The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Spontaneous applications and references key to landing job, survey finds

Unemployed person getting advice on job search
Looking for work? Human resources departments are increasingly accepting unsolicited applications for jobs Keystone

Unconventional methods are increasingly used to recruit talent in Switzerland, according to a survey of more than 500 human resources specialists. The survey also found that hiring executives prefer Swiss nationals over foreigners even when there is no legal requirement to do so.

The HR Today Research SurveyExternal link, released on Wednesday, was conducted from April to August 2018 by the trade journal “HR Today” and Von Rundstedt career consulting firm.

Some 54% of survey respondents regularly consider spontaneous applications, in other words applications that are not in response to a job advertisement. Although company webpages and job boards remain important recruitment tools, 73% also described the personal networks of current employees as rather or very important.

Personal references for evaluating candidates are important. While 91% contact these references on request, 60% draw on personal references without the authorisation of candidates.

This reliance on informal references is one of the more surprising findings of the survey, according to Von Rundstedt CEO Pascal Scheiwiller.  

He laid out some of the reasons for this approach in an interviewExternal link with Swiss public television, SRF. “Firstly, I get an honest answer through an informal reference, and second, social networks make it very easy to figure out which contacts I know and could approach,” he said.

“(But) we were not aware of how many people fall back on informal references that are not legally allowed,” he added. This raises questions as to whether such an approach violates data protection laws.

Nearly 80% of survey respondents said they prefer Swiss talent over foreigners when profiles and qualifications are both sufficient.

The survey also confirmed that the shortage of skilled workers remains a significant concern, particularly in the German-speaking part of the country.  

Some 81% of respondents indicated that they did not believe that new regulation, which obliges employers to register relevant job vacancies with regional employment agencies, would improve the talent shortage situation.

Job vacancies in Switzerland rose sharply from July to August.  According to the Michael Page Swiss job index, the number of jobs advertised rose by a record 3.8 percent during this period. Nine out of ten were in German-speaking Switzerland.

 

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

New work of art by Saype adorns the Vaud Alps

More

New work by artist Saype adorns Swiss Alps

This content was published on The French-Swiss artist Saype has created a new giant painting on the summit of the Grand Chamossaire above Villars-sur-Ollon VD. The 2500 square metre work depicts a boy with a rucksack on his shoulders.

Read more: New work by artist Saype adorns Swiss Alps
Actor Carlos Leal returns to Switzerland

More

Swiss actor Carlos Leal leaves ‘arrogant’ LA

This content was published on According to "Schweizer Illustrierte", Swiss actor Carlos Leal is returning to Switzerland - after 15 years in Los Angeles. "It's become loud there, megalomaniacal and arrogant," he said in the online edition of the magazine.

Read more: Swiss actor Carlos Leal leaves ‘arrogant’ LA
Office of the Attorney General is investigating criminal charges relating to the sale of the Goldvreneli

More

Swissmint sued for alleged gold coin fraud

This content was published on A coin collector has filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland against Swissmint, the federal mint, for fraud in connection with the sale of the limited-edition 100-franc gold Vreneli.

Read more: Swissmint sued for alleged gold coin fraud
Vreni Schneider gets a museum

More

Museum to open devoted to Swiss ski legend Vreni Schneider

This content was published on Vreni Schneider is to have a museum in the centre of her home village of Elm. The legendary Swiss ski racer has numerous memorabilia at home, which she is now releasing and exhibiting.

Read more: Museum to open devoted to Swiss ski legend Vreni Schneider
Unknown persons steal weapons from shooting range in Wittenbach SG

More

Weapons stolen from Swiss shooting range

This content was published on A shooting range in Wittenbach, northeastern Switzerland, was broken into on Sunday night. The unknown perpetrators stole several antique weapons.

Read more: Weapons stolen from Swiss shooting range
Gurten Festival attracts 98,000 people to Bern's local mountain

More

Gurten Festival wraps up with 98,000 music lovers

This content was published on Over the four days, around 98,000 people – including volunteers – made their way up Bern’s local mountain for the 42nd edition of the festival.

Read more: Gurten Festival wraps up with 98,000 music lovers

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR