How to get a job in Switzerland as an English speaker

1. Check your permit route first

Whether you can be hired at all depends on your nationality. EU and EFTA citizens can apply like locals. UK and other non-EU citizens need a qualified role and an employer willing to apply for a permit. Read our guide to Swiss work permits before you start sending applications.

2. Aim where English works

English-only jobs cluster in a few cities and sectors. Right now the most openings are in Zurich, Basel and Lausanne & Vaud. Browse by city or by field: IT and software, finance, science and pharma, remote.

3. Use a Swiss-style CV

Swiss CVs are usually one to two pages, newest experience first, with your contact details, nationality and permit status at the top. A photo is still common, especially in the German-speaking part, but it is not required.

You can build one in English for free with the Careerkit resume builder.

4. Write a short cover letter

Most Swiss employers still expect a cover letter, often called a motivation letter. Keep it to one page: why this company, why you, and when you can start. If you need a permit, say so plainly. The Careerkit cover letter builder can draft one from the job ad.

5. Bring references

Swiss employees are entitled to a written reference from each employer (the Arbeitszeugnis or certificat de travail, under Article 330a of the Code of Obligations), and Swiss recruiters are used to reading them. If you have worked abroad, reference letters from past employers help fill that gap.

6. Know the pay

The median gross salary for a full-time job was CHF 7,024 a month in 2024, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Switzerland has no national minimum wage, but some cantons, including Geneva, Neuchâtel, Jura, Ticino and Basel-Stadt, set their own.

7. Apply directly and follow up

Many roles are posted on company career pages. Apply there when you can, keep your LinkedIn profile up to date (it is widely used by Swiss recruiters), and follow up after a week or two if you hear nothing.