and 210 m2 of new double-leaf masonry in an occupied apartment building - without a single day of disruption for tenants.
Experience
Site Foreman — Bauunternehmung Rütiberg AG, Lyss, 03/2021 - present
Building construction and renovation for residential and commercial buildings, construction sites with volumes of CHF 2 to 14 million.
- Managed 8 to 16 employees plus 4 subcontractors per site, training 3 apprentices towards their Bricklayer EFZ
- Completed shell construction with 4'800 m3 of concrete and 320 t of reinforcement 3 weeks ahead of schedule
- Quantity surveying and reporting for monthly invoicing up to CHF 1.1 million, with CHF 180'000 of additional works fully documented
- 640 days without a lost-time accident thanks to weekly safety briefings and scaffolding inspections
Bricklaying Foreman — Aare Bau + Sanierung AG, Bern, 08/2016 - 02/2021
Renovation and conversion of older buildings, concrete repair and soffit work in occupied premises.
- Led 5 bricklayers and 3 construction workers on 14 renovation projects each worth CHF 300'000 to 1.5 million
- Carried out 38 core drillings and 210 m2 of double-leaf masonry in an occupied building without disruption to tenants
- Executed 1'200 m2 of class SB3 fair-faced concrete with a rework rate below 2 percent
- Reduced masonry material loss from 6 to 2 percent, saving around CHF 42'000 per year
Bricklayer EFZ — Steinmann Hochbau GmbH, Grenchen, 08/2012 - 07/2016
Shell construction of single- and multi-family homes, utility lines and outdoor facilities.
- Masonry, formwork and concreting on 22 new-build projects, averaging 18 m2 of brick masonry per day
- Set up frame and slab formwork for 9'000 m2 of ceilings to within 0.5 cm elevation accuracy using a rotating laser
- Independently installed edge restraints and 1'400 m2 of paving block surfaces for outdoor facilities
- Obtained crane operator licence categories A and B and worked 4 years accident-free operating tower cranes
Education
Site Foreman with Federal PET Diploma, Main construction industry - building construction — Campus Sursee / Polierschule · 2021
Foreman, Main Construction Industry, Leadership and quantity surveying — Baukaderschule Region Bern · 2016
Federal VET Diploma (EFZ), Bricklayer / Mason — Berufsfachschule Biel with construction training company · 2012
SUVA crane operator licence, categories A and B · Construction Safety Officer (SIBE) including PSAgA fall protection · Forklift licence and compact loader operator certificate · First aid and BLS-AED course, refreshed 2024
Common questions
- What language should I write my CV in as a Bricklayer / Mason?
- 100% of the adverts are in French — write the CV in French unless the advert itself is in German.
- Where in Switzerland are Bricklayer / Mason most in demand?
- Vaud alone holds 30% of the openings, then Geneva and Valais. If you live elsewhere, put your willingness to relocate in the profile.
- What language level do Bricklayer / Mason adverts ask for?
- French in 100% of adverts that state a requirement, 100% of them at professional level. "Good knowledge" will not do — give A2 to C2.
- Are Bricklayer / Mason roles offered full or part time?
- 100% full time, only 0% part time. If you need part time, say so early rather than leaving it open.
- Who hires Bricklayer / Mason in Switzerland?
- Currently Groupe Grisoni, Jules Rey SA, Hans Leutenegger SA Lausanne, among others. Their adverts are the best word list for your own CV.