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Switzerland Guide: Jobs

Finding a job abroad is not easy, and foreign working conditions are often quite different from those at home. Our job guide explains where to look for a job and how to apply for it. You will also find information on salaries, working conditions and social security issues.

The job market:
Job chances for foreigners in Switzerland

For most foreigners, Switzerland appears to be a paradise for working conditions. Swiss employees enjoy some of the highest salaries in the world. Despite widespread job losses in Switzerland during the early 1990s recession, unemployment is still among the lowest in Europe. More...
Finding a job:
The best way of searching for jobs in Switzerland

There are many ways and places to look for a job in Switzerland. Many can be contacted before you arrive. To help you get started, we have gathered together some of the more effective Swiss resources for searching for employment. More...
Work permits:
Who needs a work permit? And how do you apply for it?

Since 1998, Switzerland has a dual priority system for the issuance of work permits: this means priority is given to workers from EU member states and a more restrictive admission policy is operated for non-EU citizens. More...
Job applications:
How to impress a Swiss employer

Your job application acts as your ‘business card’ for your job search as well as being your passport to a first contact with potential employers. Job applications and the selection process in Switzerland might look and work differently than what you’re used to at home. More...
Qualifications:
Recognition of international diplomas and qualifications

Many jobs in Switzerland are subject to regulation and can require some formal qualifications. Foreign qualifications are recognized in many trades and professions, as long as the training is similar to the equivalent Swiss qualification. More...
Working:
Salaries, working hours and annual leave

Switzerland has a very high costs of living when compared with countries in the European Union, but also relatively high levels of pay. However, be prepared to work a lot for your money! More...
Social security:
An introduction to the Swiss social security system

If working in Switzerland, you will probably have to join the Swiss social security system. This section gives you some essential information on the different types of social insurance in Switzerland to help you to find your way round the Swiss ‘bureaucratic maze’. More...
Unemployment insurance:
How to get money if you loose your job

All employees in Switzerland who have not yet reached the legal retirement age must be covered by unemployment insurance. Half of the contribution is paid by the employee and the other half by the employer. More...
Old-age insurance:
The three pillars of the Swiss pension system

Old-age insurance in Switzerland is based on a system of three ‘insurance pillars’. This system often appears quite confusing at first. This section gives you an overview of the three pillars and some tips on how to optimize your pension plan. More...
Accident insurance:
How you're covered for accidents at work and at home

Accident insurance covers accidents occurring in the workplace and diseases caused by working conditions. It also covers non-work accidents if the employee works for at least 8 hours per week. More...

Further Links about Jobs

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Switzerland Guide: Jobs