Nine Hot Tips to Use to Your Advantage by Angela Weinberger

With the start of international and Swiss school holidays, you notice fewer people on the trains, and motivation to work is generally lower than usual. This is when to take overtime compensation, go home at decent hours, and take a break from the country for a while. It’s also time to jump into a lake near you every evening after work. 

Over the years, I have learned that everything in Zurich is cyclical, like a woman. As an entrepreneur, I needed to learn to adjust my work schedule to the slow periods (as most expats leave the city), and this year, the heat wave has arrived before the traditional Swiss Summer Slump.

Let’s pull out the deck chair, parasol, and sunscreen and relax with a glass of rosé and a good crime novel set in Brittany. And let’s also use this period to pick up the slack in your job search, refresh our energy, and adopt a playful attitude to networking again.

1 – Understand the Job Market

Many job seekers decide to take the summer off, while recruiters are simultaneously trying to fill temporary and urgent roles. Therefore, you are at a considerable advantage by continuing to build professional relationships in Zurich and beyond.  

Officially, Switzerland’s unemployment rate remains low by international standards. According to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the unemployment rate stood at 3.1% in May 2026, reflecting a relatively resilient labor market despite a slowing economy. However, it is important to distinguish between the SECO measure, which only includes registered job seekers, and the International Labor Organization (ILO) measure used for international comparisons. 

According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, the ILO unemployment rate reached 5.2% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 4.7% a year earlier. This suggests that the number of people actively seeking work is significantly higher than official registration figures indicate. 

Therefore, while Switzerland continues to offer favorable employment prospects compared to many countries, job seekers benefit greatly from building strong professional networks, developing a clear personal brand, and maintaining an active market presence. 

Watch this video of our HireMeExpress program:

2 – Work the Swiss Summer Slump Schedule

Commit to the summer schedule by working with us via the HireMeExpress online course. We provide you with the videos, templates, weekly summaries, and homework for the HireMeExpress program. We also encourage you to plan your time to spend more time outside (you’ll need that extra vitamin D in a few months!). Starting this week, we recommend that you work on a unique “Swiss Summer Slump Schedule” from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Then, you can spend the rest of the day in the “Badi” of your choice, reading, listening to podcasts, and enjoying life! 

3 – Have Your Professional Headshot Taken

Consider revisiting the importance of your personal brand by finally getting that professional headshot we have been talking about for a while. In the Swiss job market, a high-quality professional photo is standard for your CV and LinkedIn profile. We recommend our trusted partners:

Carmen Sirboiu: LinkedIn Profile | Website https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-sirboiu-b91643b/ 

Website https://carmen.photo/

Geoffrey Pegler: LinkedIn Profile | https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-pegler-5a32ba6/

Website https://www.geoffpegler.com/

Pro-Tip: Mention “Angie Weinberger 2026” when booking to access exclusive pricing for our community.

4 – Build More Professional Relationships

Summer is an ideal time to build new relationships and reconnect with existing contacts. Most busy people might feel less pressure than usual. Encourage them to enjoy the nice weather and spend time outside. So why don’t you take them for ice cream in the sunshine after work? Why don’t you request an early morning walk by the lake while enjoying a cold coffee? A personalized request is vital here. 

HireMeExpress Tip No. 8: Why You Don’t Like Networking (and Need to Train the Muscle)

5 – Practice German and Prepare for an Exam

You have now been in Switzerland long enough to have at least started learning German. Make sure you have your GOETHE or TELC language certificate in your application file, as employers often see it as a sign of commitment to integrating into the local market. Summer is the perfect time to accelerate your learning and prepare for an exam. Rainy summer days are ideal for studying, while sunny days provide plenty of opportunities to practice your German in real-life situations. 

We recommend working with XLingua, a language school specializing in practical language training for professionals and internationally mobile talent. 

6 – Enjoy a Holiday or Home Leave with Your Family

Summer is also the best time to be away from Switzerland. You will probably be able to catch up, and in emergencies, companies or prospects may also contact you via video call. Charge your batteries and leave the city for at least two weeks. This is also the best time to take an extended home leave and see your extended family, high school friends, and everyone else you have neglected over the last six months in your Protestant Swiss lifestyle. 

7 – Co-Create with Tom Robot

To find a job successfully today, you need to know exactly how top-tier recruiters think. In my latest Red Couch Talk, I sit down with Deborah Withelm, a Department Lead in Talent Acquisition, who has spent her career leading recruiting teams of up to 14 people across high-stakes industries, including Mobility Solutions, Digital Development, and Aerospace. This July, she is taking her own advice to the next level by transitioning into a global leadership role within the medical supplies industry.

