I work in IT in the Zurich area, and I do have some sympathy for expats who have been searching for a job for months or even years. Finding work can be frustrating, especially in the current market. That said, there is one recurring pattern that rarely gets discussed honestly. We regularly receive applications from people who have been living in Switzerland for 3+ years and still cannot hold even the most basic conversation in German. Not business German. Not fluent German. I mean not even a simple ‘Hello’ or ‘Bye’. Why? “Im in Switzerland to work, not to learn the language”. Well, good luck on long term. Many seem genuinely surprised when employers prefer candidates who speak the local language. Even in international companies, teams interact with local customers, authorities, vendors, and colleagues. Language is not just a checkbox on a job description. It signals integration, commitment, and willingness to adapt to the country you chose to live in. Of course there are exceptions, some highly specialized roles require only English, and some people work in very international environments. But for the average applicant, especially in Zurich, not learning any German after several years is often a self-inflicted disadvantage and tbh shows me as a (potential) employer, that you don’t care about the country you’re living in. I am not saying everyone needs C2 German. But if someone has been here for years and cannot manage basic greetings or simple everyday communication, it should not come as a surprise that employers may choose another candidate who seems to be better integrated Whenever I read posts from people who have been applying unsuccessfully for a long time, one of my first questions is: how much effort has actually gone into learning the local language? Because from what I see in hiring, that factor is frequently underestimated. So please ask yourself why you didn’t get a job and don’t just blame the job market. submitted by /u/ExternalEfficient248
Originally posted by u/ExternalEfficient248 on r/Switzerland