Well, my personal efforts have not worked out. I was about to get a job offer but the position got terminated just before me getting the offer. Very disappointing!!!! I am tired so I now decided to go through a placement agency.

Please recommend some good recruiters you dealt with in the past. I prefer a person who will show some personal interest and will will actually try to get me a job rather telling me to check our their website.

I am looking for a management position in engineering and construction (civil or mechanical).

I think my post hasn't gotten any attention.

Try Adecco in Basel. Ask for Christian, Roger or Carina.
I've found them to be very good. Bäumleingasse 10, 4051 Basel

If they can not help personally, they may only be IT, at least they'll point you in the right direction, you'll be in the Adecco network and on their database.

Thank you kindly!

In the current economic downturn, I would forego placement agencies as they add a pricetag to your head....their finders fee. Apply directly for jobs via jobs.ch, topjobs.ch, etc. It's all done via email nowadays. Have your CV tuned up and translated, with reference letters also going out on the first application. It's gotta be perfect. My experience in the past: you have to apply for 100-150 positions, resulting in 10 interviews, of which one will be successful. But that's all it takes. Also, mention that you are available on a consuluting basis. That allows employers to test-drive you before making a decision, and vice-versa. If they like your work they will offer you a fulltime position within 6 months. Got my last job that way.

http://www.jobup.ch is pretty decent although there are hundreds of jobs to plough through everyday

And i check these sites once or twice a week

www.jobscout24.ch

.ExternalClass .ecxhmmessage P {padding:0px;} .ExternalClass body.ecxhmmessage {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} http://www.fr.jobpilot.ch/

http://www.jobs.ch/fr

http://www.emploi-romandie.ch

www.adecco.ch

Wish I had had 10 interviews though...applied or written letters to over 130 jobs/companies! But i guess I am different since I am trying to change my career completely and am not fluent in French yet (although I can communicate pretty well already)

My wife is a HR consultant, it would be inappropriate to recommend her and she is on maternity leave anyway. What she has said over the last year is this:
She has never seen so many poorly educated /qualified, unrealistic candidates.
It has been a poor year for HR companies as a lot of firms here are doing direct hire, ie their HR departments need to earn their money.
She has also never had so many exclusive job searches, both from old and new clients.
The clients are much more demanding in their expectations of candidates, unrealistically so at times.
From your profile you are not here yet, work out where you want to live in Switzerland and look online at the local papers in that area (historic searches if possible are also good) see who (a person or company) always gets the front page or has a lot of job adverts in your area of expertise.
A lot of recruiting companies here take a lottery approach to getting candidates jobs, ie if I send enough resumes to enough companies, one has to work, I make my commission. In the present climate this p*ssed a lot of companies off who want to see some value for their recruiting buck, not just get an email of resumes, so it will take some work and research from your end to find a good recruiter who will champion you cause and then it is only a matter of time before you get the job you want. Stay loyal to that recruiter, if you see a job advert that interests you, tell them about it and decide together weather it is better to apply directly or from a recommendation from a respected recruiter.
Good luck in your search.

That is in fact a conundrum. One hand you'd like to go with the recruiter who knows what he/she is doing but it will be costly to your perspective employer. On the other hand, you really don't know Swiss customs and the companies but by applying directly you could save them $$$ and be yourself with a personal touch.

You have made me feel much better b/c I only applied 8 positions in last 6 months. It is just very time consuming especially if you are working over 50 hours/week and have a fulltime wife.

Those full time wifes are nothing but hassle.. unrealistic demands, unpaid overtime and no holiday bonus!!