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 […]

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 […]

A famous Swiss supermarket had an incident where an employee in the sales area wanted to wear a head scarf, but they did not allow her to do that, so she resigned. Unfortunately, this happens to a company that promotes being open and living diversity, equity, and inclusion. I don’t see a s*** storm happening, and it seems that in Switzerland, this is acceptable, and I’m afraid I have to disagree.  In Switzerland, the land of Zwingli and Calvin, the majority religious group is Roman Catholic, with approximately 37% of the Swiss population. The reformed Evangelical community makes up 25%. 5% of the Swiss population is Muslim, mainly from the Balkans and Turkey. Around 30% of the population have no religious […]

Job postings are crucial in attracting diverse talent, but subtle discriminatory language can inadvertently exclude certain groups. In Switzerland, where diversity is supposedly valued, discriminatory language must be recognized and eliminated from job advertisements. Creating inclusive job postings in Switzerland fosters diversity and attracts many talents. Organizations can contribute to a more equitable and welcoming job market by carefully crafting language and eliminating unintentional biases. Why do we need to get better at writing inclusive job postings? Declining Birth Rates and War for Talent: Swiss HR Managers, Talent Acquisition specialists and Global Mobility Managers discuss the constant issue of the declining birth rates and what it means for the labor market with a lack of qualified talent in many areas […]

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.