How To: Find Jobs in Switzerland as an English Speaker (Without Speaking German)

Since you are interested in knowing how to get a job in Switzerland without any German fluency—then you have surely considered the odds of moving here. Or, perhaps you want to try your luck for a few months, considering that Switzerland is known for its limitless earning potential.

The country has three other official languages except for German. And we can easily squeeze in English in there if we want to, considering that most Swiss citizens have English fluency.

Anyhow, we are here to enlighten you with some of the ‘hows’ related to finding jobs in Switzerland that don’t involve any German and are mainly in English.

Getting A Job In Switzerland Without Speaking Any German: The Basics

The work permit

In order for you to work in Switzerland, you must possess a work permit. You should know in advance that regardless of the period of time you plan to work in Switzerland, the government has a quota system already set. So you have to make sure you apply in advance, check with the criteria and your eligibility, and make sure to complete everything that is asked in your application form properly.

The job hunt

Every individual nowadays is equipped with some tech skills. The first step in finding a job should be to google about job vacancies in Switzerland for foreigners. Once you start this process of online searching, you will be exposed to countless job opportunities. You should be very careful when reading the requirements and pay attention to the company that is recruiting.

Small local companies will probably look for German-speaking skills, so you might want to skip them. Look for international companies based in Switzerland, who could use your French, Italian, or English fluency. Also, check language schools and universities with open calls for non-German speakers. There will be plenty of the sort.

The application stage

Once you have identified your potential recruiter, you should start ‘Swissifying’ your application. Yes, there is such a term. We are talking about adapting your job application to the requirements of a typical Swiss recruiter. What they want from you is that you provide every single piece of information that relates to your previous work experiences in detail.

Note all the competencies you had, education, reference numbers, and important skills that you think will add more value regarding the position you are applying for.

The Swiss CV requires lots of personal information from you—which you may find odd at first. To add up, in most cases, you are also required to include a picture of yourself. So make sure you invest enough time in leaving the best first impression.

Negotiating your salary

You ought to know that Swiss vacancy announcements do not publish the salary that is complementary to the position announced. So it is up to you to calculate things before your final stage of the application process and think about what amount you will be offered as your future salary.

Bear in mind that we are talking about Switzerland, one of the countries with the highest income rate. So ask for larger numbers than what you would actually get in your home country. And negotiate, the Swiss go by this principle all the time.

Networking

Searching online is one step closer to your dream job in Switzerland. However, you don’t have to stop your search there. Once you have set up a basic knowledge of living in Switzerland, start benefiting from the friendships and co-working relationships you create there. Start participating in social events, meeting locals or expats that have some time living in Switzerland. These people can provide you with relevant contacts of recruiters who are constantly hiring foreigners for different jobs.

Job Vacancies In Switzerland For Foreigners: Resources

There are multiple ways of working in Switzerland as a foreigner. More specifically, as a student, you will probably look for more flexible choices that will give you enough time to study as well. Luckily, your student’s residence permit allows you to perform part-time or full-time jobs, as long your university provides a statement confirming that your employment will not prolong the length of your studies.

You can start your job hunt by looking for vacancies within your university, as there are ongoing positions for teaching assistants or lab assistants. You can visit the placement office within your uni, and they can provide you with information on student employment.

Job searching databases from Swiss universities

Unfortunately, the Swiss country does not have a central database of open positions at universities. Instead, you can use EURAXESS SWITZERLAND to see a collection of direct websites for vacancies in the Swiss higher education, or you can check the online databases directly in the following links:

• University of Zürich
• EPFL, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
• University of Bern
• University of Fribourg
• University of Genève
• University of Lucerne
• University of Neuchâtel
• University of St.Gallen

Best job portals in Switzerland

However, if you want to expand your job search and seek opportunities outside your university, you can always use other resources available. Here are some of the most famous job portals that students in Switzerland tend to visit:

• JobsinZurich
• students.ch
• BerufsBeratung
• JobsForBrains
• Jobs
• Jobscout 24
• JobUp
• Job Winner
• Monster
• Season Workers
• StepStone
• Total Jobs
• Swiss Dev Jobs

Teaching job portals

The most convenient way to use your skills in other languages is surely by teaching. And the payment for teaching jobs in Switzerland is advantageous, specifically for native English speakers. You can find teaching jobs on these websites:

• E-tach.ch
• I-to-i.com
• Britishcouncil.com
• klubschule.ch
• boalingua.ch/de
• berlitz.ch
• flyingteachers.ch/en

Although we oriented you to links to several online job platforms, don’t let that stop you from searching for vacancies in newspapers and other printed media. Visit onlinenewspapers.com for a list of all  Swiss newspapers, and keep an eye on the job vacancy announcements. There will certainly be plenty of options for non-German speakers.

We wish you a successful job hunt!