Dear community,


Me and my wife have been living in Zurich for 6 months now. We moved because of my job. We both specialize in IT projects and operations.
While I have no issues at work and I am happy with my situation, my wife has been struggling in finding a job. She has been applying extensively during those 6 months with no positive result. She has a very good CV as a former Operations Manager for an IT start up company, both in content and formatting but that does not seem to help. We both are English-speakers only, although she is extensively learning German now.


I wanted to ask you, are there any specifics to Swiss labor market that she must consider, or anything in particular Swiss employers would value to see in a CV? It seems very odd to me, that she has not even been invited to an interview. Any tips or recommendations are welcome.


Thanks in advance!

How big is the gap in her CV since she last worked? You mention you have been here 6 months but was she working before that?

She might need to be a bit "creative" filling in the gap, i.e. put on the CV that she's been attending an intensive German course or something.

A few comments:

1. Determine whether the CV complies with Swiss standards and adjust it as needed.
- Suggest reviewing this article to help make that determination:

https://www.thelocal.ch/20150708/qui...rfect-swiss-cv

2. Translate the CV into German, even if applying for jobs which will be in English.
- HR departments will appreciate that, which helps to show that your spouse wants to be here and is making efforts to integrate.

3. Make it very clear in the CV that she has the right to work in Switzerland and that the prospective employer does not have to jump through migration office hoops to hire her.
- State the type of permit she has at the top of the CV, as possible.

4. Keep applying for jobs and sending CVs
- six months is not a long time to search for a position in Switzerland.
- mid-December through early January expect that there may be a lull in hiring, just to mention

5. If she has not registered with the Swiss job service RAV, she might wish to. Possibly they would agree to send her to a job application and search strategy course in English.

6. Search EnglishForum for threads on this topic, such as:

https://www.englishforum.ch/employme...ml#post2863227

Good luck to your spouse with her job search!

The gap are just those 6 months. It might be a good idea to add this as an ongoing thing. I was also wondering whether it is worthy to add the fact that she has a B permit, not just the address?

Of course - this info is critical, should be front and center on the top of her CV.

Many companies simply toss out any CV where it is not clear from a 2 second glace that the applicant already has permission to work.

Theres always the risk she gets pregnant and then they have to pay out 14 weeks for your wife.

read your title and thought first off you meant domestically speaking lol

Maternity leave is paid for by EO payroll contributions made by anyone working in Switzerland. This webpage provides an overview of maternity leave benefits (English):

https://www.ch.ch/en/maternity-leave/

For detailed information, see the publication at this link (English):

https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/ho...hmerinnen.html

I'll give you a recent real life experience from a friend of mine who got laid off from a job here after 6 years. She followed the process, RAV, apply for suitable positions as soon as notice was given, sell yourself... After 7 months, nothing. Her Swiss partner said from Day 1, "I know people..." Her, "I can do this by myself", Him "OK"... Fast forward ... "OK, help me". He sent her dossier to his sister's company, within 3 days an interview, after 5 an offer. To keep it short, tell her to look for an international employer to start with and go from there. With regard to what Swiss employers look for, whatever is cheapest, qualifications may count

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