Work in Switzerland for Russians: requirements for foreign employees

Many residents of the Russian Federation go to work abroad. Of course, the decisive factor here is the level of wages: in the EU countries it is significantly higher. Working in Switzerland is the ultimate dream for many. This country has a high level of economic development, and even a simple worker there often earns much more than our leader. 1000 Swiss francs - starting salaries in the lowest paid areas. I will tell you about the features of working in Switzerland for Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians.

Work in Switzerland

Switzerland is among the leaders not only in terms of prices, but also in quality of life

Switzerland is among the leaders not only in terms of prices, but also in terms of quality of life. A stable economy, high salaries, an unemployment rate of about 3%, comfortable living conditions combined with a developed infrastructure even in small towns, safety and chic nature, environmental friendliness make the local labor market attractive to foreigners. Despite the fact that Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, the country is constantly developing: there are good conditions for doing business, the legal system is simple and transparent, not to mention the acclaimed reputation of local banks.

Switzerland occupies a leading position in many ratings. For example, it is one of the five happiest countries in the world, according to the UN, and is one of the most attractive for international students. Zurich, Geneva and Basel took three places in the TOP 10 cities with the highest quality of life.

To be fair, Zurich ranks third in the ranking of the highest cost of living after Singapore and Paris, and Geneva is sixth. But prices in the country are fully compensated by the local level of salaries, which we will talk about later, and by the wide opportunities not only for the Swiss.

How to get hooked in Switzerland?

It is worth mentioning that we are not talking about students here, but about adults, often with families, who, thanks to their efforts, decided to go to the country of the Alpine mountains and change their lives for the better. When they receive money, they either save it or send it to their family, while they simply mercilessly save on themselves.

Don't be afraid of hard work at the beginning of your career!
Then men usually find the best options for themselves, since they already know the language better, make the necessary connections and navigate the traditional way of society, and women usually marry a Swiss man and after a few years receive citizenship. The process of obtaining a residence permit, work permit, and finding a decent employment option is very difficult, but at the same time you receive a decent salary and, undoubtedly, a better future for your children.

Are we needed in Switzerland?

Without a doubt! Confirmation of this is the increased number of work permits in 2021 to 8,000. Moreover, every year the volume of quotas for citizens from non-EU countries is growing.

The last time a joint request for increased permits was submitted by the country's largest and most economically developed cantons - Zurich, Geneva and Basel-Stadt, which are critically short of specialists, especially in the field of research and development. And their quota limit ended in 2021 back in March.

More than 2 million foreigners now live in Switzerland, which is about 25% of the total population. And, according to the survey results, 90% of visitors are satisfied that they moved and stayed in this northern Alpine country.

But it is worth considering that finding work in Switzerland is mainly possible for highly qualified specialists, representatives of scarce professions, and experienced managers. The most popular option for people without special knowledge is seasonal work, for example, in agriculture.

Specialized sites

Let's move on to specialized sites for searching for vacancies in Switzerland in individual fields and industries. MYSCIENCE portal is intended for professionals seeking work in the field of scientific research and innovation. The ALPHA website specializes in selecting candidates for leadership positions and senior management positions. Currently 4602 vacancies are offered

JOBSINNETWORK: since its creation, the site has filled a niche in online recruiting: for professionals for whom English is the main working language, vacancies are offered in all countries where English-speaking highly qualified specialists are required.

Where to find a job

Internet

First of all, contact the portal of the official Swiss civil service, which promotes employment in the country. Vacancies here are accompanied by direct contacts of the employer, or a link to the corresponding offer on the website of the job or a specific company. There are no restrictions either by field of activity or by canton.

Among the most popular job search sites and aggregators:

• Jobup.ch
• Job Scout24
• Jobwinner
• Monster
• Topjobs
• Jobs.ch
• Jobsuchmaschine.ch
• SimplyHired
• JobRapido
• PATJobs
• Neuvoo
• Jobagent
• Ostjob.ch (jobs in Eastern Switzerland)
• JobsinGeneva (work only in Geneva)
• JobsinZurich (work only in Zurich)

Resources for finding vacancies in Russian:

• 
  Jobup.ch is a popular job search site in Switzerland

  Palms (not only vacancies, but also a lot of useful information for Russian expats in Switzerland)

• 24ru.com
• Trud.com
• EuRabota
• Kompromata.net
• Jooble.

