How to get a job in Switzerland from India: (4 easy steps)
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Switzerland is a global talent hub, attracting skilled professionals worldwide. With a high demand for skilled workers in fields like Information Technology, Healthcare and finance, Switzerland’s job market offers lucrative career opportunities across diverse roles.
Are you a skilled professional looking for job opportunities in Switzerland for Indians? This guide offers answers to all your questions. Read on to learn how to get a job in Switzerland from India.
Quick overview
How can I get a job in Switzerland from India?
- Research the Switzerland job market.
- Identify Jobs that align with your skill set and experience.
- Prepare a resume and cover letter that caters to the Switzerland job market.
- Apply for a work permit.
Do you know?
- Switzerland’s job market is thriving, with a 1.4% employment increase in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023.[1]
- Switzerland ranks 8th according to the OECD, with an impressive 2.40% job security percentage.[2]
- Switzerland has one of the highest net adjusted disposable income rates per household, ranking 3rd with an 8.2 score on the OECD income scale.[3]
How can I get a job in Switzerland from India?
Step 1: Research the Switzerland job market
Identify the industry and job position that best matches your skills, interests, work experience and qualifications. Most Switzerland job websites offer filters and categories for targeted search results. Use these to refine your search by considering factors such as industry, location, job type and salary range.
Many companies also post job openings directly on their career pages. You can check such portals to stay updated on vacancies. Additionally, recruitment agencies can help you connect with potential employers.
Step 2: Identify Jobs that align with your skill set and experience
Consider taking assessment tests to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. These tests can help you choose a career path that complements your skills.
If you have significant work experience, contact potential employers to inquire about job openings and specific requirements. Expanding your network through professional associations or social groups on global platforms in your desired field can also provide insights into potential job opportunities.
Step 3: Prepare a resume and cover letter that caters to the Switzerland job market
Carefully review job requirements before applying. Pay attention to the required skills, work experience and qualifications mentioned for the job. This will help you add the skills and details to your resume and prepare for a potential interview.
When preparing for applications, draft an ATS-friendly resume to significantly improve your chances of landing a job interview. For reference, you can use any ATS resume templates available on popular job boards such as LinkedIn or Indeed.
Recent graduates may need to provide a cover letter with academic qualifications, research documents and personal projects to support their applications.
Step 4: Apply for a work permit
Swiss employers need to secure specific permits from cantonal authorities before hiring workers. Hence, once your application is successful and you have your Switzerland offer letter, you will need to cooperate with your employer to ensure your work permit is processed in time for your relocation.
Job opportunities in Switzerland for Indians
Switzerland’s job market offers diverse career opportunities across various lucrative sectors. Here is a glimpse of some popular job roles and their average wages in Switzerland in 2024.
Industry and Sub Divisions | Job roles | Average base salary |
Information Technology | Back-End Developer | CHF 100’000 |
Full-Stack Developer | CHF 100’000 | |
Front-End Developer | CHF 102’500 | |
Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Social Services | Physiotherapist | CHF 67’800 |
Nurse | CHF 82’404 | |
Veterinarian | CHF 90’500 | |
Accounting, Administration & Human Resources | Human Resources Officer | CHF 86’500 |
Accountant | CHF 95’000 | |
Accounting Manager | CHF 115’000 | |
Banking, Finance & Insurance | Branch Manager | CHF 87’100 |
Credit Analyst | CHF 95’550 | |
Business Analyst | CHF 120’000 | |
Engineering | Electrical Engineer | CHF 95’000 |
Software Engineer | CHF 105’000 | |
Aerospace Engineer | CHF 165’750 | |
Marketing & Sales | Community Manager | CHF 73’000 |
Content Writer | CHF 175’500 | |
Digital Marketing Manager | CHF 105’900 | |
Legal | Paralegal | CHF 89’200 |
Lawyer | CHF 130’000 | |
Architecture & Creative Arts | Artist | CHF 55’250 |
Graphic Designer | CHF 82’568 | |
Architect | CHF 127’429 | |
Childcare & Education | Educator | CHF 65’520 |
Professor | CHF 77’000 | |
Teacher | CHF 162’825 |
Source: Talent
Also read: 5 salary negotiation tips that will get you paid what you’re worth
Eligibility
Educational Qualifications: A high level of education is essential for a non-EU/EFTA national. Applicants need a degree from a university or higher education institution. Depending on the profession, applicants with specialised training and several years of expense may also be considered qualified.
Language Proficiency: Switzerland has four official languages, namely German, French, Italian and Romansh. The language requirement largely depends on the region where you apply for work.
Central and eastern parts of Switzerland predominantly speak German, while in the western parts, French is more common. Southern regions speak Italian and Romansh is used in the east.
While English is widely used in business contexts, fluency in the local language is crucial.
Professional Experience: Significant professional experience determines the eligibility for Swiss jobs as a non-EU/EFTA national. Non-EU/EFTA nationals are only permitted to work in Switzerland if they are highly qualified and a manager, specialist or other similarly skilled professional.
Also read: How to answer these 10 most common questions for an overseas job interview.
How to apply for jobs in Switzerland from India?
To apply for jobs in Switzerland from India, you can use several foreigner-friendly online job portals that cater to international professionals. Popular Switzerland job portals for Indian professionals include LinkedIn, Indeed, JobUp, Jobs.ch, SwissDevJobs and more. On these websites, you can find details of job vacancies in Switzerland for Indian professionals across various industries.
