Working in Switzerland

Interview with Katharina

What has been your experience as a foreigner in the Swiss working world?

Like everywhere else, there are black sheep in Switzerland, but overall I have had very positive experiences with my colleagues. I have found the Swiss to be rather reserved, but also incredibly helpful. However, my direct manner has sometimes caused me difficulties – because being direct, especially at work, is not necessarily part of Swiss culture. 😊

How has your day-to-day work changed compared to your home country?

Since I only worked in medical technology for two years after my studies in Germany – in a company with an American influence – I don't have too many points of comparison. Nevertheless, I found the working world in Switzerland to be somewhat more traditional, with clear hierarchies and longer decision-making processes.

What advice would you give to other international professionals who want to work in Switzerland?

Have courage! Switzerland is a wonderful country where I have met many great people and come to love impressive landscapes. Applying for jobs can be challenging at first, but don't let rejections get you down – they help you to better understand the market and the culture. Think of it like online dating: eventually, the right company will come along and take you by the hand.

Overall, I don't regret a minute of living in Switzerland. However, it is important that you really feel comfortable here – after all, you can't live on money alone. In the end, it just has to feel right for you.

What would you have liked to have known beforehand?

I should have prepared my move to Switzerland better – both organisationally and mentally. There are some things, such as the significance of the probationary period or the slightly different communication in professional life, that I would have liked to have understood earlier.

What was your funniest misunderstanding with Swiss German?

One day a colleague said to me: ‘Why don't you quickly get a stool?’ I didn't understand a word she said and wondered why I should get such a piece of furniture. I imagined a large, rustic wooden chair.

When I then asked back at a loss, she laughingly pointed to a small stool. In Switzerland, a stool is simply a low seat or a small stepladder – and not an antique piece of furniture from grandmother's parlour. Since then, I know that not everything that sounds like High German means the same in Switzerland! 😄

In conversation with Sorina

What support did you receive to help you find your way in the Swiss labour market?

My entry into the professional world in Switzerland ten years ago was challenging because the admission of EU workers was not easy at the time. I received both professional and personal support at the beginning of my career in Switzerland. I received the greatest support from my first employer. During my master's degree in the hotel industry, I completed an internship programme in Zurich, after which my employer offered me a permanent position. This experience opened doors for me in terms of further professional opportunities. In addition, my husband, who was born and raised in Switzerland, has introduced me to Swiss culture. I would also like to highlight my talent for languages. Mastering the national languages German, French and Italian has also helped me to integrate better and find my way around the Swiss working world more quickly.

How do you build your professional network in Switzerland?

My network extends across different levels: within my company, through relationships with professionals, and through the further training courses I attend. I am currently expanding my professional network by making contacts with experts in the event management industry as part of my CAS studies, so that I can implement the latest trends in my field of work. It is also valuable for me to have a knowledgeable mentor in the professional world who has in-depth background knowledge and promotes careers while expanding the network on both sides. For me, sociability, authenticity and honesty are the key to building trust in a network.

How have your experiences in Switzerland changed the way you view work and careers?

The culture of consensus in Switzerland shapes the way people work together in their day-to-day work. In this context, communicating with colleagues from different cultures is particularly important in order to include everyone involved and promote successful collaboration. Since I was originally used to a more direct and less consensus-oriented culture, I first had to get used to this way of working.

What would you have liked to have known beforehand?

Switzerland offers a corporate culture with flexible working hours that enable a healthy work-life balance. It is only since I became a mother to a three-year-old son that I have discovered the advantages of the working conditions for part-time employees and I particularly appreciate them. Part-time work also gives me more time for further training, which will improve my career opportunities in the long term.

Is there a Swiss custom in your everyday office life that you initially found strange but have now grown to love?

Small talk plays an important role as an expression of politeness. Taking time for my conversation partners and not getting straight to the point. I consciously take time for my counterpart and start conversations by asking about their well-being, for example, instead of getting straight to the point – because small talk also helps to maintain relationships.

Thank you both very much!