Specialized resources:

— for managers, financiers, researchers:

• Robert Walters
• Alpha
• MyScience

— IT specialists:

• Darwin
• Technojobs

On this site you can search for vacancies around the world by filtering for a specific country. The only condition is excellent knowledge of the English language: local employers are looking for highly qualified English-speaking specialists.

Stages of official employment

Once a suitable vacancy on the labor market has been found and an agreement has been established with the employer, the stage of official employment begins. The receiving party must forward the application regarding the immigrant's employment to the appropriate authority. Usually this is a public employment service operating in a specific canton (administrative-territorial entity).

The cantonal employment service reviews the application and, after approval, forwards the document to the SEM (State Secretariat for Migration). Here the documents are reviewed again. Any decision of the secretariat is sent in writing to all parties involved in the process. If a positive decision is made, the next stage begins - obtaining a visa to enter Switzerland.

The visa is issued through the Swiss consulate in the country of which the immigrant is a citizen . The State Migration Service sends information about the work permit to the consulate. Based on this information and documents submitted by the future employee, a work visa is issued.

…you’re welcome to come, but they won’t give you work without a permit. And you can’t get a permit without work. In 90% of cases, knowledge of 1–2 state languages ​​is required, with the exception of highly qualified specialists and top managers. We have already written about prices - an apartment in a large city from 1000, pork 50, beef 70, pizza from 15, an average restaurant for 2 ~150...

DEREWO

https://forum.ee/t302039/shvejtcariya/#entry4352641

Subtleties of obtaining a work visa to Switzerland

As a rule, to work in Switzerland, a “D” series visa is issued, the validity of which exceeds 3 months. The following package of documents is required for registration:

• a completed application form from the applicant (in one of three languages: French, German, Spanish),
• the applicant's foreign passport,
• copies of important pages of the passport,
• four photos, size 35x45 mm, color on a white background,
• copy of Schengen visa (if available),
• certificate of financial status (or fact of employer sponsorship),
• a police certificate confirming no criminal record or prosecution,
• original employment contract (plus two copies),
• medical insurance policy.

Usually people try to get a long-term visa to work in Switzerland.

Typically, consideration of the application and issuance of a visa lasts no more than two months. During the registration process, the consulate may request additional documents or information. Having received a visa, you can go to Switzerland, where upon arrival, you must apply for a residence permit (biometric immigrant identification card) within 14 days.

Video: Every worker in Switzerland gets 2,000 euros

Holders of a work visa to Switzerland should keep in mind that this document cannot be extended . If your visa expires, but prospects for continuing work open up, you will need to leave the country and apply for a new work visa.

Work and residence permits for foreigners, including Russians

Applying for a work permit for non-EU citizens is subject to higher requirements than for EU citizens. Swiss conditions present the employer with a tough choice . An immigrant worker (Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh) can be hired only if there are no candidates from Switzerland or EU countries.

Video about working in Switzerland for those over 50

If there are candidates, but the employer still makes a choice in favor of a foreigner not from Switzerland or the EU, he will have to explain to the relevant services why such a choice was made. The policy of separation in favor of EU countries greatly limits the desire of immigrants to work in Switzerland . Only a few are lucky - well-educated, highly qualified specialists who do not live within the united Europe.

A residence permit for immigrants from third countries is issued based on one of three categories:

• category "L"
• category "B"
• category "C".

A residence permit category "L" is a short-term permit . Issued for a period of up to one year. There are extension possibilities (up to 2 years), but are applied only in exceptional cases.

A residence permit of category “B” is issued for 12 months . Annual automatic renewal is supported for this type of document. The main condition for renewal is that the holder has financial security to live in the country. Income tax is levied on the applicant's source of income. A residence permit of category “B” is issued taking into account state quotas. The holder of such a permit does not have the right to live outside the borders of the canton where the document was received.

