Hi! I will b new in town after Eastern. I am looking for a job to start. I don't speak German though. Any suggestion? Tk
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What are your qualifications?
These are my qualifications: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricard-martinez-cuders/?locale=en_US
So you want a job in customer service? In an NGO? Your tag line / description of yourself is really quite long, and I can't understand what you're looking for. I'd suggest just giving a short description of your background and then explain what you're looking for (make the two connect to each other - if you want a job in travel then your trip is a great point.. if you want to work in business then mention your business experience, but don't mention everything, keep focused :)
Hello Tk
There are a lot of jobs around where English is the main language, but little in Spanish. As Tangaroa already asked, it depends on your background.
Let us know for better advice. Thanks, Alex
These are my qualifications: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricard-martinez-cuders/?locale=en_US . I do really appreciate your help.
Ah ok, looks like you have plenty of experience.
Apart from direct personal contacts, you can check out jobscout24.ch and jobs.ch. If the ad is in English/Spanish, then the main language is in those languages too.
Good luck.
Suggest you start doing proper research! e.g. look on forums (e.g. www.englishforum.ch), use Google, read everything you can. There's loads of people job hunting here (Swiss and foreign), there's loads of info on the internet. The labour market is quite rigid i.e. jobs need to be applied for properly, application must include certain documents (cover letter, certificates, references), CV must be in Swiss-format (including photo, work permit status, age and other outrageous details that allow employers to discriminate), references also have a specific format. Photo should be a proper professional portrait. (Maybe this is all similar to Spain, but it is VERY different to the UK)
Learn some German. Even saying you are learning will help - shows you are willing to integrate, and planning to be here for longer than 5 minutes. I find it works well to speak German at the start of a job interview too, even if you quickly switch to English afterwards. You can find cheap German lessons by finding an online teacher (e.g. italki), much cheaper and more flexible than a language school in Zurich.
For casual jobs, I often see adverts in Migros/Coop (supermarkets) "Looking for cleaning, gardening, dog walking, etc... speak English/Spanish, very little German". Get someone to write it for you in IN GOOD GERMAN even if you say you speak little/no German. Helps if you have experience and references. No idea how successful this is. Offering to teach Spanish could be another idea?
For professional jobs, try LinkedIn, Xing, Indeed, and contacting various industry-specific recruitment agencies (usually they will come to you, if your profile on LinkedIn and Xing is prepared well). Only American/British or huge international firms really use LinkedIn, and you'll be competing with half the world. Good to have a profile on Xing (German/Swiss focussed site), even if you write it in English.
Hi Alison,
Thank you very much for all these advices, that's really sweet of you. I am planning to stay more than 5 min but unfortunately I would need to learn some German which I am definitely planning to do. I have a xing and Linkedin profile and I am also registered is several sites: indeed, adecco etc. Is there any specific temporary job agency which works well in Switzerland? I do speak fluent French as well. I do have references and I would love to know the format of a Swiss CV in order to improve my chances. At the moment I don't have any permit, my plan is to come here and look it from there, starting for a basic job while learning German and afterwards improve my chances to get a proper job.
I really do appreciate all your help, I made some skype interviews already but none worked so I hope that now that I will be living there could be a bit easier.
BIG BIG thank you! :)
Hi Ricard - your original post was quite brief. Many people say "hey I want to move to Zurich" but with no effort to research it themselves.
I would really recommend spending some time with www.englishforum.ch. It's basically a forum for foreigners in Switzerland, everything posted in English, lots of things translated. You will get really good answers to questions there as well - much better than CS. Main thing is that you need to have a certain level of wealth in your bank account to get/retain your T permit after the first 3 months (around CHF 100 per day i.e. 3 month permit CHF 9k APPROX), and you need to take out health & accident insurance within 3 months. There will be loads more info on that forum.
It should definitely be easier once you are here - your application is much more likely to be taken seriously, amongst the 100 other applications. Having a Skype interview already from Spain is a real success, be pleased with yourself. My boyfriend has been applying for jobs for 3 years now, with no luck...
When you get here and need to make friends: there is a weekly CS group social event in Zurich (although CSers these days are younger and younger!), and also InterNations (but this is busy in Zurich, a bit "networky"). Best thing I recommend is to use Meetup, join some groups that interest you (e.g. hiking, skiing, social events to practice speaking high German, painting - whatever)
Some other tips to get you started :-) https://www.thelocal.ch/20160805/14-mistakes-foreigners-make-on-moving-to-switzerland
I recommend Starbucks. You always have chances there.