Job Discussion Forums

[Shane H]

Hello fellow teachers. I am trying to gather some information about what it is like to work in Switzerland. I am interested in any type of information about experiences, visas etc. I realise that it is quite difficult to arrange work there, but I am following my heart. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Shane

[R]

Visa information from the Swiss embassy in Australia:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/australia_all/e/home/travch/work/woperm.html

Rob.

[Roger]

You will need an exceptionally good good education background to land yourself a job, mate! European English teachers are professionals with an uni degree or a specialised teacher's training that destines them for a career as civil servants.
Do you speak any of the national tongues? If so, your chances are a little better. I don't think the public school system has any vacancy for you, but you can try:
- Volkshochschulen (publicly-subsidised adult training centres, though they are unlikely to hire you on a full-time basis; the French equivalent, I think, is called "ecole populaire" though I am not so sure about this;
- try a MIGROS or COOP (supermarket chains with a strong social commitment that translates into running social and educational services) Erwachsenenschule (adult training centre); these two supermarket chains are the Swiss equivalents to the French Carrefour (which is only a supermarket) or a WAL*MART;
- there arew, of course, BERLITZ, LINGUAPHONE and many other also-runs;
- if you are American, you might stand a certain chance at one of their American schools/colleges they run for their numerous expats especially in the Geneva region and in the alps;

- if your chosen place is Basle, you might get a job at an university in the French Alsace region, for instance the Schiller University in Mulhouse; Basle and Mulhouse are within short commuting distance. I think the Schiller Uni is an American outfit.
Good luck
Roger