The reason international students seek job opportunities in Switzerland in large numbers is that the country offers a stable economy. It has one of the lowest unemployment rates worldwide at 4.3% as of March 2020. Simultaneously, cross-border professionals are a crucial cog in the wheel for the Swiss economy, with 332,177 of them active in the quarter ending in June 2020, as per studies.
Switzerland has attractive career opportunities for graduates though the country is relatively smaller. It has an excellent employment rate and a flourishing economy alike. Switzerland offers high living standards and attractive salaries along with lower tax rates. The beautiful landscapes and bustling cities offer immense prospects for aspirants.
There are readily available job opportunities in Switzerland for Indian students and other aspirants at the following avenues:
Jobs.ch- Provided in English, French, and German
JobsinZurich.com
JobsinGeneva.com
Xpat Jobs Switzerland
The Local
Another option that one can opt for exploring the job market is volunteering for work. Volunteering is another way to get integrated into the job market. It will help you understand the work culture while building up your resume and contact base. Volunteering opportunities can be found at HelloSwitzerland, and you can also venture into the highly competitive English teaching space. You can look up TEFL Academy, Go Abroad, and English Teachers Association Switzerland for more information.
The British Council Language Assistants programme is a good bet too. It works by offering paid teaching placements abroad, providing the opportunity for everyone to travel and teach while gathering invaluable experiences simultaneously. Undergraduates and graduates in any subject, with AS Level in German or French, may work as English language assistants in the country, earning roughly £2,200-3,000 (INR 1.88-2.57 lakh) each month.
There are numerous opportunities for doing internships in Switzerland. SWISS is the national airline and offers internships for bachelor’s graduates over six months in various areas of operations. Opportunities are available in Basel, Zurich, and Geneva.
Credit Suisse also provides extensive and summer internship programmes along with Roche, which has 12-month internship programmes for master’s, bachelor, and PhD graduates in engineering, life sciences, business, and technology.
IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) also offers various traineeships to UG students.
Some other job websites include JobUp, StepStone, Jobwinner, Jobscout 24, Seasonworkers, Total jobs, and Monster. Specialist executives may find specialist jobs at Alpha, while Euro Science Jobs is for post-doctoral and research-based openings.
SwissLinx is for finding jobs in technology, executive, and finance roles, while Diversity is for the pharmaceutical sector. Robert Walters is a repository of finance and accountancy jobs, while IT jobs may be found at Darwin, Techno Jobs, and Swissdev Jobs.
There are jobs available at global organisations, including the World Trade Organisation, United Nations, International Red Cross, and more. You may also sign up with recruitment agencies in the country. Private institutions are called agence de placement or Arbeitsvermittlung here.
Adecco and Manpower are two leading recruitment agencies. You may also flip through the Swiss Yellow Pages for finding more such agencies. Also, look at the classifieds sections of newspapers for more information on openings.
Switzerland lacks skilled workers in sectors like pharmaceuticals, engineering, IT, and financial services. Workers are also in demand throughout the hospitality sector. Graduates in these disciplines are naturally in high demand as a result.
To apply for jobs in Switzerland
You should first build up your CV cover letter and arrange all your educational certificates and other qualifications.
Write your application in the language of the job advertisement or the company, i.e. English, Italian, French, or German.
Make sure that your CV covers a maximum of two sides of A4 with cover letters encompassing a single side.
You may include your photograph as well. Successful applicants will have to go for interviews, while the final selection procedure may cover assessment and psychometric testing alike.
Networking will help you find openings in the right companies. You can join LinkedIn and even follow prospective employers on Twitter. There are numerous summer jobs available in Switzerland’s tourism sector. There are various opportunities available for international aspirants, including openings at hotels, restaurants, bars, and also ski resorts across the Alps, which look for seasonal workers to meet high demand. You may also work as a watersports instructor if you are suitably qualified.
Career Opportunities in Switzerland- Top Organisations
While offering a comparatively stable and flourishing economy, Switzerland is still a smaller market. Hence, there is steady competition for employment, especially since locals are first preferred for jobs over their foreign counterparts as far as many Swiss companies are concerned. International workers, however, have better prospects in leading cities like Geneva, Basel, Bern, Zurich, and Lausanne.
Jobs are mostly available throughout the hospitality sector and industries like banking, IT, insurance, engineering, and pharmaceuticals. Those looking to build pharma careers will find openings in Basel, while insurance and banking careers are primarily in demand throughout Zurich.
Some of the biggest recruiters in Switzerland include various MNCs such as Glencore, Adecco, Credit Suisse, Roche Group, Nestle, Zurich Insurance, Novartis, ABB, SGS, and even leading global organizations like the World Economic Forum, the United Stations, the Red Cross, the World Trade Organisation, and the International Olympic Committee.
Highest Paying Jobs in Switzerland
Salaries in Switzerland are amongst the highest throughout the EU/EFTA nations as per reports. Gross wages stood at CHF 6,538 (INR 5.33 lakh) for 2018, according to studies with Zurich offering the highest salaries of CHF 6,965 (INR 5.68 lakh).
The highest (per month) salaries in Switzerland include CHF 15,000 (INR 12.24 lakh) for those in top management and public service positions and CHF 10,000 (INR 8.16 lakh) for auditors and tax advisors. Doctors, nurses, medical assistants, and pharmacists usually earn around CHF 10,770-20,000 (INR 8.79 lakh to INR 16.32 lakh). Legal professionals earn approximately CHF 9,000, while engineers may earn up to CHF 8,420 (INR 6.87 lakh). At the same time, software or IT engineers may earn CHF 7,730 (INR 6.31 lakh), while skilled technicians may earn up to CHF 7,700 (INR 6.28 lakh). Teachers usually earn approximately CHF 7,280 (INR 5.94 lakh) per month. These are some of the highest-paid jobs in Switzerland. The working hours can be long, ranging from 45 to 50 hours a week.
In conclusion, Switzerland in 2024 continues to present a plethora of job opportunities, particularly for those skilled in industries such as finance, technology, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality. Renowned for its high quality of life, competitive salaries, and a strong economy, Switzerland attracts professionals from around the world. The country's multilingual environment and its position as a hub for international corporations and organizations make it especially appealing. However, it's important for job seekers to be mindful of the competitive nature of the Swiss job market and the emphasis on qualifications and language skills. For those ready to embrace the challenges, the rewards of working in Switzerland are not just in lucrative career prospects but also in experiencing a unique blend of cultural diversity, innovation, and work-life balance that this country offers.
Kanika has 5+ years of experience as a writer and content developer. She has written for a wide range of industry verticals, including hospitality, restaurants, non-profits, finance, IT, HR, technology, payroll, and education. She has worked as a creator for a few leading companies and has also helped brands grow through her creative writing.
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