How to Find a Job in Switzerland

by Chantal Panozzo

Jobs. They’re on just about everyone’s mind right now. Whether you’re recently unemployed in Switzerland, a trailing spouse looking to continue a career, or not yet in the country and trying to find work here, the following is a guide for how to find a job in Switzerland using online resources.

1. Link-Jobs/jobs.plus

If you’re unemployed in Switzerland, when you register at the RAV, ask your advisor for a free login and password for http://www.link-jobs.ch. The site searches around 2,000 websites of top companies each day for jobs based in Switzerland, claiming you can find four times the number of jobs compared to a free job search. Those not officially unemployed can have access to this job board free for seven days by registering here.  

2. Jobs.ch

Jobs.ch is a job search tool related to the one discussed above, but it is a free service. 

3. Persoenlich.com

For those in the marketing, communications, and advertising professions, the job board from Persoenlich can be helpful. While English jobs here aren’t that common, they are posted from time to time, however the site itself is not available in English. If you can navigate it though, you’ll have an advantage.

4. Medienjobs.ch

Another helpful website for those in communication fields is Medienjobs.ch. Here you can search by branch such as “Radio/TV/Film” or “Communication/Advertising/Marketing/PR/Sales”. This site isn’t in English, but English jobs are often posted here.

5. Stellen.ch

Stellen is a general job search board in Switzerland where you can search by either keyword or job category. The site is available in English, which makes it extra helpful.

6. Jobwinner.ch

Another general job search board available in English, Jobwinner offers a wide variety of jobs and also lets you search for only apprenticeships, executive, or part-time work.

7. Future Watch International Recruiting

If you’re in finance, Future Watch is especially useful. The company that runs the site specializes in serving international companies in Switzerland, which is most likely where you’ll find a job if you only speak English anyway. 

8. Telejob.ch

Academics can search for work in Switzerland at Telejob.ch, an online job board that posts positions for professors, PhDs, and PostDocs. Available in English.

9. Jobs in Zurich

If you’re only looking for work in Zurich, jobsinzurich.com is a useful site that posts positions for English speakers. Here you’ll find job postings from Google, IBM, ABB and many more international companies based in the Zurich area.

10. International Companies

Another option is to search international companies directly. For example, Google, IBM, Alstom, ABB, Roche, DOW, Novartis, and hundreds of others list jobs directly on their websites.

For those looking to move to Switzerland eventually, the best thing I can recommend in this economy (Switzerland is not expected to recover until December of 2010), is to get a job at an international company in your home country that you know has an office in Switzerland. Work there for a year or two and then ask to be transferred. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get a job in Switzerland.

If you’re young and just starting out, it also benefits you to have experience first so you’re more valuable to companies abroad. If you’re in your 20s, I recommend reading How to Land an International Assignment over on glimpse.org.

Find out how I was able to find a job as a trailing spouse in Switzerland as well as additional job searching tips by visiting my blog about life in Switzerland over at One Big Yodel.

Good luck with your search. 

Tags: Switzerland