Residence permit category “C” is issued to third-country citizens who have been legally and permanently in Switzerland for at least 10 years . The registration procedure is approved by the federal government. This type of permit allows you to freely work and reside in any canton of the country. Holders of a residence permit category “C” pay income tax as usual.

There are several categories of residence permits in Switzerland

The audience of foreigners who do not require a work permit are, again, citizens of the countries of the European Union and countries that are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). However, there are time limits - no more than three months. If the length of stay is longer, permission will be required for this category of immigrants.

...Permit B is usually given to those who have a permanent work contract. Those who have a temporary contract are given a permit L (by the way, the recent trend is to give a permit for the first two years even with a permanent contract). And a permanent permit C is given after 10 or 5 years (Augusta has already explained), plus - to professors immediately (in the sense, not to those who have the academic title of professor, but to those who are invited to a professorial position at a Swiss university)...

Goncharov

https://forum.ruswiss.ch/topic/10918-mutual-assistance-in-job-search/page-45

…for those who have a permanent contract, there is no problem getting a permit B for 5 years. Personally, it took me about 3 weeks and cost 85 francs, I only contacted Gemeinde (local municipality) about this: I paid 20 francs for registering a place of residence - Meldebestätigung and 65 francs for a permit from the Zürich Migrationsamt issued to me in the same municipality ...

Alexey_L

https://forum.ee/t302039/shvejtcariya/#entry4352655

Enterprises and periodicals

If you want to find a job in a specific company, this site contains data from Swiss companies to contact potential employers directly. You can also go to the website of a particular organization and search for vacancies directly on it. Or you can immediately send your resume to the HR department.

It is a good idea to use local periodicals, which often publish vacancies. A complete list of them is here, but the most popular are:

• 24 Heures
• Le Temps
• Tages Anzeiger
• NZZ Jobs.

Internships

An internship is a good way to learn more about the local labor market and employers, as well as find a job in the country. In addition, it is possible that you will be left to work at the company where you are interning. The duration of such programs is 3 - 18 months with vacation included. But to get the opportunity to go to practice in Switzerland, you must meet a number of requirements:

• 
  An internship is a good way to learn more about the local labor market and employers, as well as find a place in the country

  be a university student or graduate under the age of 30;

• have a specialization corresponding to the place of internship;
• know German;
• have a driver's license.

Interns are paid a stipend of approximately $2,100 per month before taxes. Therefore, subtract about 20-25% from here. And keep in mind that the scholarship is not paid in the first month, as this is a probationary period.

The advantage is that they cannot terminate the employment relationship with you after this period has expired without a good reason. To do this, you must either seriously violate discipline and industrial safety, or quarrel with your superiors, or violate labor discipline, or cause material damage to the company and property.

Here are some useful resources for those interested in interning in Switzerland:

• GraduateLand - Find offers for graduate, graduate and undergraduate students around the world.
• iAgora – internships for those who speak English well.
• Students.ch is a major Swiss portal for students. Here you will find not only internship programs, but also a lot of useful information regarding writing a resume, concluding a contract, etc.

Requirements for employees

The country is happy to offer jobs to highly qualified specialists with work experience, managers and workers in short supply. That is, Switzerland needs those personnel who can benefit not only the employer, but also the country as a whole.

A prerequisite for employment is:

1. Knowledge of the language. Moreover, if an international company can be content with English, then other employers prefer to hire specialists who speak one of the official languages ​​of Switzerland:

• German - east and central part;
• French - West;
• Italian - south.

Otherwise, it is almost impossible to get a job, unless we are talking about illegal immigrants, which carries considerable risks.

1. Qualifications that include higher education and work experience. A foreign person must undergo a confirmation procedure in order to comply with Swiss requirements. A diploma from one of the universities in Switzerland will be a big plus for Russians. In the field of medicine, law, social work and teaching, confirmation of qualifications is clearly required.

