Hello,

I am graduating with a BS in Business Managment and International Business in June, 2007. I will be moving to Switzerland, hopefully to the Berne or Zurich area or anywhere in between. Prior to moving, I am looking for a permanent/temporary job that is part or full time-some kind of job that I can live off of. I speak English and I am learning as much German as I can before I leave the states and will continue to take lessons once I arrive. I am highly motivated and eager to learn as much as I can when I am abroad.

The posts that I have read so far have been very helpful! If anyone has any more advice for me or knows of jobs that they think I would be a good match for, please let me know! I really appreciate it!

Hi!


Are you looking for work in business or just something to get you by whilst travelling, ie working holiday?

If you are looking for work in business, try and look for graduate programs in Switzerland with the big bluechip companies if you do not have a lot of experience behind you.

Try and cram as much German into your head as possible before going, you can never have too much German speaking language skills and it is the one thing that will make or break it for you.

I have learned that the do well in Zurich, you either need extremely good experience credentials, or excellent command of German, a combination of both is ideal.

Thanks so much for the prompt reply! What do you mean by big bluechip companies? I am looking for any kind of job that I can get at this point. although business is where I want to go, I'm also looking at bilingual pre-schools and daycares.

My boyfriend is Swiss and is attending Uni of Berne. I am looking for a job somewhere within an hour travel of Berne so he can finish up school.

Thanks for the advice!!

Bluechip companies means in Swiss terms the big companies such as Banks, Pharmaceuticals etc.

If you are looking for a job to just get by with, might be worth getting in touch with the restaurant/retail temp agencies such as Adecco. Berne has a lot of retail shops, but is relatively small on the big company side of things as it is more about the Swiss Government central city.

When I was in Switzerland I found it quite hard to find "get by" jobs to apply for as I have no experience in service oriented industries such as retail/hotel management. I lived in Zurich but you may have more luck in Berne, I am not sure.

Zurich is an hour travel from Berne by Train, so you might also want to fish around there, and is the best chance for work.

Berne is a lovely city

Oh one other thing,

As job opportunites are more frequent in Zurich than Bern, it might be worth considering living in Zurich to work, and travelling to Bern to study.

When I lived in Zurich I did not apply for work in Bern as I felt the travel would be just that little too much though, and its fairly expensive to travel frequently on public transport between some cities in Switzerland.

Basel - Zurich was relatively cheap, at the time around 50.00 swiss francs whereas Bern to Zurich was well over 100 Swiss Francs. I am not sure how much it would cost to buy monthly or Quarterly tickets, which would reduce the cost. Someone else may have an idea about transport costs between Bern and Zurich, that might help you in your decision.

Monthly ticket Zurich-Bern on Halb Tax is in the region od 350 chuffs.

What do you mean by Halb Tax?

Sorry, local speak. Its a half fare card which costs 150chf per year, allowing you to travel half price on the rail network in either 1st or 2nd class. This also applies to monthly tickets between two designated points; in our example Bern / Zurich. http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...te/halbtax.htm

You can also buy a General Abonnement (GA) in either first or second class format. This allows unlimited travel on all public transport (including some ferries & cable cars) for a year. Adult 2nd class GA is 3,000Chf per annum http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/abonnemente/ga.htm

Hope that clears up any misunderstanding.

Thanks, that explains a lot

The GA would be good if travelling every day from one town to the next for work.

Thanks for the replies! I actually have the Halb Tax card, so that is good. Any other suggestions are more than welcome as well. Thanks again!!!!