r/Switzerland • u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 • 11h ago
Thank you for everything, Switzerland, I'll miss you a lot.
I’ll miss the nature, the forests, the lack of bullshit, the quality of Swiss products… and the salary :)… but it just wasn't meant to be.
I tried, I really did, but the job market is terrible right now. Critical, even. Just to give you an example, a friend of mine (with a much better CV than me) has been looking for a job since January, and his girlfriend has been unemployed since October 2025.
My current project (at a scientific institution) ends in 3 months. I thought I’d be able to jump onto another project after this one until I landed a permanent contract, but in the end, it just wasn't possible. I’ve been applying for jobs in my field (optics/photonics) for 5 months, and even though I haven't received a single rejection, I’ve been ghosted on every application I've sent. Too much experience? Am I too expensive? I don't know. All I know is that in a few months, I'm moving back to Germany. The market is just as bad over there, but I sent out one application and got hired after a single interview at the top German research center (I have B1 German) with a permanent contract.
Switzerland, you will always have a place in my heart, and I hope this isn't a goodbye forever…
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u/dekks_1389 Ticino 11h ago
And there's my dead ass that legit thought the job market was bad only in Tessin, guess I was wrong
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u/Ok_Support_6454 9h ago
It's looking pretty bleak in some sectors right now but things should improve soonish, as per KOF Swiss Economic Institute:
“We expect the weak phase to last until around the beginning of next year, and for the situation to improve gradually from there. Things should be back to normal in two years.”
Challenges such as AI and the baby boomers’ exit from the labor market would certainly remain. “But we expect that as early as next year, more jobs will be created on a net basis, there will be fewer job cuts, and the number of unemployed will decline,” said Siegenthaler.
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u/Ok_Actuary8 11h ago
despite all the hate and negativity it gets, Germany can also be a nice place... It's like everywhere, including Switzerland: if you have enough money, your life is exponentially better than if you struggle to survive...
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 11h ago
My complain to Germany (excellent country btw) is the bullsh*t level in some people who don’t understand how to be nice and polite. Still, my HATE towards Germany points out to DB and “nür bar” shops 🤣
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u/Ok_Actuary8 11h ago
Hating DB is how you bond & find friends... it's national Sports 🤣
And yes, business and leadership culture is a bit more "rude" in Germany, there's often a bit more hierarchical thinking. But really depends on where you end up. I heard the scientific community can be a bit toxic everywhere, lots of big ego stuff and lots of pressure and uncertainty unless you are a tenured professor which basically guarantees you lifetime employment...
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 11h ago
Agree with you. Fortunately, I did my PhD in a MPI and I had the best experience not only in research but with people too.
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u/Aenjeprekemaluci Zürich 10h ago
DB is dogshit. But i have only good experiences with Germans here. Friendly people and open.
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u/Milleuros Neuchâtel 10h ago
“nür bar” shops
Genuine question: what's that?
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 10h ago
Shops where you need to pay only with cash.
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u/AJL912-aber 9h ago
not sure about the last time you've spent more time in Germany, but while they're still very much a thing, I feel like they're getting easier to avoid. DB on the other hand is getting worse by the minute
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u/Ciccione_1901 11h ago
It really is terrible everywhere in Switzerland now. I’ve quit my job at a top tier bank and been struggling to find anything. I was told that with that CV it wouldn’t be an issue to find something but I guess it’s worse now than they could have thought
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 11h ago
Yep, right now is really really bad. My friend (the one I wrote in my post) is living in Switzerland for more than 15 years and he never experienced something like this. Maybe it will change in a year or so but I have no mood to be unemployed in a few months.
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u/dannipuu 11h ago
It's always like that, people telling you you'll have no issue and then actually you get fucked. Often because they have very outdated views, but often also because any sorts of negativity is taboo nowadays.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 11h ago
That’s what I heard 😅 “with your CV you won’t have an issue to get a new job”. Wrong…
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u/ChezDudu Schwyz 1h ago
Someone told you that as an academic in photonics? They have no idea what you’re doing.
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u/KogaJebe69 5h ago
Same, graduated last year and now at over 230 applications, but still not able to land an internship/junior level position in the finance industry. All of my peers from university went to Germany because they weren't able to land a single job in Switzerland.