2. Quotas issued annually by the country for foreigners. Despite the decrease in the number of jobs in recent years for foreign persons from third countries (for Belarusians, Russians, Ukrainians), 2021 optimistically offered 1 thousand more permits. Once the limit ends, Switzerland will not issue work permits until next year. Regardless of the vacancy, a medical examination will be required within the first two days of arrival in the country. Exceptions are for citizens of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, journalists and artists,
3. Conditions and remuneration. This point should not separate a citizen of another country from Swiss society. That is, a migrant, like a Swiss citizen, should be employed on an equal basis. In general, the country is very sensitive to this issue. Even when applying for a residence permit, the migrant is checked for his ability to adapt to life in Swiss society. Of course, the criteria are: age, language, professionalism, personal qualities.
4. But the most important condition is the availability of living space for the applicant. The number of working hours in a week should not exceed 50. Vacation is granted twice a year for 2 weeks. According to statistics, the minimum wage is $1,500 per month.

If we are talking about a specialist in short supply, the requirements are greatly simplified. The country is interested in people who can boost the economy and make a great contribution to its development.

Therefore, a system of quotas for jobs for foreigners is provided. The owner of a rare and sought-after profession will always find work, even in Switzerland.

Once a foreign person has found a suitable job or received an offer, this job will need to be approved. In this case, the employer must send an application to the local employment service for a decision.

At this stage, a difficulty awaits the employer, who must convince the local authorities that there are no applicants for the vacancy among Swiss citizens, the information about which was published in newspapers, employment offices, magazines, etc.

Once a positive decision is received, the documentation is sent to the State Secretariat for Migration or SEM for approval. Once it is issued, all interested parties are notified in writing.

Next, the local service sends a document to the Consulate confirming the possibility of issuing a work visa to the foreigner.

How to look for work in Switzerland

There are several options for finding a suitable place. You can use online resources such as:

You can search for work through recruitment agencies - Adecco, Manpower and others. If you need a complete list, it's better to look at the VZAVG website.

Agencies can offer vacancies depending on the applicant’s skill level and provide assistance in completing the necessary documents. Of course, the service is not free and there is no fixed price.

An effective way to view advertisements in print publications. The most famous are 24 Heures, Le Temps in Geneva, Tages Anzeiger in Zurich.

Don't forget about the specialized social network LinkedIn.

And of course, there are job fairs, which you can attend with a tourist visa. Such a trip will give a general idea of ​​the labor market and will allow not only to obtain professional contacts of potential employers, but also a place for future employment.

However, to start your working career, you will have to leave the country and contact the Swiss Embassy to apply for a work visa.

The next method involves contacting a specific company through the official website to offer its services.

You can come to Switzerland for an internship, show your best side, and perhaps the employer will be interested in further cooperation with you.

In all of the above cases, the main point is the correct resume and the presence of a cover letter.

Labor market in 2021

Many people probably guess that salaries in Switzerland are quite high, but you should also remember that life there is also not cheap at all. The country does not have a set minimum wage.

Each employer has the right to set it himself, specifying this amount in a collective or employment agreement. And such a situation arose back in 2014, when the country’s population rejected the minimum wage level in a referendum.

The country divides employees into two groups:

1. Unskilled workers are seasonal.
2. Highly qualified specialists are people with documented knowledge and work experience.

A skilled worker in Switzerland receives on average 2,580-4,880 euros monthly. For unskilled labor they pay less - 2,020-3,870 euros.

Before taxes, the employee receives approximately 5,920 euros. If we consider salaries by profession, then:

• banking sector - 13,000-15,000 euros;

• engineers - 9,500 euros;
• medicine - 9,000 euros;
• civil servants - 8,000 euros;
• builders - 7,500 euros;
• You can earn 4,500 euros as a driver;
• unskilled labor - 2,500 euros.

The following destinations are very popular for visitors in 2021:

1. Seasonal work - tourism, services (hotels, bars, restaurants), ski resorts, farmland (forest, fish, rural).
2. Scarce specialists are in the pharmaceutical field, IT sector, mechanical engineering, telecommunications, electronics.