Most job boards also offer filters and categories to help narrow Switzerland job opportunities based on your preferred location, industry, job type and salary.
There may also be opportunities for work-from-home jobs in Switzerland from India. You can explore options using the ‘remote work’ filter on the mentioned job portals.
Switzerland work permits and immigration processes
Employers must apply to the migration authorities for work permits in Switzerland. Work permits are granted only to non-EU/EFTA nationals if Swiss or EU/EFTA nationals are unavailable for the job role. Moreover, the number of work permits issued to non-EU/EFTA nationals is also restricted. Working without a permit is illegal in Switzerland and can result in legal repercussions.
Switzerland workplace culture
Before you apply for jobs in Switzerland from India, you must understand the work culture to make the transition easier for yourself and others around you:
Swiss work week and hours
Swiss workers typically work Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. While some companies experiment with four-day workweeks to boost productivity, most stick to the traditional five-day workweek to avoid increased stress and overtime.
Under Swiss employment law, the maximum regular working hours are 45 hours per week, but the average is around 41 hours. Certain industries, like banking and healthcare, often require longer hours due to their essential services..
Public holidays and vacation
Switzerland respects national and regional public holidays across its 26 cantons. Working on Sundays or public holidays is prohibited unless the employer gets special permission from the cantonal authority. Swiss employees receive at least four weeks of paid vacation annually. Additionally, during the first year of employment, workers are entitled to three weeks of paid sick leave.
Workplace etiquette
In Swiss business culture, greetings are formal and include a firm handshake and eye contact. Using formal titles and last names is encouraged. Politeness and directness are key in communication and interrupting is considered disrespectful. The Swiss dress formally for business and typically wear suits. Sometimes, casual attire is acceptable on Fridays. Always dress modestly and avoid extravagant clothing. Punctuality is crucial in Switzerland. Arrive early for meetings and avoid contacting colleagues outside working hours. Business meetings often occur early in the morning, so it is important to arrive well on time.
Also read: 9 important questions to ask your employer before accepting a job offer overseas.
Dos & Don’ts
Do’s
- Use precise and formal language in your CV and cover letter.
- Research the company and interviewer before the interview.
- Limit your CV to one page.
- Use bullet points to highlight important information in your CV.
- Write your CV in the language of the job posting.
- Dress formally for the interview.
- Use only a formal version of the required language during your interview and in your workspace.
- Ask relevant questions during the interview.
- Maintain good manners with everyone in the workspace.
Don’ts
- Do not exaggerate in your CV.
- Do not provide excessive personal details like age or marital status unless specified.
- Do not ask about salary or benefits during the preliminary interview stages.
- Do not assume the interviewer knows your criteria; clarify how you are suitable for the role.
Before you go…
Planning on applying for jobs in Switzerland from India? Research the requirements for your field and job role well in advance to ensure you have the time to obtain any required certifications for the interview. Stay informed of the various financial aspects related to your relocation. The cost of living in the city of your choice, accommodation rates and availability all play a role in the quality of your life upon relocation.
When sending money from Switzerland, look into reliable and secure transaction services. Instarem for example, offers fast* and transparent transactions without worryingabout hidden costs and transaction fees.
The competitive conversion rates offered by Instarem also make it an affordable# option for international money transfers. Moreover, the Instarem app offers the convenience of quick*, safe transactions within a few clicks whenever you need them.
The app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
FAQs
Q. What is the best way to apply for jobs in Switzerland from India?
The best way to apply for jobs in Switzerland from India is to use job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, JobUp, Jobs.ch and SwissDevJobs, which offer a vast database of openings and filters to choose job roles that align with your qualifications.
Q. How to find jobs in Switzerland from India?
You can find jobs in Switzerland using international job websites or checking your target company’s job portals for vacancies.
Q. Is it possible to get a job in Switzerland from India?
Yes, with the right qualifications and available opportunities, you can get a job in Switzerland from India.
Q. Which job is best for Indians in Switzerland?
Lucrative industries like Information Technology and Healthcare have openings for many jobs in Switzerland from India in 2024. This is a great time for skilled Indian professionals to take advantage of the high demand in these fields.
Q. Does Switzerland need IELTS for a job?
Working in Switzerland does not require an IELTS certification. However, a German or French certification may be required for specific job roles in specific regions.
Q. Can I directly apply for a job in Switzerland?
Yes, you can apply directly for a job vacancy in Switzerland for Indians.
Q. How to get a job in Switzerland from India without PR?
You require a work permit (which is applied by your employer) to legally work in Switzerland. Your residency status does not impact your chances of landing a job in Switzerland.
Q. How much can an international student earn in Switzerland?
An international student can earn an average hourly wage between CHF 25 and CHF 35.
Q. What is the age limit for working in Switzerland?
The minimum age limit for working in Switzerland is 15 years.
Q. Can I work for a company in Switzerland from India?
Yes, you can work for a Swiss company remotely.
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How to get a job in Canada from India
How to get a job in Australia from India
How to get a job in the UK from India
How to get a job in London from India
How to get a job in Germany from India
How to get a job in Ireland from India
How to get a job in Singapore from India
Disclaimers:
This article is intended for informational purposes only. All details are accurate at the time of publishing. Instarem has no affiliation or relationship with the products or vendors mentioned.
* Fast meaning 75% of our transactions are completed in 15 minutes. Depending on the funding method.
#When it comes to affordable exchange rates and fees, it’s worth noting that the cost will vary depending on how you choose to fund your transactions. Credit card funding and bank transfer fees can differ significantly.
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