Hi Everyone,

Can anyone tell me what the usual job application ettiquette is in Switzerland?

I applied for a job (engineers/technical documentation writer) out of the newspaper, which did not have an email address quoted. Instead of sending it to the postal address that was listed, I searched online for the company´s web and email addresses and sent an e-copy instead.

Is this likely to reflect badly on my application, or is the initiative acceptable...commendable even?

I was told by a German that it meant that they probably wanted a printed and posted copy to get an idea of my "style" etc. Anyone have any experience or knowledge on the subject?

Thanks in advance

I'd file it in the bin. If you can't do as asked at this stage, I would not consider you at all.

No email address = applications by email are not welcome. I'd suspect you didn't even get past the spam fiters.

I'd agree with this unfortunately, as there was specific instructions, some companies set these little tests. Stupid, but that's the way they do things. Don't get me started on the metrics tests they use.

It also depends what you put on the cover note for the electronic application. If it's strong enough a begging letter you might get away with it.

If there's still time I would send in a paper copy aswell, hedge you bets.

Yes, worth a shot.

In my experience, if you're a good candidate, it doesn't really matter how they get a hold of you (or your resume). I got offered a job at all three Swiss companies I applied to, and I do not by any means have the swiss-style resume (just two pages, no picture, no copies of degrees or transcripts, in English not French or German, etc). I submitted all by email/website or via a recruiter (who received my resume by email). (shrug)

But if I were you, I would just simply submit the application both ways. Send it via email with a nice cover letter, and then submit it via snail mail with nice cover letter. In case some obnoxious HR is more worried about "following the rules" than seeing what you have to offer the company and "threw your application in the bin" when they received it by email, they will then receive the "proper" one by post a couple of days later.

Besides, usually IT/engineering departments tend to be more chill about procedural rules than other industries like financial, customer service, etc. But if you happen to know anyone inside the company and get your resume submitted to the hiring manager in person, then that's undoubtedly the best way.

Good luck,

-E.

blueshrimp, I'm guessing that the jobs you applied for had electronic methods of submission of CV so in your case, electronic submission was absolutely acceptable.

I would have no hesitation in discarding CVs sent to me if they failed to follow the simple and clear instructions on the advert. Bear in mind that spam filters coupled with HR not looking for people "thinking outside the box" at this point in time would mean that the application would fail.

Mind you, I'd never have a job on offer which did not support electronic submission and if I was looking for a job, if I could not submit electronically, I would consider not applying.

Which is why I also suggested "additionally, send a snail mail copy".

Do people here not read the entire posts? Or what is the problem?

-E.

why bother sending it electronically then?

I'd discard both. It does not pay to be a smart arse before you get the job

(shrug).

Interesting opinion. You have a right to have one, of course.

I acknowledge it and your post.

you don't hire people do you?
your opinion will change once you start hiring, trust me
I acknowledge this and your post too.

If it's a big company, then the person that wrote the job description and the person that wrote the ad are probably completely different. I haven't seen the ad so can't comment on whether it was just a standard template ad for vacancies at the company.

If the company has a website with vacancies listed then it should be ok to use it, provided that the one you are going for is listed there, or there is some sort of commonality (ie a standard job id number) that you can use.

If the ad you saw gave the name of a specific person to send the application to, then do what they ask.

Just my $0.02.

"Spud's Interview in Trainspotting is a classic!"

As someone who's hired numerous people, done sifts, interviewed etc etc. I can offer this advice from what i've learnt.

Normally per average job you'll end up between 50-250 cv's.

Length is unimportant, more important is being able to get the information from the CV quickly.

I don't want to know your pets name, I want to know if you can do the position I've advertised and do a good job.Do this and 90% of the time you'll get a interview.

You have 2 minutes tops for the person to read your CV and give that person the right impression. If you can't make that you've failed, try again next time.

They will read your CV before a interview so memorise it and be ready to answer questions. Don't lie you will be found out very quickly, which wastes my time and puts me in a bad mood for the day, plus if I ever see your cv again it hits the bin immediately. (Believe me it happens!)