Work Visa

To find a job in Switzerland, a foreign person is required to obtain a work visa, since a guest or tourist visa is clearly not suitable for these purposes. Social services are keeping a watchful eye on this.

There are different types of work visas. If you intend to stay in the country for more than 3 months, then you need to apply for a national visa type D.

To obtain it, you will need to draw up an employment contract with an employer in Switzerland, sign it and obtain a work permit. Only if you have these papers should you contact the Swiss Consulate to apply for a work visa.

The basic package of documents for obtaining a work visa includes:

• Application form - filled out in English or one of the official languages ​​of the country (3 copies).
• International passport and 3 copies of visas - if there are two or more blank pages, and with a validity period of at least 3 months from the date of entry into Switzerland.
• Civil ID card.
• Photo – 4 pcs.
• Certificate confirming no criminal record.
• Work permit in Switzerland.
• Employment contract and 3 copies.

If necessary, the list can be changed at the discretion of the Consulate specialist. The package of documents is submitted for registration to the Embassy at the place of actual stay by the applicant in person.

Documents are reviewed within two weeks. After receiving a work visa, upon arriving in the country, a foreigner must apply for a residence permit.

Unfortunately, the work visa cannot be extended.

Requirements for foreign employees

1. Language. If you are looking for a job that requires high qualifications, you will need at least knowledge of the English language. But if the company is not international, but local, then depending on the region, additional knowledge of another official language of the country may be required. For example, in the east and in the center (Basel, Bern, Zurich) - German, in the west (in Lausanne and Geneva) - French, in the south (Bellinzona, Lugano) - Italian. By the way, in some parts of the country they also speak Romansh.
2. Qualification. In addition to education and work experience, please note that your diploma must comply with Swiss standards - that is, the document will have to be confirmed.
   This issue is taken especially seriously in such fields as medicine, law, social work, and teaching. You can find out detailed information about the recognition of a diploma in Switzerland, as well as check for compliance here.
3. Quotas. If residents of countries belonging to the European Union do not have such problems - they can freely come to Switzerland and look for work there, then for those who do not belong to the EU, they will need to obtain a permit. But if the number of places allocated by local authorities for foreign workers runs out, you will not be able to get a place.
4. Working conditions. The salary specified in the contract with the employer must be no lower than that of local specialists. In addition, the migration service is interested in how quickly a potential employee will “join” the local society. Therefore, the age of the foreigner, knowledge of the language, professional experience, as well as the availability of housing in the country (can be rented) are important to them. Also keep in mind that documentary evidence of your experience will be an advantage when applying for a job: completion of seminars, courses, letters of recommendation, participation in specialized competitions, etc.

By the way, if you receive a work permit in Switzerland, then your family members also have the right to work in the country on an equal basis with local residents

The requirements can only be simplified if you are a highly sought-after worker who can make a significant contribution to the development of the local economy.

By the way, if you receive a work permit in Switzerland, then your family members also have the right to work in the country on an equal basis with local residents.

Working conditions in Switzerland:

• The number of working hours per week is a maximum of 50. For industrial workers, salespeople in large retail chains, and office specialists, this figure does not exceed 45 hours. You can work beyond this time, but the employer must pay double the overtime rate.
• The country has a part-time option. For example, by settling at 90%, you provide yourself with an additional day off once every two weeks.
• Vacation - twice a year, each for two weeks. If you are under 20 years old, the duration of official leave is five weeks.

Required documents and work permit

Before you finally decide to find a job in Switzerland, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements that apply to future employees in the country.

4 requirements for foreign citizens for employment:

1. Language – without it, a successful career in Switzerland will not develop, especially for highly qualified personnel. In most large organizations, employees communicate in English. But the requirements for a native speaker may vary depending on the region of the state; if English is enough for employment in the capital of Switzerland, then in the south of the country knowledge of Italian is desirable, in the eastern regions - German, and in the west - French.
2. Level of professional training and proven work experience. Qualification will play a significant role when applying for a job in Switzerland; you must confirm your specialty with a diploma of completed higher or secondary vocational education. They take a very responsible approach to checking the diplomas and qualifications of a future foreign worker in such areas of knowledge as medicine, law, teaching and programming.
3. For foreign citizens in Switzerland, annual quotas apply for official employment. No more than 9,000 work permits are allocated in Switzerland for the next year.
4. One of the requirements for employment is the presence of your own housing in the country, or a rented apartment (house).