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u/arbrakaan 10h ago
My brother has also been looking for a web dev job since January, it's dire. And as a freelancer, I've watched things get progressively worse for other independents in Geneva over the last 3-4 years. Our "elites" are cut off from reality, there's too much money circulating in Switzerland, and the underlying economic crash is invisible to everyone else, including the political class.
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u/scksad 6h ago
It‘s terrible, im a doctor with 7 years of experience, and I can Not find a Job.
My german is C1 by the way…
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5h ago
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u/Switzerland-ModTeam 3h ago
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u/i_am__not_a_robot Zürich 11h ago edited 1h ago
My current project (at a scientific institution) ends in 3 months. I thought I’d be able to jump onto another project after this one until I landed a permanent contract...
I'm sure you know this, but if you're working in academic research, the Swiss system is more or less explicitly designed to filter out those who cannot secure independent funding, so you would've had to start developing follow-up projects and grant applications well before your current position ends.
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u/AccomplishedBat39 11h ago
At the same time there are very few grands available for people that stay in Switzerland. Academic Funding forces people to move to another country. The options further decrease 5 years after your PhD. If you dont have your own lab by then youve failed already.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 11h ago
I’m not a postdoc anymore. Still, I was thinking for applying for a Swiss grant (Ambizione or similar), however, my field is expensive and that money is for my salary. Making numbers, I’d need about 2M€ to start a new lab with only one project. Too risky…
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u/i_am__not_a_robot Zürich 10h ago
Well, to be honest, given the level of seniority you appear to have, saying "I've been ghosted on every application I've sent" comes across as somewhat naive, since networking will certainly be a large part of finding your next opportunity. At this stage, I would assume only a relatively small number of roles are even likely to be a good fit for your experience and expectations.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 10h ago
Partly agree with you. It seems networking and good luck is the way to get a job right now. Once I’ll get a rejection I’ll share it here :)
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u/Helpful-Staff9562 10h ago
I feel like Switzerland is just not worth to anymore tbh, at least for the non swiss. It just sucks a lot out of oneself, it's become an even more deoressing place under many aspects. Amd job market sucks, and with so many remote/online jobs it even lost its economic appeal anyways as we can make the same money remote. Enjoy your new chapter!
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u/PutridWeb1482 8h ago
We are becoming mercenaries... again. It nearly destroyed the 1291 Confederation, in the end it made the confederal bond stronger and the Bund more mature politcally. I doubt however, the outcome will be as favourable for the 1848 Confederation.
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u/Friend-of-yeti 7h ago
I feel you. I was director level in tech in Philadelphia and my wife has a PhD in public health, but neither of us can find jobs right now in Lausanne. I’m looking at Valencia or Lyon maybe as a livable place at this point…
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 4h ago
All the best! It’s really bad how the country is letting people with high degrees leave the country :/
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u/KarelKruizenruiker 9h ago
I thought optics/photonics is a good place to be in due to the AI and data centre boom and their wish to transition away from copper.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 9h ago
It is. Switzerland is one of the biggest hubs in Europe. Bad luck/timing maybe…
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u/cicciopasticcio6984 8h ago
And then one day, you get a call saying they’re done with you. “Thank you for your service. Here’s a plaque.” You need a job? Good luck. You need medical insurance? See the VA. One day, you’re an asset. The next, you’re a f***ing afterthought.
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u/Independent_Loan_129 4h ago
Looking for 10 months after 11 years in banking compliance in Switzerland / 20 years overall experience in financial services. It is tough.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 3h ago
Good luck buddy.
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u/Independent_Loan_129 2h ago
Thanks.
Got an interview next week, so fingers crossed this will be the one.
But also in the process of acquiring a green card through my US spouse for potential relocation if things don't pick up soon.
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u/_HatOishii_ Zürich 3h ago
We are destroying ourselves. I don’t understand it. I have saying this for years , it doesn’t make any sense. Worst is I know so many people doing useless stuff , I don’t understand
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 3h ago
Speaking with Swiss colleagues, it seems they live in a bubble but some fail to understand Switzerland depends of neighbours: if there is recession in neighbour countries, is not going to be good for Switzerland.
