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JOBS

Five insider tips to find a job in Switzerland

For foreigners, job seeking in Switzerland can seem overwhelming – but according to experts the best place to start is with a positive mindset and a hunger for local knowledge.

Published: 21 December 2019 10:00 CET
Updated: 29 October 2021 14:48 CEST
People sit at a table during a job interview
Looking for work in Switzerland? Here's what you need to know. Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

The Local spoke to Geneva-based expert Emilie Since from TieTalent about the best approach to job hunting as a newcomer to the Swiss job market. 

Here, Since offers readers her top tips and a list of useful resources about where to begin when job hunting in Switzerland.

1.  Be sure to know everything about work permits

According to Since, the first thing that you need to do before embarking on a job search is to learn more about work permits and their limitations.

“You need to search for information about the conditions to obtain a Swiss work permit. If you have citizenship from a country in the European Union or the European Free trade Association, the road will be easier. Be aware that there is a quota policy for other nationalities imposed by the government,” says Since.

You can find out more information about work permits in The Local’s essential guide to Swiss work permits.

2. Update your CV and apply for jobs

Once your CV is up to scratch, Since advises learning more about the local industry you wish to apply for and then searching online for jobs. 

Read also: How to write the perfect Swiss CV

There are several job boards in Switzerland where you can find thousands of jobs on offers.

The Local’s jobs board can be found here. Several other sites are available and are listed at the end of this article. 

“Another option would be to send your CV to recruiters, there are plenty in Switzerland – generalist or specialist. And make sure that your LinkedIn profile is updated and contains all the keywords linked to the position that you are looking for,” says Since.

Do your research when looking for work

It is important to do your research when looking for work. Photo by Van Tay Media on Unsplash

3. Be positive and network, network, network! 

Research suggests that when people feel happy, they tend to feel confident, optimistic and energetic and others find them likeable and sociable – all great traits to have when trying to secure a job.

Since says networking is essential when you are looking for a job, especially in Switzerland, which is a small country.

“Prepare a list of all the events that happen in your field. You can have a look on Meetup, where the events can be found by using filters. You can also go to events organised by Glocals, a strong network created for expats in Switzerland.

“Don’t hesitate to spread the word to your own network in Switzerland that you’re looking for a new opportunity,” says Since. 

4. Got an interview? Here are some important tips. 

If you are secure a job interview in Switzerland it is important to be on time.

“As you might know, punctuality is very important in Switzerland. If you are two minutes late, you will already be disregarded so be sure to arrive earlier,” says Since.

“Apply the rule 15:5 (Be 15 minutes earlier to the interview so you can wait around the building, and five minutes before the interview you can enter and wait at the reception.).”

Since recommends asking about the dress code if you’re in doubt.

“Three values that are often described as being valued in Swiss working culture are precision, perfectionism, and humility. Keep those in mind during your interview,” she says.

And Since’s top tip? Send an email after your interview to thank the human resources manager and reaffirm your enthusiasm for the position.

5. Learn German, French or Italian

Language learning is often seen as the most difficult skill to attain for foreigners living in Switzerland, but it is important for job seekers to at least show a strong desire to learn an official language and take action to do so.

“It will be easier if you know one of Switzerland’s official language German, French and Italian depending on the region where you would like to work. In the case where you are looking for a job in an international company, proficiency in English is often sufficient,” says Since. 

Read also: Top tips for learning Swiss German from those who have

The other main generic Swiss job boards are: 

https://www.monster.ch/en/

http://www.jobscout24.ch/de/

http://www.jobup.ch/en

There are plenty of specialist platforms as well: 

http://tietalent.com is a Tech Jobs Marketplace for IT and Digital Marketing jobs

http://www.lawjobs.ch is a recruitment website for law professionals

https://www.experteer.ch is for highly-qualified professionals

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LIVING IN SWITZERLAND

Lost and found: where to look for your ‘missing’ items in Switzerland

In Switzerland, like in other countries, people sometimes lose their belongings in various places. Many ultimately find their way to their rightful owner.

Published: 19 April 2024 12:10 CEST
Lost and found: where to look for your ‘missing’ items in Switzerland

Unlike socks that disappear in the wash, never to see the light of day again (which is a global, rather than just Swiss phenomenon), many lost items often do reappear. 

The bigger the item is, the more chance there is of it being found.

But even smaller objects like keys are often returned to their owners — it all depends on who finds them and to what lengths these people are willing to go to ensure that lost items are returned to their owners.

(Human nature being what is it is, you have more chances of being reunited your keys than with your jewellery or a wallet that still has all its contents inside).

But you may be surprised to learn that cases of exemplary honesty still exist.

One such example, in 2022, involved an envelope containing 20,000 francs found lying on a sidewalk by passersby and returned to the man who dropped it while getting into his car. 

What are some of the more unusual things people leave behind?

Each year, Uber Switzerland publishes a list of things that passengers forget in cars. 

This year, among purses, cell phones, laptop computers, umbrellas, and pieces of jewellery, drivers found in the back seats items including a purple wig, carnival mask, coffee machine, and a spatula for crêpes.

The items found on trains are even stranger. 

They include, according to the national railway company SBB, taxidermy animals, an authentic samurai sword, and a prosthetic leg (it’s not clear whether this was a spare or whether the passenger had to hop off the train).

Where should you look for the items you lose in Switzerland?

It depends on where you think, or know, you left your belongings.

Public transport

If it’s on the train, file a lost property report here. 

For the PostBus, it’s here. 

Additionally, public transport companies in your community have their own ‘lost and found’ offices, as do local police stations.

Airports

Zurich 
Geneva 
Basel 

Additionally, to maximise your chances of being reunited with your lost property, report it here.

Through this site, you can also check whether your lost item has been found and handed in at one of the offices.

If your lost item is found, must you pay a ‘finder’s fee’?

Yes, Swiss legislation says so.

No exact amounts are specified, but “the reward should be appropriate in relation to the find,” according to Moneyland consumer platform.

In principle, “a finder’s fee equal to 10 percent of the amount returned to the owner is considered an appropriate reward.” 

Also, if the process of finding out who the lost object belongs to and returning it to you generates extra expenses for the finder (such as train fare or other travel costs, for example), you have to reimburse these expenses in addition to the reward.

(By the same token, if you find and return someone else’s belongings, you can expect the same compensation).

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