Switzerland is one of the most popular countries in the world to live and there are so many jobs available to EU citizens, foreigners and English speakers. From working a winter ski season at some of the best resorts in Europe, to being employed in the tourism industry during summer and living in spectacular locations. You will fall in love with Switzerland, search jobs and apply today.
Latest Vacancies in Switzerland
Getaway Vans
Getaway Vans operate twenty-five vans and are recruiting drivers to work picking holidaymakers up from Geneva Airport to Morzine and the surrounding ski resorts.
Viamonde
Viamonde offer Ski & snowboard trips in Switzerland for international schools and are hiring experienced ski, snowboard and outdoor activity instructors as well as qualified nurses and paramedics.
Crystal Ski Holidays
Crystal Ski are now recruiting ski reps and ski administration staff to work in Grindelwald, Wengen and Zermatt.
Village Camps
Village Camps offers activity and adventure camps, performing arts, dance, stem robotics and coding, surf, football, tennis, leadership, and language camps. As well as recruiting residential camp employees in Leysin, we also require counsellors to run day camps close to Geneva. Village Camps recruit summer camp employees and also have jobs all-year round in outdoor education.
Switzerland Facts
• Population: 8.637 million
• Capital: Bern
• Currency: Swiss franc
• Dialing code: +41
Reasons to Work in Switzerland
Need some convincing this country is for you? Here is why you will enjoy living and working in Switzerland:
• One of the best quality of living in the world
• Very low crime rates
• Local people are very friendly
• Strong economy and salaries are amongst the highest in Europe
• Great transport connections to travel and see more of the continent
How to Work in Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the most appealing countries to move to, with lots of different employment opportunities, from professional careers with huge multinational companies, to internships and work experience placements perfect for students and graduates, to temporary and short term work in seasonal industries.
Switzerland has one of the strongest economies in Europe and the world, approximately 74% of Swiss GDP is generated by the services sector and 25% by industry. The agricultural sector contributes around 1%. If you are seeking a long term career with a high paying salary these are some of the biggest companies in Switzerland which hire thousands of staff from around the world: Nestlé, Roche, Novartis, Compagnie Financière Richemont, Chubb, Glencore, Zurich Insurance Group, UBS and ABB.
Most jobs advertised online and internationally to foreigners are in English. A lot of positions, especially seasonal roles include accommodation which is an added benefit as the cost of living in Switzerland is very high.
Best Places to Work in Switzerland
Most jobs for foreigners can be found in the larger towns and cities like: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Bern, Winterthur, Lucerne, Saint Gallen, Lugano, Biel/Bienne, Thun and Köniz. If you are being hired for some seasonal positions like in the agriculture or ski industries you can be working in very remote and countryside locations.
Summer Jobs in Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the most popular countries to work in Europe with high salaries and spectacular scenery. Summer is one of the best times of the year to gain work, and wages are high even for temporary and short term positions.
You can find summer jobs at holiday resorts, hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, travel and tour companies, summer camps and language schools. You’ll need to apply a few months in advance to stand the best chance of getting hired as competition for roles is high.
Winter and Ski Jobs in Switzerland
Working a winter season in Switzerland is a dream. Think the most beautiful locations and ski slopes in the world. Jobs can be found working as ski/snowboarding instructors, working at a resort, hotels or in shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs.
Some of the best ski resorts to work at in Switzerland include: Grindelwald, Zermatt, Gstaad, Crans-Montana, Andermatt, Davos, Verbier and Arosa Lenzerheide. These resorts hire staff all year round, but most positions are available from October to April.
Working in Switzerland – FAQ
Language
The official languages of Switzerland include: German, Italian, French and Romansh. Although most local people are fluent in English but if you know any German, Italian or French you will really boost your employment prospects, especially for employment in the travel and tourism industries.
Cost of Living
Buying a property or renting in Switzerland is very expensive in comparison to rest of Europe/the world. Prices for food and entertainment are also high, especially in the larger cities. Some people who work in Switzerland choose to live in nearby Germany, France, or Italy, as the costs of living are lower. Companies do offer high salaries which does help with the cost of living, also some include housing as part of a job package.
Tax
There is a standard 8.5% tax on earnings and maximum you can be charged is 11.5%. This is very low especially compared to countries like the UK.
How Do I Get a Work Visa for Switzerland?
If you are a citizen of an EU/EFTA member state you can enter, live and work in Switzerland for up to 6 months. For the first 3 months you do not need a permit. After that, you can obtain a short-term EU/EFTA residence permit, which is valid for 3 months per year, provided you have the necessary financial means to support yourself.
If you are applying from abroad outside the EU, to legally live and work in Switzerland you will need to apply for a residence permit from the Swiss commune. You will be have to submit the following documents: a valid identity card or passport. confirmation of employment from your employer or a certificate of employment (e.g. an employment contract).
Related Destinations:
• Seasonal work in France
• Seasonal work in Germany
• Seasonal work in Italy