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The biggest challenges of moving to Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the world’s best expat countries, with some of the highest living standards and a sophisticated, multilingual population. Yet moving to Switzerland can still be stressful and difficult if you don't do it right.

Published: 22 September 2015 07:55 CEST
Updated: 8 January 2018 07:55 CET
The biggest challenges of moving to Switzerland
Photo: Patrick Nouhailler

The challenges faced by expats vary depending on where in Switzerland they live.

“Switzerland is very decentralized with four official languages. It’s also not part of the EU, so the rules and traditions are a bit different. And the individual cantons are quite autonomous, so each one does things in its own way,” says expat Stefanie Fritze, Chief Marketing Officer at homegate.ch, Switzerland's leading digital real estate marketplace who moved to Switzerland from Germany a decade ago.

But there are some issues common to most people moving to Switzerland. Here are four things everyone planning a move to Switzerland should think about:

Finding somewhere to live

Switzerland is a landlord’s market. In the main cities, demand outstrips supply many times over. “There can be more than 60 applications per flat,” says Fritze.

One of the easiest ways to find a suitable property is through an online real estate listing service. That allows you to view listings in the city or neighbourhood of your choosing — even before you’ve made your move. With homegate.ch, you can also easily make direct contact with local estate agents and landlords and even file your application online.

See: 14 mistakes foreigners make on moving to Switzerland

Whether you want to rent or buy, homegate.ch also has lots of other tips and useful information to guide you through the process and help you secure the home that you want.

“We have relationships with legal experts, estate agents, insurance providers, as well as mortgage advisors so you can get all the help you need all in one place,” says Fritze.

Learn more: Applying to rent an apartment – 10 tips to success

“We also provide a comprehensive guide to Swiss tenancy laws,” she adds. “For instance, if you want to move out of an apartment in Switzerland, standard Swiss leases stipulate you need to give three months notice from the date of you signed the lease.”

Visas and work permits

If you’re a citizen of an EU country, moving to Switzerland isn’t like moving within the union. To complicate matters further, a referendum in 2014 backed putting further curbs on migration from the EU. These restrictions have yet to be implemented, they could well present further difficulties to expats from the EU in the future.

See: Migration services: 'I build bridges for expats'

Things are even tougher for people from outside the EU. Even those with a job and a rental contract have to grapple with quotas. This necessitates prior planning – and knowing what you’re doing.

“It’s important to start the process months in advance since it can take quite a while for your application to be approved by the Ministry of Labour,” says Fritze.

Getting advice before you start the process will save you a lot of stress further down the line.

Making your partner happy

Gone are the days when a ‘trailing spouse’ would play second fiddle when following her husband (and it usually was a case of wives following husbands) on a posting abroad.

“With so many dual-career couples, a relocation abroad can often fail if the partner is not happy,” says Fritze.

See also: Buying property in Switzerland: save wisely and realize your dreams

Thus many relocation firms focus on helping accompanying partners find work or some other activity like further studies.

Culture shock

If you’re moving to Switzerland from Europe or North America, say, you might not expect culture shock to be a problem in Switzerland. But sometimes the fact that expats in Switzerland expect there not to be differences means they are all the more shocked when issues arise.

Learn more: Cut your tax bill: don’t forget deductions

“If you’re French, for example, it’s important to understand that even if the language is the same, the culture is different. The Swiss go to work early, and head home early. And, unlike in France, punctuality is key. Shops are also closed on Sundays – something people here voted for in a referendum.”

The extent to which you are affected by culture shock depends a bit on how much you choose to stay in the expat bubble.

Read more: Ten tips for Swiss business etiquette

“You can still live somewhat ‘offshore’ if you choose an international community and work environment. But if you want to experience the ‘real Switzerland’ you’ll discover it is different. Still, Switzerland is welcoming to the foreigners and people here are used to expats, so it won’t be hard to feel like people can relate to you and your experience,” says Fritze.

This article was produced by The Local Client Studio and sponsored by homegate.ch

JOBS

What are the best ways to search for your next job in Switzerland?

Looking for a new job in Switzerland? We've put together some tips on where to search for that new role.

Published: 8 March 2024 15:58 CET
What are the best ways to search for your next job in Switzerland?

The good news is that, as a country that serves as a world centre of finance, pharmaceuticals, and research, Switzerland offers an environment very friendly to English speakers. Unlike some European countries, hiring is a flexible and open process. 

That said, some hints will help you in your Swiss job search. 

Know where to look 

Before beginning your job search, knowing where most of your industry’s jobs are is essential. 

As The Local Switzerland has previously discussed, Zurich is Switzerland’s financial capital, whereas most pharmaceutical players are based in Basel. 

The life sciences are concentrated in ‘Health Valley’, stretching from Geneva to Montreaux. 

Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne, Bern, Basel, and St Gallen also have large universities that employ many researchers from abroad. 

Knowing where jobs are based will allow you to concentrate your search, and give you the time to more fully research and understand the needs of particular companies.

READ MORE: Where are the jobs in Switzerland for English speakers?

Develop your Xing as well as your LinkedIn profile

Most job seekers within professional working environments will have a LinkedIn profile to share with prospective employers. 

Xing is also a significant player in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and it’s normal for German-speaking professionals to have an accompanying profile on that platform. 

Developing your presence on Xing can demonstrate that you are gaining a greater understanding of the Swiss working environment and establishing yourself as a long-term investment. 

READ MORE: Can you find a job in Zurich if you don’t speak German?

Use specialised job boards 

While many of the big job boards operate in Switzerland—Indeed and Monster, for example—several job boards focus on Swiss jobs specifically or service a key segment of the job market. 

Jobs.ch, jobup.ch, and Jobscout24 are popular sites within Switzerland and are often the first port of call for job seekers. Each has an English version and a user-friendly interface.

Several specialist job boards exist for specialised roles, such as those in the IT or medical research sectors.

Using a profession-based job board allows employers to draw from a more concentrated talent pool while offering job seekers a more significant opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills. 

SwissDevJobs.ch is a popular destination for IT professionals, whereas Praxisstellen.ch specialises in pharmaceutical and medical research jobs. SwissTopJobs.ch is an excellent place to look for C-suite jobs in the finance and banking sectors. 

Networking is essential 

While there is often a perception that job hunting in Switzerland is very process-oriented, you may be surprised to learn that many positions are filled via word of mouth. 

Suppose you have friends or former colleagues already found a position within a Swiss firm. In that case, asking what positions are opening and whether you could apply is not unreasonable or rude. 

Word of mouth and hiring through connections are common in the Swiss IT field, but they are also common within several other industries, particularly among startups. 

Read More: Where are Switzerland’s biggest international companies?

Use your initiative 

You may also be surprised to hear that simply applying to a firm with your resume isn’t looked down upon in Switzerland (or the German-speaking world). 

This is known as an Initiativbewerbung (or simply ‘application on the initiative’), and employers often regard it very favourably.

To make an Initiativbewerbung, you’ll need your Anschreiben or lettre de motivation (cover letter), Lebenslauf or resume (curriculum vitae or CV), testimonials from other employers, and copies of any relevant certificates or qualifications. 

When naming these files, remember to use the German terms—it will help when they are searched for later!

It’s worth taking the time to identify and address your application directly to the head or manager of the particular department you’re looking to work within. This will create a stronger impression, and there’s less chance of losing it in the daily flow of emails and information. 

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