In order to officially work in Switzerland, you must obtain a work visa, which is considered national and belongs to class D. With such a document, a person will be able to work in the state for 3 or more months. To obtain it, you need to collect a package of documents, including a questionnaire in one of the 4 official languages ​​of the country, a foreign passport, 4 color photographs, if you have Schengen visas, attach all copies of them, a certificate of no criminal record, proof of health insurance, availability in a bank account not less than 100,000 rubles.

In addition to the package of documents, you may be required to attach a motivation letter. This document is drawn up in any form, in which the potential employee must tell where he will live, work and for what purpose he wants to stay in Switzerland. An invitation letter from the employer or company where the person will be employed is not always required. From 1.5 to 3 months, an application from a foreign citizen can be considered by the Swiss migration services.

Only after receiving a work permit can a person begin to obtain a visa for temporary residence in the country. Otherwise, a foreign citizen will not be able to legally stay on the territory of the state, even if he has a work visa. After the employer approves the vacancy, the person submits an application for a residence permit in the local region of Switzerland to the migration department.

Residence and work permit

You will not receive a visa without a work permit. The main condition that must be met to receive it is an official offer from the employer. It is issued to a foreigner by the employment service of the relevant canton after the application from the employer is approved. But without a residence permit (residence permit), you will not be able to work in Switzerland.

A residence permit is issued by the migration office of a specific canton.

There are several types of residence permits:

1. Category L. Validity period - no more than two years (usually issued for a year, but can be extended). Issued if a foreigner comes on a long-term business trip or enters into an agreement with a local company without the right to change the company.
2. Category B. Issued for one year, after expiration it is automatically renewed if the holder has sufficient finances to live in the country. The holder is not allowed to live outside the canton where he received the work permit.
3. Category C. Allows permanent residence in Switzerland. Issued only if you have lived in the country for more than 10 years and allows you to apply for citizenship. With such a residence permit, you can not only freely change your place of work, live in any canton, but also open your own business.

Residents of the European Union and EACT (free trade association) countries can work in the country without the appropriate permit for no more than three months. If your stay is longer, the registration procedure is similar to that described above.

Starting a business in Switzerland

An alternative way to find work in Switzerland is to open your own business there, although this path cannot be called simple.

An immigrant who opens his own company or branch receives a residence permit . The advantage is that being an immigrant provides new jobs. But for this, the company or branch must actually work, pay taxes and pay wages.

Many people prefer buying an already operating business in Switzerland to starting their own business . This method requires huge financial investments (1.5-20 million Swiss francs).

Work Visa

To work in the country, you need to apply for a national visa type D, which allows you to stay in Switzerland for more than three months. To do this, you need to submit a package of documents to the Swiss Consulate in the country where you live:

• Application form (to be completed in any of the official languages ​​of the country).
• A foreign passport with at least two free pages left, and two copies of it (pages with a photo, signature, personal data).
• 4 color photos (according to ICAO standards).
• Copies of recent Schengen visas (if available).
• Proof that you have enough money for your initial stay in the country. If there are problems with this point, you can ask the employer to act as your guarantor.
• Certificate of no criminal record.
• Work permit in Switzerland, original contract.
• Medical insurance.
• A motivation letter where you must tell why you are moving to Switzerland and where you will live.
• An invitation from the employing company (not always required).

The application review period is 6–12 weeks.

Please note that once your work visa expires, you cannot extend your work visa on site. To do this, you will have to leave the country, go through all the stages again and collect the documents required for its registration.

