CV and profile for interim assignments: what clients look for

Short answer: A CV for interim assignments shows, in two to three pages, which tasks you have actually handled, which practice areas, sectors, languages and systems you work in confidently, and which projects you have completed with what result. Interim assignments often need to move quickly, so companies want to see at a glance whether you will be productive from day one. A strong interim lawyer CV replaces job titles with tasks and adds a short project list.

This guide is for lawyers and compliance professionals in Switzerland and Germany looking for interim or project assignments, whether through staff leasing or as freelancers. It covers structure, content, common mistakes and a template.

Tasks, not titles: what companies read first

In an interim CV, companies first read what you did, not what your job was called. "Legal counsel" can mean day-to-day contract review or leading a cross-border transaction. For each role, describe three to five tasks with a verb and an object.

• Weak: "Legal counsel, responsible for contracts."
• Strong: "Reviewed and negotiated supply and framework agreements in German and English for two business units; drafted a distributor agreement template."
• Weak: "Compliance officer in the KYC team."
• Strong: "Processed KYC files for higher-risk private clients; assessed source of wealth; escalated cases to the team lead."

Stay precise. Write "supported" if you supported and "led" only if you really led. Companies test this in the interview, and an inflated CV does more damage than a modest one.

Practice areas, sectors, languages and systems

A compact skills block under the profile summary saves the reader time. It answers the four questions companies use to filter interim profiles first:

• Practice areas: e.g. commercial contracts, employment law, data protection, corporate/M&A, KYC/AML, sanctions, regulatory.
• Sectors: e.g. banking, insurance, industry, pharma, technology. Describe the type of employer if you prefer not to name it, such as "cantonal bank" or "international industrial group".
• Languages: short and clear, e.g. "German, English, French". List only languages you can work in as a lawyer.
• Systems: contract management, KYC, screening or monitoring tools, data rooms, eDiscovery platforms.

Legal systems belong here too: Swiss law, German law or both. For cross-border assignments this is a key selection criterion.

Project list with results

A project list shows that you deliver results within a limited time. It is the part companies read most closely for interim assignments. A fixed format per project works well:

1. Context: sector and type of company.
2. Brief: trigger, role and workload, e.g. "parental leave cover, 80 %".
3. Tasks: two or three concrete activities.
4. Result: what was delivered, measurable where possible.
5. Duration: month and year of start and end.

Example (fictitious): "Insurer, Switzerland · project lawyer on an outsourcing project, 60 % · reviewed around 120 IT and service provider contracts against a regulatory checklist, drafted amendments · handed over the gap list and draft amendments to the legal team · 03/2025–09/2025."

Only give figures if they are accurate and not confidential. Client names do not belong in your CV unless you have consent.

Availability and engagement model

Interim assignments often fail not on the profile but on practicalities. State these briefly at the start or end of your CV:

• Available from: a specific date or your notice period.
• Workload: full-time, part-time or a range, e.g. 60–100 %.
• Location: region, willingness to work on site, share of remote work.
• Engagement model: employment through staff leasing, freelancing, or both.
• Work permit: where relevant for the country of assignment.

The guides on staff leasing from the professional's perspective and working as a freelance lawyer explain what each model means for you.

CV sections at a glance: content and examples

The table summarises the structure of an interim CV.

Common mistakes in an interim CV

• Too long: more than three pages make shortlisting harder and bury what matters.
• Only titles and dates: without tasks, nobody can tell what you can do.
• Unexplained gaps: mention parental leave, further study or a sabbatical briefly instead of leaving a gap.
• Inflated wording: "responsible for the entire legal department" without evidence raises doubts.
• Confidential details: client names, deal names or internal figures without approval.
• Out-of-date version: the latest assignment is missing or availability is no longer correct.

Template for an interim CV

This order works for legal and compliance profiles in Switzerland and Germany:

1. Name, contact details, place of residence, LinkedIn profile.
2. Profile summary in three or four sentences.
3. Skills block: practice areas, sectors, legal systems, languages, systems.
4. Projects and assignments from the last five to seven years, most recent first.
5. Professional experience with tasks for each role.
6. Education and admissions.
7. Practicalities: available from, workload, location, engagement model.

A photo is common in Switzerland and Germany but not required. Save your CV as a PDF with a clear file name, such as "Surname_Firstname_CV_2026.pdf".

Alpinum Solutions provides companies in Switzerland, Germany and Austria with legal and compliance professionals at every level for interim assignments, through staff leasing or freelancing, part-time or full-time. The professionals in the Alpinum database have been interviewed, assessed and vetted in its qualification process.

Frequently asked questions about CVs for interim assignments

How long should a CV for interim assignments be?

Two to three pages are enough for most profiles. The first page should hold the profile summary, skills and the most important projects, because it decides the shortlist. You can summarise older roles more briefly. If you have many assignments, a separate project list as an appendix, sent only on request, helps.

Should I state my day rate expectations in my CV?

No, day rates or salary expectations do not belong in the CV. They depend on the assignment, the workload and the engagement model: under staff leasing you are employed and paid a salary, as a freelancer you invoice. Discuss your expectations in the first conversation and have a realistic range ready.

Do I need a separate CV for each assignment?

One master CV is enough if you adjust it slightly for important assignments. Move the most relevant projects to the top and sharpen the profile summary to match the brief. The content stays true; only order and emphasis change. This helps companies see the fit faster.

How do I present confidential projects?

Describe the sector, the type of company, your role and your tasks without naming clients, transactions or counterparties. Wording such as "cantonal bank", "listed industrial group" or "cross-border transaction" is usually enough. Give figures only if they are not confidential.

Should I attach references and employment certificates?

In Switzerland and Germany, written employment references (Arbeitszeugnisse) are common and often requested. Keep the most important ones ready, but do not send them unasked with every application. Name referees only once you have their consent and an assignment becomes concrete.

Next step

Update your CV using the template and register for suitable assignments.

• Careers: interim and project assignments in legal and compliance
• AlpinumHub: the Alpinum Solutions portal
• Interim and project work for lawyers: getting started
• Returning to work after parental leave or a career break

Last updated: 30 October 2026.