Hi

I've recently moved to Zurich and currently looking for work. I am an experience chef and have been working in London for the last few years. I am currently taking daily German lessons but it's going to take a while before I am able to have a job interview in German. The agencies and restaurants I have contacted are telling me I need to learn German and can't offer me much help. Is anyone able to give any advice on how to find a chef job in Zurich or recommend any people to contact? Any help will be much appreciated.

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

'Gastro' is a term often used here for the industry, so perhaps google around with a few word combinations and see who's who in the city. Almost all will be able to understand your English, and if you have what they need the language won't be too much of a problem, although you will have to try. Knocking on doors works well, too. Good luck.

Try www.hoteljob.ch.
As long you know the french terms of the trade you might be able to find a job. But I guess a tourist region as Graubünden or the Bernese Oberland would offer better possibilities. There hotels and restaurants are used to foreign cooks or chefs.
Just one thing: The term "chef" is exclusively used for the chef de cuisine. Every other chef is called "Koch" or more specific "commis", "garde-manger" and "saucier".

Cheers for the advice, seems that google does have some help when you use some determination. Still need to get my German on a conversational basic. Thankyou

wellcome to ZH,

Go directly to HILTL, the most famous vegie delicate restaurant in Zurich, I hear that all the employees speak english there. Even most of the customers are expats (It is my favourite even I am not a vegeterian), so igive a chance

Here is the link ;

http://www.hiltl.ch/en/team-stellen.php

good luck.

Hi Greggg,
I think a job will not be that hard to find. You just have to shake
enough trees for the right apple to fall on your head.

Don't let "no" discourage you. Good luck!

Hi I'm also looking for Chef jobs (Koch) in Zurich with beginner level of German (I'm a native English speaker), however, I'm trying to identify cafes and restaurants that are based around 'slow food'. Would anybody be able to suggest places or a slow food organisation based in Zurich or elsewhere in Switzerland?

I'm quite an adventurous and creative person, I'm always looking to expand my skills and gastronomic knowledge, would anybody also know a place in Zurich were I could learn pastry or chocolate from the swiss masters!? I checked out the Chocolate academy in Zurich, but it was still a little pricey for me at the moment.

Many thanks for any advice.