My attempts at securing part-time jobs and internships

I did bring a set of formal attire but I wasn't sure if they were adequate for a Swiss work setting. Devendra Shintre

Finding a good job in India was a breeze for Devendra but in Switzerland even part-time jobs and internships proved elusive.

Education abroad is not cheap for most Indians. Therefore, part time job opportunities are an important factor when making a decision to study abroad. I had contacted students already studying at my targeted universities to make enquiries. However, a typical healthy conversation ended abruptly when I started asking about employment opportunities. I will try to answer the part-time job question in this post based on my personal experience. 

Part time student jobs typically serve two purposes: Firstly, they can finance daily expenses, and secondly offer valuable experience in the targeted field. Achieving both in Switzerland is difficult.    

I started looking for part-time jobs from my second week in Switzerland. I did get invited to a few interviews. I already had some experience in the banking sector and targeted jobs and internships in the financial sector. I still remember my first interview. I was unsure about a lot of things, starting from proper business attire for interviews. I wanted to make a good impression, but I was unsure whether they would understand my accent. I also wasn’t sure what to answer when asked about salary expectations, as my salary in India cannot be compared to remuneration here.

Although I didn’t get the job, it was a very good learning experience. The interviews here go exactly as they would back home in India. The good thing about applying for jobs in Switzerland is that the recruiters often provide feedback. One learns where there is room for improvement. I have also been rejected for jobs several times because a new intern or employee was needed on a very urgent basis, and it usually takes more than a month to hire someone from outside the European Union. 

This was a new experience for me, as finding a job was a lot easier for me in India. If one graduates from prestigious universities like the Indian Institutes of Technology, recruiters are eager to hire you. I had easily secured a comfortable job in a bank despite studying aerospace engineering at university. The ease of landing of job in India meant that I didn’t have much experience with interviews before coming here. Graduating from a top Indian institution did not count for much in Switzerland, as not a lot of people are aware of the academic landscape in my country. However, interviewers did value my previous job experience.

For more blog posts and information on studying in Switzerland visit our dedicated page Education Swiss Made.