If you have sent out a lot of applications and have not received any positive responses, this could be because: You made some mistakes during your job search in Switzerland.
It’s true that many Swiss companies have difficulty finding staff. It is true that employment prospects in Switzerland are more than good. But despite all this, you can not find a job. Then something is not working properly.
Let us now take a look at some of the obstacles a foreign applicant faces in the Swiss labor market and learn how to address them properly.
Job search in Switzerland: mistakes to avoid
Job advertisements: If you are one of those who only look for work through ads on the Internet or through traditional channels (recruitment agencies, newspapers, etc.), you should know that most job opportunities in Switzerland are not available through these channels. Then you will miss out on most job opportunities. In addition, one ad published on the Internet receives hundreds of resumes, while outside the traditional channels, applications and competition are much lower. But how do you find these offers? Quite simply, you have to build a network.
Network, I am not saying it’s not possible to find a job in Switzerland using only traditional channels, but it certainly requires more time and a good amount of luck. Although networking is still the best way to find a job in Switzerland. However, most applicants do not know how to network or do it completely wrong.
LinkedIn, this social network, is essential for the job search. A Swiss recruiter looking for a specific profile will use a set of keywords that are specific to the profession, but also to the country. For one profession, the vocabulary may be different in the two countries. To solve this problem, it is best to analyze the keywords of the ads that match your profile on Swiss job portals. Also, take special care that your Linkedin profile is complete. An incomplete LinkedIn profile not only reduces your visibility in LinkedIn’s internal search engine, but also gives the potential recruiter only an incomplete picture of your skills.
The curriculum, even if it tends to be internationalized, has some specificities and peculiarities in Switzerland. So do not use the resume you use in another country, but adapt it. For example, maybe you worked in your country for an unknown company in Switzerland, so it may be necessary to explain what you did.
The company, It is essential that you are well informed about the companies you are applying to. For example, if you are networking and have a conversation with someone who works for a company that interests you. If you can make it clear in the conversation that you know the company you want to work for inside and out, it will certainly have a positive impact on your interview. This serves to build a relationship of credibility with the interviewer. And to do this, you need to be well informed and know what you are talking about.
Your profession, even though many Swiss companies complain about not being able to find applicants, this does not mean that this is true for all professions and all industries. You should keep in mind that if your profession is not in high demand and there are many applicants for your job, it will be very difficult for you to find a job in Switzerland.
If your profession is not one of the shortage professions, there is not much you can do except be patient and redouble your efforts, especially when it comes to networking. If you want to know more about the most in-demand jobs in Switzerland, I recommend you to read this article
Swiss culture, find out about Swiss culture and the country in general. If a recruiter thinks that you do not fit the company culture, he will not hire you, even if you are very good. So even an excellent professional cannot be hired in Switzerland if the recruiter is not sure that the mentality of the applicant is compatible with that of the company. Keep in mind that the Swiss culture is very specific, especially the work culture. If you, as a foreign applicant, do not have a clear idea of the main elements of the Swiss culture, it will be difficult for you to get a job. Some pillars of this culture are: Respect for hierarchy, modesty, teamwork, confidentiality, etc.
Job search in Switzerland – conclusions
If you are having problems with your application in Switzerland, you may benefit from the suggestions I have given above. But above all, two things should never be missing: perseverance, which means not giving up at the first difficulties and the ability to build a network of connections and contacts, both in the real world and in the virtual world (social networks), which could be the key to finding the coveted job in Switzerland.
