Working in Switzerland made easy by EU helpers complete journal
guidelines
Switzerland has a high demand for specialist workers, and your decision to work there will
reward you with high wages and low taxes
Jobs in Switzerland
Many foreign workers, especially highly-skilled ones, successfully find work in Switzerland.
However, with a relatively small labour market it can be difficult for foreign graduates to find
work. Competition for jobs is fierce, especially more recently as Swiss employers have begun
to favour locals over those from overseas. International workers may have more luck in
major Swiss cities such as Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne and Zürich rather than in smaller,
rural areas. However, living in Swiss cities is costly: Zürich and Geneva are regularly voted
among the most expensive cities in the world, but this should be counterbalanced by the
country's high wages.
The Swiss economy is dominated by the service sector. Switzerland also has a thriving
tourism industry, with hospitality jobs available throughout the country. Those interested in
banking and insurance careers can find opportunities in Zürich, and those looking for a
career in chemicals or pharmaceuticals will find vacancies in Basel.
Popular Graduate Jobs
• Construction
• Education
• Finance
• Health
• IT
• Management
Skills shortages
Switzerland is currently struggling with a lack of skilled workers in the following areas:
• engineering
• financial services
• IT
• pharmaceuticals
The hospitality industry also finds it difficult to recruit staff. Graduates with skills and
qualifications in these areas are in high demand.
How to get a job in Switzerland
To apply for a job in Switzerland you'll need a CV, cover letter and educational certificates.
You should write your application in the language of the job advert/company, be that
German, French or Italian, unless specifically asked to submit your application in English.
CVs should be no longer than two sides of A4 and cover letters no more than one. It isn't
unusual to include a photograph alongside your CV.
You'll find that speculative applications are also welcome, but you don't need to include
educational transcripts or references at this stage.
If your application is successful, you'll be invited to attend an interview. In larger companies
the selection process may involve psychometric testing and assessment centres.
Networking also yields successful results, as Swiss job vacancies are often filled through
contacts. Join social media sites such as LinkedIn and follow potential employers on Twitter.
Be sure to maintain a professional online presence and make use of any personal contacts
you might have.
As Switzerland is home to so many multinational companies, it may be possible to secure a
job at an organisation in the UK, before asking to be seconded to its Swiss offices.
Summer jobs
Tourism is big business in Switzerland and the sector provides numerous employment
opportunities for Swiss nationals and foreign workers alike. The majority of seasonal and
summer jobs revolve around the hospitality industry. For example, you could find work in
bars, restaurants and hotels, or in one of the many ski resorts in the Alps, which frequently
welcome seasonal workers. You could also instruct winter sports - English-speaking ski and
snowboard instructors are always in demand.
If you can afford to work unpaid, volunteering is worth considering. Any experience of this
nature looks great on your CV. Not only will it put your language skills to the test and help
you to understand Swiss culture, it provides you with an opportunity to make valuable
contacts, which will prove useful when trying to secure more permanent work in the
country.
Voluntary opportunities include community projects, teaching schemes and working
alongside international organisations. In rural areas you could get involved in conservation
projects, working in agricultural, mountain and forest settings.
Internships
As Switzerland has so many big, multinational companies you may be able to uncover
internship opportunities by looking on their individual websites.
SWISS, the national airline for Switzerland, provides six-month internships for Bachelors
graduates in a range of corporate areas including communication, event management,
finance, HR, IT, operations, sales and marketing, and procurement. Opportunities are
available in Zürich, Geneva and Basel. For more information, see SWISS internships.Credit Suisse also offers in-depth and summer internships in its Swiss offices. To find out
more, see Credit Suisse internship opportunities.
Roche provide 12-month opportunities to Bachelors, Masters and PhD students in areas
such as life sciences, technology, engineering and business. Learn more about Roche's
student programmes.
Each year IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical
Experience) provides a range of traineeships to undergraduate students working towards a
science, engineering, technology or applied arts degree. Placements usually last from six to
12 weeks over the summer.
Language requirements
Switzerland is renowned for being a multilingual country. German, French, Italian and
Romansh are all spoken in different regions.
It's important to know which language is spoken in the area where you intend to work.
German is the main language and is spoken in central and eastern regions. French is spoken
in the west, and Italian in the south.
While English is frequently spoken in the workplace, you'll still be expected to have a good
grasp of German, French or Italian depending on where you work.
There are lots of language courses in the UK as well as websites and podcasts to prepare you
if your language skills aren't up to scratch.
What it's like to work in Switzerland
According to Swiss law, the majority of workers can work for a maximum of 45 hours per
week, although most people work a 40-hour week, Monday to Friday. An OECD survey found
that in 2021 the average Swiss worker did a 36-hour week.
All Swiss employees are entitled to at least four weeks' paid holiday per year, and young
people up to the age of 20 are entitled to five.
The number of public holidays you're entitled to depends on where in Switzerland you live
and work. There are five national public holidays, including New Year's Day, Good Friday,
Ascension Day, National Day (1 August) and Christmas Day. There are 21 regional public
holidays, of which your region will celebrate a handful.
For any sorts of details and queries do contact EU helpers.