So the first problem in hiring someone is to reduce that 100/250 as quickly as possible to 10 or so, then 5 in 2nd interview, then offer.

If it's a specialist position, which tend to be higher paid you might end up with 10 applicants if you're lucky. Then you have the time to read each one.

So, bad grammar, spelling, crazy layouts,crazy coloured comic fonts, photos, non-descriptive phrases that fudge things, hit the shredding bin very quickly.

Anyone left will have made the effort to check these basic things in the first place and it shows consideration for the accuracy of their work and pride in the things they have achieved.

Basically I said send a paper copy as I feel the horse has bolted, but you have a outside chance that it could work with a strong cover letter.

You could always come across as eager in the covering letter and say you sent a e-copy just in case the paper one was lost in the post (although not to eager as it's annoying!) If you get a interview apologise for your mistake.

Hmmm... tricky one... There was no explicit instruction that it be sent *only* by snail mail... Thanks for the advice though, everyone. I´ll try the snail mail option to cover all bases. Though my German friend said that would be dumb too... Oh well, I can only try and hope that I´m as lucky (or good) as blueshrimp!

Would calling them to ask be taboo as well? (Their phone number was not listed on the advertisement either. I found it online.)

I would also not want to work for anyone who didn't accept electronic submissions, but I really need a job! - I´m going crazy without one

Yep - been there done that too. I offered some more advice on this thread:
How to write a Swiss CV?

PuddyCat (cute name!)
Back to your initial query, it sounds like the damage is already done with the email approach.
You have nothing else to lose if you send the paper copy as well (unless you count the cost of copies and postage etc.)
and 'Good Luck!'

puddy - the fact that an email address was not listed on the job ad is fact enough that submissions should be snail-mailed. Remember, at this point, thinking outside the box will not help you

Plus if one of 250 CVs has to be printed.... you get my drift.

Send it in and you'll be lucky enough that the emailed version made it nowhere.....we hope.

I recently went through the whole search/apply process and found a nice looking job for an IT company who wanted CVs via snail-mail. I did not apply

Well sometimes it's easier to manage applications via one method if you have large numbers of applicants. So all e-mail or all snail mail etc.

I personally probably wouldn't call them, but you could phone up just to confirm a couple of things/ask questions about the position

Or you could send the snail mail then confirm it has arrived.

Re: calling them

I would suggest calling them after two weeks if you haven't heard from them yet. But count the two weeks from the time you figure they received your application (so that would be roughly 20 days after you sent some snail mail, or 15 days or so if you exclusively sent email).

This phone call is a bit tricky. You want to say something along the lines of "I was calling because I recently submitted an application for job xxxxx and I just wanted to make sure you have received it."

That's it. Say no more. Then see what they reply.

If they say "yes, we have been trying to reach you" then you know you're doing well.

If they say "Yes we have received it, thank you". Then it means they weren't interested. But all is not lost. At this point, if you have the gift of gab, you may be able to find out who the hiring manager is (the exact name and last name). Do this under the pretext of asking more about what the position entails (since with such a reply it is likely you already "lost", asking politely about the position is something they cannot refuse to do without admitting directly that you are an unsuitable candidate. Most people--especially people who have to be polite because they man the phones--will be reluctant to do that, so they will just tell you about the position in the hopes you'll eventually go away and get the hint).

Once you find the name of the hiring manager (note, *NOT* the name of someone from HR!! I mean the name of the person who would be your boss!), google up and email/snail mail him your resume and cover letter directly.

G'luck!

-E.

Oh, one last suggestion.

A switch in mindset from "I really need this job" to something more along the lines of:

"I would be excited to work for this company because this is what I have to offer them, and I am positive my skills and talents will contribute greatly to the growth of this company"

reflecting on both your job search, application, interview, and negotiation process will do wonders for your career.

At least....it seems to work for me.

(shrug)


Later,

-E.