Employment in Switzerland

Graduates looking for work have increasingly been drawn to Switzerland due to the country's high incomes, cheap taxes, and great quality of life.

 

Switzerland is not a huge country, with only 8.6 million people. Although it has been hit hard by the global economic crisis in recent years, it nevertheless has one of the world's most stable economies with a remarkably low unemployment rate of 2.3%.


Almost two-thirds of Switzerland's area is dominated by the Alps, which are also the source of the country's famed coffee, chocolate, cheese, and cuckoo clocks. You might spend your leisure time exploring the country's gorgeous landscapes or its contemporary cities. Also, as it's a very linguistically diverse country, you'll have a great opportunity to learn a new language or two, which will look great on your resume.

Find a Job in Switzerland


There are a large number of international employees, especially those with advanced degrees, who find employment in Switzerland.

Yet, a tiny labor market might make it tough for international college grads to obtain employment. Competition for jobs is severe in Switzerland, especially since some companies have started giving preference to Swiss nationals over foreigners. Work opportunities for foreign nationals in Switzerland may be more likely to be found in the country's larger cities including Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, and Zürich. Swiss towns, especially Zürich and Geneva, are known for their high cost of living, although the country's high incomes should help to offset this to some extent.

The service industry accounts for the vast majority of Switzerland's GDP. Jobs in the hotel business are plentiful in Switzerland because to the country's busy tourist scene. Basel is a good place to hunt for jobs in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, whereas Zürich is a good place to work in the banking and insurance industries.

JOB OPTIONS THAT DRAW A LOT OF GRADUATES

  • Banking
  • Engineering
  • Insurance
  • IT
  • Pharmaceuticals


Many international corporations call Switzerland home, some of which are:

  • Adecco
  • Cash from Credit Suisse

 

Insurance Firms Glencore, Nestlé, Novartis, and the Roche Group from Zurich.
The United Nations, World Trade Organisation, the Red Cross, the World Economic Forum and the International Olympic Committee also call Switzerland home.

Browse Swiss job listings at:

  • Jobs.ch is multilingual
  • supporting English
  • German
  • French.
  • JobsinGeneva.com
  • JobsinZurich.com

Local Expatriate Employment Opportunities in Switzerland
Inadequate Training


Currently, Switzerland has a shortage of professionals in the following fields:

financial service engineering
IT

pharmaceuticals.
The hospitality sector also has a shortage of workers. In today's job market, recent grads with relevant experience and education are in great demand.

Gaining Employment in Switzerland: Step-by-Step Instructions


You'll need a resume, cover letter, and academic credentials to apply for a job in Switzerland. Unless otherwise specified, please write your application in the language of the job advertisement/company, whether that be German, French, or Italian.


Both the CV and the covering letter should not exceed two sides of A4. Including a photo of yourself with your resume is standard practice.

Applications on speculation are also accepted; at this point, it is not necessary to submit academic transcripts or references.

You will be scheduled for an interview if your application is chosen for further consideration. Psychological examinations and on-site interviews are optional but often used components of the hiring process for bigger organizations.

The same is true in Switzerland, where many employment openings are filled through personal connections rather than advertising. Start using LinkedIn and Twitter to keep tabs on prospective employers. Keep up a respectable profile online and make the most of whatever personal connections you may have.

Since Switzerland is home to a large number of international businesses, it is conceivable to acquire a job in the UK and then request a transfer to the Swiss branch.

Jobs for the Summer


Switzerland's tourism industry is a major economic driver, and it's a great place for both Swiss and international citizens to find gainful employment. The hotel business is where most seasonal and summer jobs may be found. Bars, restaurants, and hotels are always looking for seasonal help, as are the various ski areas in the Alps. You might also work as a ski or snowboard teacher, as there is a high need for instructors who are fluent in English.

If you are in a position to labor without compensation, volunteering may be an option for you. Your resume will benefit greatly from including any relevant work experience. You may practice your Swiss German, learn more about Swiss culture, and develop some great connections that can help you land a permanent job in Switzerland.

Opportunities for volunteering exist in the form of community service, educational programs, and collaboration with foreign agencies. Volunteering for conservation causes in natural environments including farms, forests, and mountains is possible in more remote regions.

Opportunities for service can be found at:

Greetings, Switzerland! Educators wanted
The need for English teachers is often low since most natives acquire a fluent level of English proficiency early in life. More importantly, English is a common language in the business world.

