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JOBS

Working in Switzerland: A weekly roundup of the latest job news

Find out all the latest information related to jobs in Switzerland with The Local's weekly roundup of employment news.

Published: 26 August 2021 11:30 CEST
Updated: 26 August 2021 14:51 CEST
Working in Switzerland: A weekly roundup of the latest job news
Home office or Vladivostok? Photo by Keira Burton from Pexels

Good news on the job front

In the second quarter of 2021 (April to June), the number of jobs in Switzerland rose by 0.6 percent in comparison with the same quarter in 2020, according to new data released by the Federal Statistical Office (OFS) on August 26.

This increase is mainly due to growth in the tertiary sector.

“The Swiss economy counted 24 300 more vacancies than in the corresponding quarter of the previous year (+39.7%). The employment outlook is also indicating an upward trend (+4%)”, OFS said.

Is a four-day work week a good idea?

This concept is being discussed in Switzerland as a less stressful alternative to a full, five-day week.

But whether or not it would actually foster a better work-life balance is not clear.

That depends on whether companies adapt their work processes, economists say. Without adjustments, a four-day week could lead to more stress than if one worked five days, according to organisational psychologists.

Another factor to be considered is the salary.

The idea behind the four-day week is to work less for the same wage. That also means that employees have to work more efficiently.

All in all, unless a proper infrastructure is in place, a shorter work week could “create an additional burden for employees”.

What does ‘teleworking’ actually mean in Switzerland?

The definition of ‘home-work’ or ‘home office’ means just that: instead of coming to the workplace, employees work from their homes.

But this is not always the case.

It turns out that during the home-working requirement earlier in 2021, numerous employees of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) worked from abroad, including in far-away places such as Vladivostok, a Russian port city on the Sea of Japan.

Apparently, this particular employee “regularly logged into the SBB system and received Swiss wages, while sitting on the other end of the world”.

And this trend was widespread, the company says.

Since this was discovered, SBB is now allowing teleworking within Swiss borders only. The only exception to this rule are cross-border workers.

READ MORE: ‘Home office’: Will the pandemic change the way Switzerland works?

Did you know… most job-seekers don’t know how to write a CV

Out of 3,269 CVs reviewed by Aequivalent, a company specialising in background checks of job candidates, only 43 percent of Swiss applicants were fully compliant with their audits. Half of the files were inaccurate, and 7 percent contained false declarations.

Overall, the French-speaking Swiss were more honest than applicants from the German-speaking part.

Not sure how to write a Swiss CV? This link will help:

EXPLAINED: How to write the perfect Swiss CV

Useful links

Looking for a job in Switzerland or just want a little more information about working here, then check out the following links. 

EXPLAINED: What are your chances of getting a job in Switzerland from abroad?

Reader question: Can cross-border workers get vaccinated in Switzerland?

Four tips to make sure you nail Switzerland’s quirky office culture

Jobs in Switzerland: Which sectors have been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic?

The jobs roundup is new addition and we’d welcome any feedback or suggestions for areas it should cover. Please email us at [email protected]

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For members

GENEVA

‘Things have changed’: Can you get a job in Geneva without speaking French?

Geneva must be up there when picturing an international city where language is no barrier. Does this hold true for those looking for a job? 

Published: 15 March 2024 14:23 CET
Updated: 23 March 2024 08:42 CET
'Things have changed': Can you get a job in Geneva without speaking French?

Organisations such as the International Red Cross, the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations are either based in Geneva or have a significant presence there. 

Furthermore, the Geneva region has a population of over half a million, making it an ideal base for global businesses to reach Swiss (and European) markets. 

There is no doubt that the city is a centre of international diplomacy and business and has been for decades. 

Having said that, how hard is it to find a job in Switzerland’s largest francophone city? Or indeed anywhere in Suisse Romande in general? Do you have a chance of securing a role without French language skills? 

The expert view

Recruiters think you might find it challenging if you’re not planning to work for one of the major international bodies. 

Anthony Caffon, Director of Finance at Michael Page, a significant regional recruiter, told The Local: “From our perspective, as a large operator in West Switzerland, only a few roles don’t require candidates to speak French. 

“A few years ago, there was indeed a shortage of skills in the market, and coupled with major multinational companies located here, companies were open to employing non-French speakers. 

“We now notice a change. French is required in 90 percent of the roles we recruit outside international organisations. 

“Organisations would only take on non-French speakers in some highly technical roles, for which there is absolutely no local talent pool,” he said.

‘It was critical for wider job opportunities’

However, when surveyed, readers of The Local had differing perspectives on whether not knowing French was a hindrance to searching for a job in Geneva. 

Sofia, an American, responded: “It depends on the job and sector. French is desirable but not required for international organisations, NGOs, and many private companies such as EA Games or financial companies like Barclays.”

However, she noted that speaking French became more essential when settling in the country.

“It was critical for my Swiss naturalisation, but also to have a wider spectrum of job opportunities and better working relationships.”

Generally, to apply for Swiss citizenship in the canton of Geneva, one must achieve French oral B1 and written A2, as set in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 

Michael, who lives near Lausanne, agreed with Sofia, telling The Local: “It depends if you work for a multinational or a local company.” 

“If you work for a multinational or Swiss company, you need French. But you can generally use English in the office at Nestle, BAT, PMI, Novartis, or WHO.”

Another respondent, Phil, believed that speaking French would assist in job searching. 

He stated, “I think it depends on your industry. If you work in the pharmaceutical area, then just English is fine.

“If you speak French, however, I think it’s easier to understand the application process and job descriptions.”

A Briton, Katie, thought speaking French could also help smooth the way when starting a new role in Geneva. 

She responded: “It shows you are curious about where you live. It helps build relationships with colleagues and, of course, for some jobs, it is needed.”

‘You can get by fine’

Those seeking to work in Geneva who don’t speak French shouldn’t fret just yet. 

An anonymous respondent from Ireland told The Local: “Some basic French is needed not to look utterly dysfunctional in casual social settings, but if the business works in English, then that is generally sufficient. 

“Once you can complete the technical requirements of your job well, you can get by fine,” they said.

“Some employers will specify that French and English are requirements on the job listings, even if you only need English to do the job. 

“Not having any French can put people off applying for many openings when, in fact, they might be fine applying anyway.”

What have you experienced finding a job in Geneva? Did you need French skills? Let us know in the comments. 

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