As far as I know, once the company is ready to sign a contract with you, and upon signature, it's the company's HR responsibility to issue a request to the cantonal (state) authorities asking for a working permit/authorization for you and a residency permit (authorisation de travail + permis de séjour).

That being said, the procedure is easier for a person with the same nationality (in this case, US citizen) but already having a residency in Switzerland (permis de séjour), as this person is already living in Switzerland, and the work authorization procedure is different (easier).

Finding a job is just like everywhere else, job portal websites publish job offers or through companies' websites. There are plenty of threads in Glocals listing job websites, just have a quick look.

Good luck :-)...

Hello Enat,

The main problem is that as a "third-country" national (= neither Swiss nor EU/EFTA citizen), a possible employer will need to prove that there are no available suitable candidates on the Swiss and EU/EFTA labour markets, despite extensive recruitment efforts. The position must be advertised for at least 4-6 weeks (incl. Swiss' authorities' recruitment agency and European site EURES) and the company then will need to explain why none of these candidates suits their needs - but you do.

An exemption from this requirement only is possible in case of an intra-company transfer (specialists / cadres having been employed within the same group of companies for at least 12 months).

Kind regards,

Stephanie

Enat G: I suggest that you keep looking for a job for an interested employer should be willing to submit the required paperwork (they did in my case).

Another option is to find employment with one of the UN agencies.

I agree with what Karin E has to say about finding a job at the UN or one of the other organisation under the UN Secretariat would be your best bet. They will do your paper work "They did mine i am Canadian and was living in Bratislava at the point of time" But keep in mind that when you want to switch from the UN to pvt sector i have heard its not easy. Good luck!

If you are currently in Geneva for work, the easiest way would be as Stephanie says through an internal company transfer. You can keep trying to apply for jobs and if you are particularly specialized some company might well be willing to go through the difficult process to hire you. If you are of a generalist, it could be very very difficult. 

Keep trying though! You never know. 

US nationals are not from EU, switzerland voted that they make immigration/work permit requirements much more strickt. As such like 20% of the US naitional have left Geneva in the last 5 years. USA is not part of Shengen agreement, so normally you need to get a contracts from an employer that will then apply for a permit, until then you have verly little rights to work in switzerland. Many try and later find its really really difficult to get a working permit, if not from EU. However for top tier jobs, companyies can make 'Reasoning' to the authorities why they are importing a non Swiss or Non EU candidate, but then they must prove 'by letter' why they cant find the same candidate in Switzerland. For IT, sorry but there are thousands of IT experts in Geneva without a job, so I really sorry to say the current Geneva situation but your running up a very steap mountain.

In end good luck finding a jobs, but be geographically flexible in these days.

You need to find a work place that:

1. Really wants you bad enough to go through the work-permit application process (which is not super hard, but still work for the hiring company, with a risk the authorities will say no at the end)

2. Is used to going through the application process 

That means your chances are higher with a multinational company that is used to working with expats and to applying for work permits. Or, as others said, try the UN. You don't need a work permit to work there, but there's other issues there such as quotes by country and the usual competition for each place.

In short, not an easy task, but surely not impossible.