I am due to graduate from a Master's in Switzerland in December 2011. I am currently interning as part of my studies (on my Student B Permit) and the company offered me an extension until June 2012. After talking to HR about the extension, my boss was told they cannot extend my contract because my Student B Permit expires at the end of the year. I then found out about the 6 month job seeker permit. HR looked into that and found out I can only work 15 hours per week on it which is not enough for the project I am working on. If I go ahead and apply for the 6 month extension, can the company "offer" me the 6 month contract and be able to get the work permit for me and I be able to work full-time? Or does the job I "seek" have to be a permanent position? Also, I read that graduates of Swiss universities are on the same level as Swiss citizens when it comes to finding a job. How true is this?

Btw, I am from a Non-EU country (U.S.).

Thanks for any insight and help!

See this link. After you finish your Master studies you can get a 6 month extension. I suggest you to got to your university administration and ask for the procedure.

Yes, I have the link and sent this to HR. HR contacted the canton who told HR that on that permit I can only work 15 hours per week because that is the most one can work while "job-seeking". My question is if the company offers me a contract while I am on the job seeker visa, can I work full-time? Or does the job I find have to be an open-ended contract position?

I think it should be possible because for a student to get a work permit during the extra 6 month duration, the transition must occur during that phase. Its probably good idea for your company to apply for permit say in November or early December so that by the time you finish studies in December, the swiss government can see that you are just about to finish studies and can issue permit in Jan.

Only think is that you will be interning not as a student after December but voluntarily (Fachpraktikum) and your company needs to show that they need an intern. You should de-link your present student internship and voluntary employment internship that you want to start in Jan.

I did a voluntary internship(Fachpraktikum) outside of my studies in Germany during last 4 months and was issued appropriate visa by ausland in munich during that time. I think post-studies internship should be possible in Swiss also, but I really dont know if the procedure is same as getting swiss work permit L/B or something else!

Thanks for the info. I will talk to HR. I am in the French speaking part of Switzerland so I am not sure about the German word you used. My boss asked HR if I left in December (which I am going back to the States anyways for the holidays) and then came back a few weeks into January to start the next contract if it was possible. Will update once I hear for anyone else in the same situation.

Thanks!

Hi,

Please do update us on the response you received! I am in the same situation.

Best,
Eleanor