Working in Zurich

Expats interested in a career move that places them in a financial sector focused, commercial centre will find working in Zurich ideal. This Swiss city has the renowned reputation as the banking capital of the world, and is one of Europe's most important money-management arenas.

Expats continue to be drawn to the city’s high professional standards, and the long-term career opportunities that can potentially arise from even a short stint in Zurich.

Additionally, the city is well-known as a destination that pays educated and experienced individuals high salaries, though, this is a necessity in light of the high cost of living in the city.

Unemployment is low in Switzerland, and most non-EU nationals relocate to Switzerland with a job already in place – given the difficulties attached to securing a residence permit. That said, with some concerted effort and determination, it is possible to find a job in Zurich, even if you don't speak Swiss German.

The work culture in Zurich is incredibly performance-based, with little room for unpreparedness and humour. Always be punctual, formal and well-presented.
 

To be legally employed in Switzerland it's necessary to have a residence permit, this rule extends to both EU and non-EU nationals; though, the first group will have a much easier time obtaining the correct documentation.

If your country of nationality is a member of the EU, then you are automatically entitled to an initial three months during which you can be employed in Switzerland without a residence permit. Should you wish to continue working, you will need to acquire a residence permit after the end of this period, and most companies will be able to help you do so.

The residence permit is usually valid for one year, and has to be renewed annually. Though there are some permit types that are more permanent. If you change jobs while living in Zurich, certain permits require that you reapply.

If you are of non-Swiss and non-EU nationality, getting a residence permit becomes trickier. A company in Switzerland can only sponsor you if it can prove that the job you are applying for cannot be done by Swiss or EU nationals. Most people from non-EU countries that get employed seem to be able to land a job in Switzerland through contacts back home or overseas opportunities which arise within their own company.

Key employment sectors in Zurich

Expats who are looking to work in Zurich will find that the sector of employment with the greatest opportunity for foreigners is the finance sector, whether in banking or wealth management. This industry area generates nearly a quarter of the jobs and a third of the wealth in the city. Positions can be found in both large corporations and small firms.

 
These industries are quite English-friendly, and vacancies that are advertised rarely require the applicant to speak German, unless some level of customer service is involved. Google has a large office in Zurich which routinely sponsors and employs foreigners, and major banks like UBS, often have vacancies for English speaking professionals. One of the best sites, which advertises plenty of vacancies for jobs where only English is required (by selecting the appropriate key words) is Jobs.ch.
 

If you would like to teach English in private language schools you will need a CELTA certificate and usually also a degree, preferably in English. Very few schools will take you into consideration if you don’t have the former, including the largest language centres, which are your best possibility of getting enough work to earn a proper salary.

You’ll also be expected to have a few years experience in teaching exam and business courses. Even if you do have the appropriate qualifications, know that vacancies are few and far between and competition is fierce due to a surplus of language teachers and the high hourly rate offered as compensation. Added to this, full-time contracts are almost unheard of and to make ends meet you will usually have to get lessons from a number of different schools.

Seeking private students independently is also an option, although then you will have to go through a rather complicated application and registration process for the status of ‘self-employed/freelancer’.

Alternatively, you could also try to teach English in standard schools, but for this you will need a formal degree in education. A CELTA or a master's degree in English is not deemed as an equivalent. Despite their sometimes questionable English competence, it seems that Swiss locals are often preferred for this kind of post, as it offers full-time employment with an excellent salary and benefits. For job opportunities check out the English Teachers Association of Switzerland, but most schools advertise on their web site instead, so a good Internet search should come up with a few more vacancies.
 

These kinds of jobs are usually advertised in the classified sections of newspapers and on expat web sites, so you’ll have to keep an eye for them in the appropriate places. In this case, remember that you will have to take care of your own residence permit application, which can be a pain, since  documents are not usually available in English.
 

 
Any form of assistant, worker in the service industry or customer service representative will be required to speak German, if not also French and Italian. The principle behind this is that these sort of workers will come in contact with both foreigners and locals, and it makes little sense for a company to employ someone who can only speak English, when there are plenty of Swiss whose English is of a very high standard. Even an English language bookshop and a call centre will require its staff to be proficient in German.
 

The cost of living in and around Zurich is very high, so even if you have adequate funds initially it will quickly run out if you don’t have a source of income. When you keep in mind that renting a property also needs a considerable financial and time commitment, the wisest thing to do is to try and secure a job prior to arriving in Switzerland, especially if you are limited by the fact that you don’t speak German fluently.

Remember that the Swiss value punctuality and quality of work, yet also tend to beat a bit around the bush in matters of negotiation and decision making. Finally, it is true that life in Zurich is expensive, but if you are an educated and experienced professional, you can wind up earning an extremely high salary, even when compared to the cost of living.