Working as a teacher and nanny in Switzerland

Primary school teachers in Switzerland can earn from 7 to 8 thousand dollars per month, while high school and university teachers receive up to $13,000. There is a catastrophic shortage of teachers in Swiss schools, and of nannies in kindergartens and additional education centers. In addition, the latter are very willingly hired to work for families, since the work of foreign nannies is paid several times less than what local residents of the state require in this specialty.

Requirements for teachers and nannies in Switzerland: mandatory absence of a criminal record, possession of a diploma of completed higher or secondary vocational education. For teachers, at least 3 years of experience in an educational specialty in their state and a letter of recommendation from a previous employer are important. The easiest way to get a job as a nanny is through a recruitment agency in Switzerland; a worker off the street will not be hired by a foreign family.

Teachers' work schedule is usually 5 or 6 days a week with a minimum of 36 hours of work. Nannies are most often taken into the family full-time, or with accommodation in a separate room for staff.

Work permit received - what next?

To work in the country, you need to apply for a national visa type D, which allows you to stay in Switzerland for more than three months

EU/EFTA nationals intending to live and/or work in Switzerland for more than three months must, within 14 days of arrival or before starting work, notify the local authority (municipality) of their intended place of residence.

All other citizens have the same registration deadlines, but they must complete several additional steps. In general, if you are traveling to Switzerland for work, your employer will need to arrange for you to obtain a work entry visa before you enter the country.

After completing the formalities, you will need to send your passport to the competent Swiss embassy or consulate in your country, which will issue you a visa. Upon arrival in Switzerland, you will be required to notify the local authority (municipality) of your place of residence, providing, for example, a valid tenancy agreement.

These authorities will send your documents to the cantonal authorities, who will issue you a residence permit in the form of a small card in the format of a driver's license. Permits of categories “L”, “B” or “C” in this new format are received only by citizens of third countries (this includes Russia). All others receive permits in the old passport format.

When registering with a local community, you will need to bring your passport, two passport photographs, an employment contract and a health insurance contract. There are also a number of specific requirements that must be met. It is worth taking the time to ask your cantonal authorities for specific information about what you will need to provide.

Vacancies

In this country, quotas require various specialties. And you should look for employment options in every possible way, because the one who searches will always find! You need to try to find a job through friends and acquaintances and other methods.

One safe option is newspaper advertisements.

Here is a list of the most popular publications:

• 24 Heures;
• Tages Anzeiger;
• Le Temps.

Popular professions in Switzerland for 2021:

• IT workers
• wide-profile specialists
• mechanical engineers
• highly qualified medical workers

You should really try to get a job if you have one of the above professions...

Consequences of illegal employment

Switzerland's shadow economy is at the level of 7-8%. This is significantly lower than in Germany, France, Portugal, Spain or Italy. To achieve this result, the country's government introduced the Anti-Illegal Activities Law. As a result, the number of inspections has increased and the sanctions imposed on illegal workers and their employers have increased.

If an immigrant is present illegally in Switzerland and works without the appropriate permit, he faces a prison sentence of up to a year and a significant fine.

The most severe penalties are in the construction and agricultural sectors. Employers here are subject to sanctions such as reduction of subsidies and a ban on participation in government tenders. The most severe option is up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

Salaries in Switzerland

In Switzerland there is no concept of a minimum wage - in 2014, 76% of the country's population decided in an open referendum that they did not need this indicator. Agreements are concluded between trade unions and the federation of employers, which establish minimum wages for specialists in different professions. In most cases, for unskilled workers this figure is $2,280 - 4,360, and for skilled workers it is $2,900 - 5,500 before taxes.

There are bonuses for experience: for example, if an employee who does not have special knowledge has been working in his field for more than four years, he is entitled to an additional payment for experience - about 10% of the starting rate.

The country has a 13-month system: in the last month of the year, wages are paid in double amount. In addition to specialty and experience, the level of income is affected by age, education, working hours, field of activity, and belonging to a specific canton. You can calculate the approximate level of remuneration for your specific case using an online calculator.

Average salary. In 2021, the average wage in the country was about $6,680. In Zurich and Geneva they earn more. And women, on average, earn 12.5% ​​less than men.

