Looking for work in Switzerland
A tidy collection of links and practical information, with no filler: where the job ads are, which agencies to approach, what the Swiss rules actually say, and where to find the official sources.
- Job boards Where the vacancies are published: official, general, regional and industry-specific sites, plus where to check an employer's reputation.
- Recruitment agencies Temporary and permanent placement agencies active in Switzerland, by size and specialisation — and how to deal with them.
- Did you know? Probation, notice, overtime, holiday, sick pay, deductions, CVs: the rules that surprise newcomers most.
- Official resources Federal authorities, work permits, salary and tax calculators, social insurance, diplomas, unions.
Where to start
- Work out which permit you need. EU/EFTA citizens go through a simple procedure; for third-country nationals there are quotas and the employer has to justify the hire. See the permit resources.
- Pick your language region. The language an employer expects changes your chances completely: German in Zurich, French in Geneva or Lausanne, Italian in Ticino, English in many international companies.
- Rewrite your CV in the Swiss format. Two pages, factual, no marketing prose, exact dates, certificates attached. See applying for a job.
- Search several channels at once. Job boards, agencies, company career pages and direct approaches. Plenty of positions are never advertised at all.
- Check the going rate before you negotiate, using the official salary calculators.
Note. This site collects links and general information: it is not legal or tax advice. Always confirm anything important against the official sources, because rules change and quite a few of them differ from canton to canton.