There are many sites where you can find jobs. You should also use several of them at the same time. Below is a simplified overview of important job sites.

Job sites online

www.next-career.ch             www.jobwinner.ch

www.jobs.ch                           www.jobscout24.ch

www.students.ch                    www.monster.ch

www.topjobs.ch                      www.jobsuchmaschine.ch

Specialised job sites

Banking, Finance                   www.bankingjobs.ch, www.jobeye.ch, www.efinancialcareers.ch

IT                                         www.itjobs.ch, www.job-box.ch, www.workfinder.ch

Public sector                         www.publicjobs.ch

Pharma, healthcare               www.pharmastellen.ch, www.pharmapro.ch

Environment, conservation     www.naturschutz.ch, www.umweltprofis.ch, www.oebu.ch

Non-Profit organisations        www.sinndrin.ch, www.cinfo.ch

SMEs                                       www.kmuverband.ch/kmu-jobs.html, www.kmu.jobs

The curriculum vitae

General recommendations

• Your CV should describe your personal career.
• List your activities in reverse order (from the most recent to the oldest).
• Make sure the layout is clear and the font is easy to read.
• Make sure the text is error-free and the wording clear and precise.
• Make sure your CV is personal and shows an authentic picture of you.
• Its should be no more than 1-to- 2 pages long.

Checklist Curriculum vitae

 The cover letter

General recommendations

• Use the cover letter to briefly and concisely explain why you are interested in the job and the company in question. This ist also where you show your suitability for the position you are applying for.
• It should not be longer than one A4 page.
• Address it directly to the person named in the job advertisement.
• Base the layout and presentation on your CV.

Checklist Cover letter

Your LinkedIn profile

Social media and platforms such as LinkedIn and Xing offer you the possibility to create your own profile, as well as to obtain information about companies or even to find job advertisements. Maintaining your own profile plays an important role, as this information is also looked at by employee recruiters. See our recommendations for designing your LinkedIn profile below.

Checklist LinkedIn

The company will make an initial selection of candidates for the vacancy and invite them for an interview. The interview can take different forms and use different communication channels. Here are the essential basics and tips to help you prepare:

Interview forms: Structured or semi-structured

Depending on the degree of standardisation of the questions, interviews are structured or semi-structured (completely unstructured ones are very rare).

In structured interviews, the interview follows a pre-determined questionnaire that does not allow any leeway in changing the order of the questions. Follow-up questions are rarely asked. This makes it easier to compare the candidates, as they have all received exactly the same questions.

Semi-structured interviews allow a little more leeway. Although they also follow a predefined pattern, follow-up questions can be asked and planned questions can be omitted. This technique is very common in practice, as the company can respond more individually to the candidates.

Telephone interviews

For cost reasons, companies increasingly rely on telephone interviews for the first interview. Here are some recommendations to consider when you prepare:

• Basically, preparation is exactly the same as for a face-to-face interview, with a few added "technical" aspects.
• Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and there are no background noises.
• Avoid making unnecessary noises yourself, such as chewing gum or smoking during the interview.
• Have your documents (CV, cover letter) and writing materials ready in case you need to make notes or look something up.
• Speak clearly and in a strong voice, but not too fast. Give acoustic feedback (e.g. "Mmm-hmm", "I understand", etc.). Also demonstrate a positive attitude on the phone.

Checklist job interview

Typical questions

Video interviews

Video interviews have been increasingly popular for some time. They offer a number of advantages over traditional interviews (where you meet the company representatives in person). Apart from the fact that you don't have to travel to the interview, the main advantage is that you do the interview from home and are therefore in a familiar environment.

There are three typical forms of video interviews:

• Video interview (synchronous in time): You meet on a common video conference platform (Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.). The interview is most similar to the classic job interview, both in terms of the process itself and in terms of the questions.
• Recorded interview (asynchronous in time): This is usually done using specialised software where you dial in at any time. The system will then display a few questions, to which you record your answers. These are then sent to the company. You usually only have a defined number of attempts and a time limit of two to three minutes (per question) to record your answers.
• Sales pitch: In this case, you are typically given 30 to 60 seconds to record a "sales video" about yourself. Here you win over the company by promoting yourself as if you were a product.

Technical requirements

Basically, the same rules apply to video interviews as to face-to-face interviews. However, there are additional technical requirements that necessitate a certain amount of preparation.

• Camera and microphone: Both must be of good quality to achieve a clear picture and good sound. Test the equipment before the interview.
• Lighting: Ideally, set it up so that the light comes from the front to avoid shadows on your face. If your room has a window, sit so that you have as much daylight as possible in your face. If this is not possible, place a lamp behind the camera.
• Camera position: The camera should be at eye level for a good shot of your face. Ideally, it should be about an arm's length away from you so that the proportions are right and part of the background is visible.
• Background: Make sure the background is tidy and neutral. Pictures on the wall are allowed if they are not distracting or give a false image of you.
• Clothing: Choose the same type of clothes you would wear for a face-to-face interview. For technical reasons, strong patterns (checks, stripes, sequins, etc.) are not advisable. Unicoloured clothes are ideal.