According to the book Lohnbuch Schweiz 2021, which analyzes professions and salaries in Switzerland, the average income for different professions is as follows (per month before taxes):

• Diplomats - $14,200 - 15,000,
• Insurers, financiers, bankers - $13,000 - 15,000,
• Air traffic controllers - $10,000 - 13,700,
• Senior medical consultants - $13,500,
• Doctors, pharmacists – $9,000 – 12,000,
• Credit manager at a bank - $10,700 - 11,000,
• Business analysts – $8,500 – 9,000,
• IT specialists – $8,000 – 10,000,
• Engineers – $6,500 – 10,000,
• Police officers - $5,800 - 7,000,
• Primary school teachers - $7,300 - 8,000,
• Builders – $7,500 – 8,500,
• Taxi drivers - $3,400 - 4,000,
• Cleaners – $3,000 – 3,500,
• Zoo employees - $3,500 - 3,700,
• Hairdressers, farmers - $4,000,
• Waiters (professionally trained) – $4,300 – 5,000,
• Helpers, housekeepers - $2,500 - 3,000.

Working as a doctor and nurse in Switzerland

Work as a doctor and medical personnel is considered the most in demand in Switzerland; it can only be obtained by foreign citizens with high qualifications, as well as confirmed education and work experience. Among doctors, specialties such as surgeons, pharmacists and specialized medical workers are in great demand.

The average salary of a nurse in Swiss hospitals ranges from 4 to 7 thousand dollars, a doctor - from 9 to 12 thousand, it all depends on the salary and level of the medical institution. Doctors usually work 5 days a week and also stay on night shifts at least once every 4 days. Nurses work up to 15 days a month on a 2-by-2 schedule, including 12-hour night shifts.

You can obtain the right to practice medicine to work as a doctor or even a pharmacist only upon arrival in the state itself. To do this, you will need to collect a number of documents confirming your qualifications and submit them for a special permit - this could be a license or a patent. A hospital doctor must have a valid license with a specified period to carry out medical activities within Switzerland.

Professions in demand

In Switzerland, specialists with high qualifications and experience in their field are most in demand. These include:

• 
  In Switzerland, specialists with high qualifications and experience in their field are most in demand

  IT specialists;

• doctors: in particular, anesthesiologists, pharmacists, surgeons, dentists, highly specialized specialists;
• accountants and financiers, top managers;
• engineers in the field of electronics and mechanical engineering;
• teachers (especially in languages);
• scientific researchers, specialists in the field of innovation;

Low-skilled specialists are also required: nurses and nannies without special education, couriers, waiters, bartenders, laborers, harvesters, etc. But if the first category has a salary in the range of $7,000 - 15,000, then the second - $1,200 - 3,000 before taxes.

Overview of popular professions and salaries

In Switzerland, an experienced and qualified specialist will always be able to find a job. But there are other options. You can get a seasonal job. Usually Russians, Ukrainians and residents of the former CIS countries come to harvest in the summer. An excellent opportunity to make good money.

In Switzerland, representatives of blue-collar professions are in great demand: electricians, welders, mechanics, etc. At the same time, the employer needs high qualifications, confirmed by documents. Work experience also plays a big role in successful employment. Slightly less often, enterprises are looking for permanent and project managers. The demand for salespeople, financiers, accountants and engineers is stable.

According to statistics from the recruiting company Manpower, there is a significant imbalance in the Swiss labor market. Among the applicants, representatives of professions of mental work predominate, while enterprises are looking for assembly line workers. About 45% of unfilled vacancies remain unfilled due to a lack of required specialists. In another 31% of cases, companies cannot find employees due to the candidates’ lack of qualifications, experience, and education.

Representatives of different professions will find work in Switzerland.
Foreigners in Switzerland most often work as cooks, builders, drivers, salespeople, and also occupy vacancies in the service sector: janitors, cleaners, hotel and restaurant employees. Many migrants work in the agricultural sector.

Table: salaries for different positions in Switzerland