When is best to look for a job in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, it seems like everything slows down at certain times - particularly in summer. But does this stagnation of sorts extend to the Swiss employment market as well?
Some people in need of a new job postpone their search until after summer vacations, believing that nobody in Human Resources (HR) is going to be in the office to handle their applications and interviews anyway.
While it is true that a lot of people — including those working in recruitment and HR departments of various companies — take at least part of their annual leave in July and August, this doesn’t mean that the whole Swiss economy shuts down during the entire summer.
In fact, this summer remains an active recruitment time in Switzerland. According to the Michael Page Swiss Job Index, over 200,000 jobs are advertised every month during this time.
This is all the more pertinent this year, as Switzerland’s economy has recovered so well from the Covid pandemic that it has more job vacancies than candidates to fill them; many industries throughout the country are looking for qualified workers and having difficulties finding them.
The consensus among recruitment agencies and industry associations is that the highest number of vacancies is currently in the IT and catering sectors, as well in healthcare, construction, and retail.
READ MORE: Which jobs are in demand in Switzerland right now – and how much can you earn?
One advantage of applying for a job in summer is less competition: since many people believe July and August are ‘dead’ in terms of recruitment, fewer CVs are sent out and yours will have more chances of getting noticed.
Another is that you may get an interview sooner because this period is also calmer and less stressful for HR people.
Is it better to wait until the summer break is over to apply?
“The highest number of job advertisements is posted in February and September”, Stephan Surber, Senior Partner, Page Executive (a sister brand to Michael Page), told The Local.
“In these months, we typically see an increase of 6 to 7 percent in the level of advertised jobs”, he added.
This does seem to suggest that usually the employment market in Switzerland picks up after the holidays — Christmas / New Year and summer vacations.
The slowest time of the year for a job search is between mid-December and mid-January, according to Surber.
A lot also depends on the kind of position you are seeking, as some industries and professions experience stronger demand at certain times of the year.
“For example, demand for accountants and financial controllers increases ahead of key reporting periods — mid and year-end”, Surber pointed out.
For the bank employees, new job searches are strongest around the bonus time of February to May.
“Others, such as the IT sector, have sustained high demand since the pandemic helped accelerate digital transformation programmes across most parts of the economy”, he said.
READ MORE: Five official websites to know if you’re planning to work in Switzerland
What about winter?
Winter tends to be a better season when it comes to looking for work.
Unless it's close to Christmas, people are less likely to be away than in summer, meaning the process should - at least in theory - happen a bit quicker.
Seasonal work is also a good option, given that the winter season brings tourists from around the globe.
If you are a foreign national, finding employment in Switzerland (and work permit to go with it) could be problematic. But seasonal work may be easier to get — especially if you are a snow buff.
While there is some mountain tourism in Switzerland all year round, winter is the busiest season because the economy of the Alpine regions depends heavily on ski industry, along with other winter sports and activities.
As relatively few people live permanently in resort areas, there is a shortage of local employees to work in various jobs that are essential for tourism.
Just as an example, the year-round population in the village of Zermatt, which lies at the foot of the famous Matterhorn, is about 6,000 people, but an estimated 2 million tourists visit the resort each year.
If you have the necessary skills and credentials, you can contact the central body dealing with ski and snowboard instructors, Swiss Snowports, to find out whether your foreign certificate is recognised in Switzerland and which resorts are hiring.
More information about finding a winter job is available below.
Snow business: How to find a job in winter sports in Switzerland
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Some people in need of a new job postpone their search until after summer vacations, believing that nobody in Human Resources (HR) is going to be in the office to handle their applications and interviews anyway.
While it is true that a lot of people — including those working in recruitment and HR departments of various companies — take at least part of their annual leave in July and August, this doesn’t mean that the whole Swiss economy shuts down during the entire summer.
In fact, this summer remains an active recruitment time in Switzerland. According to the Michael Page Swiss Job Index, over 200,000 jobs are advertised every month during this time.
This is all the more pertinent this year, as Switzerland’s economy has recovered so well from the Covid pandemic that it has more job vacancies than candidates to fill them; many industries throughout the country are looking for qualified workers and having difficulties finding them.
The consensus among recruitment agencies and industry associations is that the highest number of vacancies is currently in the IT and catering sectors, as well in healthcare, construction, and retail.
READ MORE: Which jobs are in demand in Switzerland right now – and how much can you earn?
One advantage of applying for a job in summer is less competition: since many people believe July and August are ‘dead’ in terms of recruitment, fewer CVs are sent out and yours will have more chances of getting noticed.
Another is that you may get an interview sooner because this period is also calmer and less stressful for HR people.
Is it better to wait until the summer break is over to apply?
“The highest number of job advertisements is posted in February and September”, Stephan Surber, Senior Partner, Page Executive (a sister brand to Michael Page), told The Local.
“In these months, we typically see an increase of 6 to 7 percent in the level of advertised jobs”, he added.
This does seem to suggest that usually the employment market in Switzerland picks up after the holidays — Christmas / New Year and summer vacations.
The slowest time of the year for a job search is between mid-December and mid-January, according to Surber.
A lot also depends on the kind of position you are seeking, as some industries and professions experience stronger demand at certain times of the year.
“For example, demand for accountants and financial controllers increases ahead of key reporting periods — mid and year-end”, Surber pointed out.
For the bank employees, new job searches are strongest around the bonus time of February to May.
“Others, such as the IT sector, have sustained high demand since the pandemic helped accelerate digital transformation programmes across most parts of the economy”, he said.
READ MORE: Five official websites to know if you’re planning to work in Switzerland
What about winter?
Winter tends to be a better season when it comes to looking for work.
Unless it's close to Christmas, people are less likely to be away than in summer, meaning the process should - at least in theory - happen a bit quicker.
Seasonal work is also a good option, given that the winter season brings tourists from around the globe.
If you are a foreign national, finding employment in Switzerland (and work permit to go with it) could be problematic. But seasonal work may be easier to get — especially if you are a snow buff.
While there is some mountain tourism in Switzerland all year round, winter is the busiest season because the economy of the Alpine regions depends heavily on ski industry, along with other winter sports and activities.
As relatively few people live permanently in resort areas, there is a shortage of local employees to work in various jobs that are essential for tourism.
Just as an example, the year-round population in the village of Zermatt, which lies at the foot of the famous Matterhorn, is about 6,000 people, but an estimated 2 million tourists visit the resort each year.
If you have the necessary skills and credentials, you can contact the central body dealing with ski and snowboard instructors, Swiss Snowports, to find out whether your foreign certificate is recognised in Switzerland and which resorts are hiring.
More information about finding a winter job is available below.
Snow business: How to find a job in winter sports in Switzerland
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