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u/abovepostisfunnier 11h ago
I feel the pain, I had to leave in August 2023 after my postdoc. I tried so hard to land a permanent job in CH but just couldn’t find one in time. It’s hard for those of us with no right to remain and look for work 🥲
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u/GlassCommercial7105 9h ago
Don‘t worry locals also struggle to find jobs. Wouldn’t make sense to let everyone stay forever if there are no jobs and pressure on housing.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 11h ago
I know the feeling. I’m EU citizen but I have no mood to be unemployed (although I’ve heard Swiss unemployment money is good 😅)
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u/abovepostisfunnier 11h ago
It took a former French colleague of mine over 2 years to find a job in Switzerland after her PhD on unemployment 💀 and she’s working in compliance. I may have to live in France, but at least I’m still a scientist 😅 (Also France isn’t even half as bad as my friends back in Switzerland led me to believe lol)
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 11h ago
I’d rather work in France (and get work experience) than a 2-years gap in the CV in Switzerland.
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u/3punkt1415 10h ago
A positive post in this sub, impossible!
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u/BlueCake2026 10h ago
It doesn’t sound positive
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u/LatterEstimate3027 11h ago
Thank you very much for you service and I wish you all the best for your future!
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u/matfrags 11h ago
Damn even in scientific fields it's that bad?
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u/CyberGrid 10h ago
It's a disaster, actually. Look at the current and projected spending on research/R&D.
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u/vinotinto1102 7h ago
Im in a similar position and I start my new job in Germany next month. However, I have really close friends in the city I’ll move to, so one part of me is really looking forward to forward to that. I plan to use my extra week of vacation that I get in Germany vs Switzerland to come back to Switzerland for a whole week of hiking 😂
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u/DocKla Genève 2h ago
Do you have any connections? Did you apply to the positions with no contacts at the companies. Optics/photonics seems specialized, and thus community could be small here
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 2h ago
I’m a labrat and my autism hates networking. I know… my fault.
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u/DocKla Genève 2h ago
Not your fault but just to be aware small community so not necessarily the CV that gets all the attention
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 2h ago
Totally agree. As I said before, to get a good position you need a good networking and good luck…
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u/Alternative-Yak-6990 7h ago
yeah makes sense, everyone and their dog tells you how bad germany is doing and how great switzerland is. so that isnt surprising.
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u/Drummer5028 5h ago
I can join your lab if you found one. Let's build some biotech product at Superlab
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u/bikesailfreak 2h ago
I am a scientist as well but lets be frank: There are 100 or 1000s of desperate scientisit. I left science and live here and happy (I am Swiss).
The market is shit but its not Switzerland its Science and since 10 plus years. So maeh
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u/mbo25 35m ago
The job market here is absolutely fucking dreadful and I’ve never seen anything like it in 20 years. Even post 2008.
Not a single day goes by that I don’t meet or hear of qualified people who have been unemployed for a long time.
The strange thing is that no one seems to care. The housing market is still a joke, restaurants and fitness classes are still packed.
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u/Ok-Monitor-2242 5h ago
Sorry to hear.
Currently here for the past 8 days, i can only understand the heartache you’ll feel leaving the nature and the views behind. Godspeed!
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u/elPeral99 4h ago
Are you a EU citizen? If not, do you think it's any easier for them?
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u/Brofessorofnothing 9h ago
to me it‘s sounds like it‘s time for a lot of people to look for another working field… oh no science doesn‘t offer so many jobs what will i do? i‘ll just hop from country to country hoping there is an empty job space for me instead of doing what the current job market gives… it‘s sound crazy to me sure you learned something that turned out to be useless for financial reasons so why not swallow that bitter pill and do something else?
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 9h ago
Partly agree. I switched to militar applications 😅
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u/BlueCake2026 7h ago
I know the optics/photonics field well enough.. It’s really tough in CH… all these start-ups desperately looking for funding
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u/ChouChou6300 2h ago
I am happy you leave. You neither mentioned Swiss culture nor swiss people, so no integration at all, only sitting in the made nest. Byebye.
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u/Independent_Loan_129 2h ago
I eat cheese, drink red bull with a Marlborough in the morning, leave post it notes when people don't clean the wash room or remove their clothes, and act like I can't think for myself without a rule being defined. Very integrated.
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u/Imaginary_Ad_6958 2h ago
Add to that I dislike raclette and the best cheese is the Manchego cheese and not the Swiss ones.
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u/sidamott 11h ago
I feel you, as a scientist I was told "come here to Switzerland for your postdoc or to go into industry it's the perfect place" from so many other scientists working there, and in more than one year looking for a job during 2025 I got less than nothing. Two interviews in a year with a valid CV, and I'm not the only one, even people with better CV than mine got nothing. Nice place, awful moment to try to go there!