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English Speaking Part-time Jobs in Switzerland

As an English speaking expat, you will soon discover that most Swiss people speak good English. This is due to Switzerland being an international country and having many foreign businesses in the country.

The Swiss have a reputation for not being friendly. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. They are very reserved and don't show emotion easily, but they are extremely loyal to their friends once they know you and become friends. 

There Are Lots Of Job Opportunities Available If You Speak Excellent English In Switzerland

If you have excellent English language skills, there are lots of part-time job opportunities available in Switzerland. These jobs range from teaching English in schools or privately for older students to working on reception desks at luxury hotels and working in bars or hotels.

If you are a professional job, such as a doctor or dentist, you will have little difficulty finding work in Switzerland. 

To Work If You Don't Speak German In Switzerland

If you are an English speaking person who doesn't speak any German, your options will be much more limited. There are very few jobs available in shops, and companies that don't speak English are spoken in Switzerland. However, phone support jobs and IT-related work is often done by people who only speak English.

You Will, Need To Be Flexible And Be Prepared To Work Long Hours At Your Part-Time Job Or Have Several Jobs

The good news about working a part-time job whilst living in Switzerland is that there is a lot of part-time job flexibility; for example, doctors or dentists can work one morning each week instead of two (in working on a Saturday morning). 

To teach English as a part-time job it is often possible to choose the days you would like to work, for example, I normally chose just one day each week. Alternatively, there are jobs available where you can do night shifts once a month or so, for example, in hotels or bars. Or finally, some teaching opportunities give you flexible options of including weekends if your schedule permits this.

The majority of part-time jobs also include paid holidays and an annual salary agreed beforehand and not based upon hours worked (as many full-time jobs in Switzerland are). This makes it much easier to commit to doing a certain amount of hours per month working at a particular job without worrying about being fired because of having to cancel one week due to a holiday or sickness.

Looking For A Part-Time Job In Germany

If you are looking for part-time jobs in Switzerland and don't speak German, I would recommend using a job agency instead. The fee's these agencies charge will be quite high; however, they will find you suitable positions that fit your requirements and negotiate with employers for the best pay and salary. 

These agencies generally have access to many more part-time job opportunities than can be found on the Internet or by searching through newspapers, magazines or contact lists available from organisations like English speaking clubs. However, most importantly, these agencies also have access to companies hiring people who aren't Swiss, EU or German citizens, which are not always advertised in the newspapers and on Internet sites.

The exception to this is if you speak no German and are looking for a part-time teaching English job, I would recommend using local EC schools as they pay more than language school's do. 

Salaries In Switzerland Vary Greatly Depending On The Industry And Part-Time Job Type

As with most of Europe, salaries in Switzerland also vary across different industries and positions, with those working in industry/factory type jobs generally earning the highest salaries (in Swiss Francs). Salaries at private schools that teach English tend to be around 30,000CHF to 35,000CHF per year but can go higher depending on the level of experience and qualifications you have.

Salaries at hotels while working as an Au Pair or waiter tend to be between 20,000CHF to 25,000CHF per year but depend a lot on where in Switzerland you are working. For example, salaries are higher in Zurich than they are in Lugano, etc...

When it comes to reception desk work, the salaries are generally based upon hourly rates, which can vary depending on the company you work for and your position; expect anywhere from 11-16 francs per hour. The good news is that reception desks usually offer a flexible schedule, so if you have a busy shift one week, then the next week, you might have a quiet/slow one. 

As with most jobs, hourly rates are usually subject to both a minimum and maximum; for example, at one reception desk company I worked for, the minimum salary was 11 Francs per hour, but the maximum was 14.5 francs per hour. At another hotel I worked in, the hourly rates were 12-16 francs per hour, depending on how many hours you worked per shift.

Salaries For Part Time Jobs In Switzerland Vary More Than Full Time Salaries Do

One of the biggest perks about working as a part-time job is that some of these jobs pay much more than their full-time counterparts do. This gives you greater freedom because it means you can work two part-time jobs or two different types of part-time jobs and still earn enough to live off comfortably without the need to work a full-time job as well.

This is also something you might want to look into if you are planning on spending several years working part-time in Switzerland as it will allow you greater freedom if you choose not to become Swiss later down the track; this saves a lot of future stress about whether or not you should get your residence permit renewed when it expires.

Conclusion

Part-time jobs in Switzerland are available to both EU and non-EU citizens, but almost all of them require you to speak German at least at a fundamental level. Therefore if you wish to find a part-time job that isn't teaching English, is paying competitively and doesn't require German. I would recommend using one of the local Swiss agencies because they will negotiate with employers for the best possible rates for your position. 

If, on the other hand, you want to work part-time in Switzerland as an Au pair or waiter/ waitress, then do not worry if you aren't Swiss or German because many hotels still hire people who don't speak either German or English as long as you speak a little bit of German than many will hire you regardless and train you in the job from there. 

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