Have you returned from your Christmas holiday full of new spirit and New Year’s resolutions and do you already feel a shift in energy as days are getting a bit longer and there is more sunlight. My plants outside thought it was spring already and I did not dare to tell them yet that winter is coming back. I remember the slight optimism of last January when I was hoping for a “back to normal” and only six weeks later the world was in turmoil again.  This year I made a change and started the New Year in South India at 30 degrees Celsius and with an amazing vacation that feels like a trip to paradise. And while it’s cold […]

In an era characterized by rapid globalization and technological advancements, the field of global mobility faces the dual challenge of adapting to Cascios’ BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) world while maintaining a human-centered approach. For foreign local hires and permanent transfers into Switzerland, these challenges are even more pronounced, given the unique demographic, social, and cultural landscape of the country. This article delves into strategies for enhancing the global mobility experience, emphasizing the need to humanize the process and address the complexities of our interconnected world. 1 – Understanding the BANI World and Its Implications for Global Mobility “Brittle The perception of stability often masks underlying fragility. Countries or industries that rely heavily on a single resource or system […]

As a child, Kris Feroleto faced challenges in school, often feeling out of sync with traditional learning methods. She always believed she learned differently—by doing, experiencing, and engaging with those she admired for their knowledge and insight. Kris absorbed information like a sponge, leading to the ironic and transformative journey of becoming a lifelong learner. She later channelled her experiences back into education as an educator, helping students who, like her younger self, struggled to fit the mould. Education Undergraduate Degree: Human Growth and Development Master’s Degrees: Education: Special Education School Counseling School Administration Career Highlights Kris has held multiple roles in education, including: Special Education Teacher School Counselor Head of an Alternative Education Team School Administrator (Middle and High […]

The hidden job market, particularly in Switzerland and Germany, consists of positions that are not publicly advertised. Research shows that up to 60-80% of roles are filled through personal networks and informal methods rather than open job listings. Many companies find it more efficient and cost-effective to rely on referrals or internal recommendations to fill roles, especially for niche or highly specialized positions. For example, industries like agriculture, education, and healthcare often use informal hiring channels more frequently than high-tech sectors, where roles are often advertised more widely. In Switzerland, studies by the University of Zurich’s Swiss Job Market Monitor reveal that while jobs in certain sectors remain hidden, about 80% of available positions are NOT publicly advertised on company […]

As I mentioned in this post during the early days of the pandemic my mother could not find yeast. Her village in Southern Germany had a yeast shortage. We don’t have a shortage of anything here in Zurich, neither toilet paper, nor yeast, even though demand for both was higher than in “normal” times. My mother likes to bake in normal times but I felt she needed to bake even more in these times.