 Conducting a conversation

In principle, the same rules apply here as in a personal conversation: be friendly, open and authentic. However, there are additional requirements for technical reasons.

• Language: Speak clearly and distinctly so that you are well understood. Add pauses to give your counterpart the opportunity to ask questions or change the subject.
• Facial expressions and gestures: Use your facial expressions as you would in a natural conversation. Although the image may be a little smaller in the video conference, it will still be seen. You can also use your hands to emphasise key messages. If the camera distance is good, these gestures will be noticed.
• Look at the camera: Do not look at your screen (although this may seem very natural to you); instead look directly at the camera. This establishes eye contact with the person you are speaking to. You can also stick a marker next to your camera to remind yourself.
• Note: During a video call, no one can see what you have placed next to your computer. Use this, for example, to look at your CV or to make important notes (about the job and about yourself).
• Taking notes: Of course, you are also allowed to take notes during a video interview. Ideally, you should do this by hand to avoid unnecessary noise from your keyboard.

Factors in wage determination

Your salary is determined by a number of factors, including your degree (field of study, level, specialisation), age and experience. In addition, the requirements of the position (e.g. management tasks), industry differences, regional wage differentials or the size of the company can also be a factor. Good preparation will show you what you can realistically expect.

Tips for wage negotiations

Wage negotiations are not arguments – they are about finding a common denominator that works for both parties. This also means that both you and the employer must show a willingness to compromise.

The wage issue is usually raised by the employer. Answer as specifically as possible in terms of the annual salary you expect. You can find out in advance what salary level is realistic – depending on the industry, the function and the region (see below). Display healthy self-confidence, a willingness to negotiate, and be open.

Most of the time, the second offer from the employer is also the last one. So your room for negotiation should not be stretched too far.

Of course, successful wage negotiations also depend to a large extent on your tone: so be friendly, communicate with "I" messages ("I consider an industry-standard wage to be important") and don't lose your sense of humour.

Fringe Benefits

Fringe benefits include perks and freebies associated with the job. Typical examples include discounted or free meals in a canteen or drinks in a break room, allowances for mobility (rail passes or half-fare cards, parking spaces at the office), sports programmes for employees, home office options, company car or mobile phone, allowances and infrastructure for childcare, support for continuing education (in the form of time credits and/or financial allowances).

Starting salaries after a degree

The FH Switzerland 2021 salary study (www.fhlohn.ch) shows that with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration FH you can expect an annual salary of CHF 78,000 (median, full time). Of course, there are significant differences between the sectors. For a Master's degree in Business Administration FH, the median is CHF 90,000. Students of business information systems achieve a median of CHF 82,500 (Bachelor FH) or CHF 87,100 (Master FH).

Salary studies

FH Schweiz                     www.fhlohn.ch

Federal Statistical Office  https://www.gate.bfs.admin.ch/salarium/public/index.html

Swiss Trade Union           https://www.sgb.ch/service/lohnrechner

Assessment centres and tests

Tests that focus on specific competencies are frequently used in recruitment. Today they are very often conducted online. They include personality tests, performance tests and numerical or verbal tests. It is always important to remain as authentic as possible – after all, it won't help if you get a job where you don't feel comfortable!

A more detailed procedure is the assessment centre, where you complete a whole series of different tasks alone, in pairs and in groups, during which you will be monitored. They usually take place under time pressure in order to test your ability to work under pressure and to concentrate. Below are some typical tasks from assessment centres.

• Presentation: This is a test of your rhetorical skills. You give a presentation on a given topic. There is usually very little time available for preparation. Therefore, make sure you have good time management skills. During the presentation, always maintain eye contact with the assessors and present your thoughts with a smile. The presentation must follow a clear structure.
• Group discussion: A group of several people (often also "competitors" in the application for the same job) discusses a controversial topic. Sometimes you will even be assigned a certain argument, which you have to represent. In this kind of discussion, be engaged, but at the same time thoughtful and calm. Respond to other arguments and admit your own mistakes. Show interest in creating a harmonious atmosphere in the group and work with factual arguments instead of personal emotions.
• Case studies: A group (rarely with individual tasks) works on a complex issue taken from the day business of the company. You develop a workable solution, although here too the process is more important than the actual result. A systematic, holistic approach is central. Show commitment, respond to others' arguments and develop them further. Listen carefully and think aloud so that others can develop the solution with you.
• Role-playing: You are given a few minutes to prepare for a specific role. Often you are the representative of the company talking to unpleasant customers who want to complain to you. Alternatively, you are a superior and have to conduct a conflict discussion with an employee. Here you have to argue convincingly and firmly, but at the same time keep your cool.

The basic rule for assessment centres is that you should remain as authentic as possible. Of course you can try to play a role. But after a few minutes and some pressure, the mask will fall anyway – no matter how practised you are! You also have to be aware that you can always be observed in an assessment centre, even before and after the actual exercise or during the breaks. Therefore, you should try to be friendly, courteous, engaged and active at all times. Good preparation also includes getting enough sleep and choosing appropriate clothing (comfortable, but still professional).