sizov@m-win.ch, +41 (52) 269 21 11
On the streets of Swiss cities, one can hear the languages of almost all the peoples of the world. Of course, the ears of newly arrived Russophones automatically hone in upon the ever more frequently heard Russian.
These Russian-speaking people are present in Switzerland for various reasons. But most of us have a common desire – to “find ourselves” in a new place as quickly as possible. No matter how theoretically wonderful Switzerland may be, it still may not be so easy to assimilate in this society – which on the one hand, is quite friendly, but on the other hand, is quite conservative.
There are of course general recommendations on adaptation to life in a new country: e.g.studying the local language, culture and traditions, joining local clubs, participation in various events. But they remind me of a famous meme from the Internet: “It is better to be healthy and rich than poor and sick.”
In the spring of 2022, I arrived with my family in Zurich. It helped a lot that our relatives already lived here, so from the very beginning we were not lonely. Nevertheless, we needed to find our own social life, and I can share some pointers based on my own experience.
Language and icebreakers
No matter how trite it may sound, knowledge of the German language even at the household level is helpful. It is very important that the Swiss are very tolerant of newcomers who speak imperfectly in German. New interlocutors are even encouraged. If I try to say something in German, I usually start with the phrase “Ich spreche kaum Deutsch”, which immediately cancels any expectations from the native. And if after that I manage to say several phrases without errors, we may assume that the contact has already been established.
Employment
As part of this essay, it is impossible to fully detail the search for work and work permits. I will briefly share the less conventional ideas.
In addition to the usual search for vacancies on public sites and blind distribution of your resume, you can do the following:
- Think about what you can do besides your main profession. Have you participated in conferences or conducted training? In Switzerland there are private schools[1] where your knowledge and skills can be useful: try to contact them.
- While looking for work in Switzerland, you can continue to work remotely for your previous employers or customers. In addition to financial support, this will relieve you of idleness, even if it is forced, and keep your skills sharp.
- Place your resume on sites looking for childcare[2]. Why not? If you have a driver’s license, you can take children to school. And in the beginning, no new contacts are negligible.
- It’s maybe hard to believe, but it’s exactly that which helped me find my first job in my profession in Switzerland – the mother whose child I drove to hockey classes invited me to join their company.
- Subscribe to the news of interesting companies on LinkedIn. If suitable vacancies appear there, you will be informed. Plus, companies hold open seminars where you can get acquainted with their HR-staff.
- Look for networking opportunities
In addition to business seminars, networking can mean participation in festivals, professional exhibitions or conferences. Use these opportunities, do not be afraid to ask questions. This helps to stand out from the masses. And after the event, you can approach the person of interest and say: “During the event I asked you a question; please let me clarify … “
One person shared such a “life hack”: find a single word that characterizes you from a professional point of view. For me, as a lawyer, it might be the word “contracts”, because I am really specialized in this topic. In situations of “quick acquaintances”, this can help briefly introduce yourself to interlocutors and increase your memorability.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
I am interested (email to sekretariat@m-win.ch; we will get in touch)
Note: This article was published on our blog by the Independent law firm Martin Rechtsanwälte GmbH.
[1] For example, here you can find information about Russian private schools: https://aboutswiss.ch/russian-switzerland/russkie-shkoly-v-shveytsarii/
[2] For example, https://babysitting24.ch/en