Deborah Withelm

🎥 Watch the full talk here: https://youtu.be/YtWUy01Dvhc?si=53yNO7rrvdK2mZdF

8 – Start Volunteering with SINGA

SINGA offers great volunteering opportunities. I generally recommend volunteering for up to two years while you are looking for work in Zurich. Volunteering is a great way to give back while developing a skill and building your professional network and portfolio.

9 – Book Your “Dance Card” for the Fall Season

As you already know, networking is easier when you do it regularly. My recommendation is that you fill your “dance card” for the fall season by booking your ticket for the 11 August 2026 event mentioned below.

*****

Connections that Matter 

Secure your spot at the upcoming event, Connections That Matter on 11 AUGUST 2026, organized by Mike Fritz. Please use the code AW25 for a discount.

The Human Advantage: Thriving in the Age of Automation and AI!. These highly limited tickets will go fast, so head over today to review our exciting agenda, enter your code, and automatically claim your savings.

https://4ds.oniva.events/en/login?from=/event/connections-that-matter-11-08-2026

*****

More:

Join us:

Global Mobility Career Orientation for Expats

Instead of starting your laptop to go through another day of meetings (that could have been an email), you look at the globe you got from your grandmother as a kid. You have been sitting at this desk for too long and wish to smell the spices in a market in Amritsar, walk through the East Village of New York City, sit in a rickshaw in Lahore, or take a long hike in Northern Italy. 

Isn’t that why you originally wanted to be in your profession? 

Wasn’t that one reason why you chose to leave your home village?

You always felt like you were born in the wrong country, as if your soul belonged elsewhere. Traveling made you happy and inspired.

You always felt more connected to the broader world than to your home village. 

You wanted to be a nomad, adopt a minimalist lifestyle, and live in a tiny house while making a positive impact in the world. 

Thinking about moving “back home” would feel like a complete failure.

Our program helps you regain clarity, confidence, and creativity so you can lead with purpose and power, even amid the most complex global transitions.

We offer a solution. Our programs are designed for anyone who wants to take the next step and lead high-performing teams across different countries and time zones while enhancing their thought leadership. We will agree on your three main career goals and work together to overcome the hurdles you face. 

We will help you escape the rat race and enter a productive flow state, where you lead yourself and your global virtual team with purpose, performance, and productivity.  We will work together to ensure you successfully transition into your next role or project within the next 365 days. 

You can also work with us if you run a business as a coach, trainer, or consultant. This program is also helpful if you are planning your repatriation. 

Apply via RockMeApp by 17 July 2026!

We are onboarding all new clients through our RockMeApp. You don’t need to pay for access to the RockMeApp for three months. We want to maintain professional and ethical standards. Hence, we need you to complete onboarding before we meet with you via Zoom.

Referred Clients: If a partner, friend, or former client has referred you, please mention their name when requesting an account. Start Date Next Cohort: 14 September.

The Global Rockstars Program

• You will have a fixed slot on Angela Weinberger’s calendar for a 1:1 online executive coaching session each week (45 minutes). 
• Your co-created Personal Development Plan (PDP) is in our RockMeApp. You can track your learning goals in the RockMeApp.
• We will hand out “The Global Rockstar Album” Print Book 
• You will receive a paper certificate upon completion of the one-year program.
• Access to our resources (handouts, checklists, worksheets, templates, research, and literature lists).
• Access to the community “Global People Club,” featuring inspiring Master Classes.

Complete Terms and Conditions (Please read before signing up).

412 GPT Terms and Conditions for Private Clients and Guests_v16_2026

Testimonials

Lisa McClennon, former Director of Internal Oversight Services at WHO, explains the impact of our collaboration in this Red Couch Talk: My Red Couch Talk with Lisa McClennon.

Read the client testimonials on Google, LinkedIn, and here: https://www.angieweinberger.ch/client-testimonials/

Next Steps

Further details of the program will be communicated later on.

Proposal 406 Global Mobility Career Orientation for Expats – B2C (Private Clients)

Resources

How You Can Help Others Find a Job in Zurich, Switzerland

HireMeExpress Tip No. 10 – Become a Giver on Social Media

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) (2026) Swiss unemployment statistics, May 2026. Available at: https://www.seco.admin.ch.