Consequently, there is a lot of rivalry for teaching jobs at public institutions. Private schools, boarding schools, and institutions specifically designed to prepare people to work in the hospitality industry are all possible alternatives.

In most cases, the salary for a teaching position is rather high. Interested parties may check out i-to-i - Teach English in Switzerland for details.

Opportunities to work as a TEFL instructor in Switzerland may be found at:

Switzerland's Association of English Instructors
I suggest you travel outside of the country.
Institute of Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Undergraduates and recent graduates from any major who also have an AS level in French or German can participate in the British Council Language Assistants programme and find work as English language assistants in Switzerland. Between £2,200 to £3,000 a month might be expected.

Internships


Because of the abundance of large, international corporations in Switzerland, you might be able to find internships by browsing their respective websites.

SWISS, the Swiss national airline, offers six-month internships in a variety of corporate departments, such as communication, event management, finance, human resources, information technology, operations, sales and marketing, and procurement, to recent Bachelor of Arts graduates. Job openings may be found in the Swiss cities of Zürich, Geneva, and Basel. Please visit SWISS internships for further details.

In addition to seasonal internships, Credit Suisse's Swiss offices host semester-long programs. Internships at Credit Suisse may be found here.

Opportunities for Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral students in the biological sciences, technology, engineering, and business are available at Roche for a full year. Internships at Roche are a great place to gain knowledge.

Undergraduates studying science, engineering, technology, or the applied arts can apply for a variety of traineeships through IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) each year. During the summer, placements often last anywhere from six to twelve weeks.

Travel documents for Switzerland


Changes to the travel regulations for British nationals took effect on January 1, 2021, when the UK officially left the European Union. Visa-free travel inside the Schengen Area (which includes Switzerland) is permitted for up to 90 days during any 180-day period.

A work visa and work permit are required for British nationals planning to work or stay in Switzerland for longer than three months. Depending on the nature of your business and how long you want to stay in Switzerland, you'll need a specific visa or work permit. In light of the UK's decision to leave the European Union, however, it is now illegal for citizens of the UK to go to Switzerland in search of employment.

Workers from other countries, including the United Kingdom, are allowed in only under certain circumstances, and those who have managerial, specialized, or other professionally certified positions are given priority.

People from the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (which includes Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) can work in Switzerland without a visa. People from the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) can visit Switzerland, seek for jobs, and even do some light labor for up to three months without a work visa.

You require a residence permit if your intended stay is more than three months. All you have to do to get one is sign up with the local government where you plan to reside. Things You'll Need

proof of identity (driver's license, passport, etc.), proof of employment (certificate of employment, if self-employed), and financial records (if self-employed).
Upon arrival in Switzerland, you have three months to enroll in a health insurance plan.

Need for a Common Language


The Swiss have earned acclaim as a bilingual nation. Different areas have their own distinct languages, including German, French, Italian, and Romansh.


Find out what languages are spoken in your potential workplace locations. In the middle and eastern parts of the country, German is the predominant language. Languages spoken in the western part of the country include French, whereas those in the southern part of the country are Italian.

Although English is the most common language used at work, it is still important that you are fluent in another language such as German, French, or Italian if you plan to advance in your career.

If your command of the English language is rusty, you may take your pick of language classes, online resources, and audio recordings produced in the UK to help you get ready for your trip.

Advice on highlighting your strengths while applying for jobs
The Bologna Process has made it possible for degrees from universities in the United Kingdom to be directly compared to those in Switzerland. Therefore, whether you have a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate from the United Kingdom and are seeking employment in Switzerland, you may be assured that your degree will be recognized and acknowledged. It's a good idea to verify employment opportunities, nevertheless.

You may learn more about credential evaluation by visiting ENIC-NARIC.

Working in Switzerland: a first-hand account
Most Swiss citizens work Monday through Friday for 40 hours a week, despite the fact that Swiss law allows them to work for up to 45 hours.

Each employee in Switzerland receives at least four weeks of paid vacation each year; those under the age of twenty are eligible to five.

Depending on your canton or municipality in Switzerland, you may be eligible for different numbers of public holidays. New Year's Day, Good Friday, Ascension Day, National Day (1 August), and Christmas Day are the five national public holidays. Your region will commemorate a subset of the 21 regional public holidays.

Examine Further to Learn More


Learn about the academic environment in Switzerland.


Ojike Stella

1727 Blog posts

Comments
Jubilee Ohwodiasa 32 w

interesting

 
 
Adeleke Ajibola 42 w

What's this all about?

 
 
Adeleke Ajibola 42 w

What's this all about?