welcome to supply and demand in the workplace

There are a lot of high-potential people on the job market feeling just like you do. There's no easy answer or magical solution to this. I'd say keep trying and if one way doesn't work, try another. In the meantime, don't despise the job that pays the rent or you might end up doing a bad job as I am a strong believer that we only do well what we do with passion. Being brilliant at what you currently do might not only give you satisfaction but maybe also bring you new opportunities. I agree with Keith (for once haha) it is mainly a question of supply and demand. For example there are a lot of people in marketing on the job market but very few jobs. Everybody want to do the same dream jobs when they're students but there're also a lot of interesting jobs nobody thinks of for which there might be a need on the market and possibilities to develop a nice carreer. Good luck

Publicly complaining about your job using your real name? That could lead to changes.. ;)

OK, your glocals name looks real, never know.

start as consulting freelancer in parallel to the admin job ... who knows, maybe in 1 year you will have your own company. Sometimes creating a job is much more easier and rewarding than being hired.

LOL - you should have the balls to say you dont like your job in public...if you are good enough you can even say it to your boss (been there done that)

“Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.”

.. and what about languages? How good is yoour French? Try to become near-native, Improve your accent and suddenly things will look better.

Nowadays, companies replace people leaving with students. I know of a young woman with a Masters' degree, good English, a third language and some years of experience working now in a marketing department  for CHF 4000.00. She was hired on a three-month contract, renewable, Her predecessor had the same contract, but stayed 8 months until she found another job. A marketing manager retires soon in this company, she will be replaces by a trainee....

Not very encouraging, I know. Sorry for that, but try to improve your skills.

Improve your skills?

Become near native in French? - realistically that takes about 4-5 years...anyone who says any different is BSing you

the op has to accept the fact for the vast majority of people they are far more qualified and intelligent and skilled for the job they are doing or can do - education has improved over the years while the quality of jobs has stayed the same if not got worse ( most jobs are unnecessary middle man type jobs with no real value they exist because they exist) - face facts people in jobs are more disposable than the furniture

"You want to find a job where you can use your potential"  (why don't you use all that potential with the job you already have?)

Sometimes (and this is not directed towards you), I can't help but notice how some university graduates feel entitled to perfect jobs just because they have a university degree!

In the REAL WORLD you need to be street smart, have the right connections and be proactive.......  "college grads" bleeeh they're a dime a dozen these days!

The richest man I know made his fortune selling and buying houses and is a highschool drop out!

"Become near native in French? - realistically that takes about 4-5 years...anyone who says any different is BSing you"

True enough.That is what keeps expats from improving their language skills. It is so easy to get by in Geneva without being fluent. But that backfires in a lot of ways, on the job when bosses fear an economic downturn - recession is not here yet, but companies behave as if... - in daily life when you restrict yourselves to service providers able to understand English, which can make life more expensive than necessary because there are always people unscrupulous enough to exploit you...

On the other hand, there are a lot (and I mean about 90%) of non-English professionals in Switzerland who think their language skills are top when they are mediocre at best. Therefore, try to market your English skill, if you have it. But it is a two-way street: your French should be excellent as well. .

...and German can be quite useful too in a country where 65% of the population speaks German. As well pointed out, languages are hard to acquire fluently so a combination of English + French + German makes quite an impression on a CV… yet they have to be written and spoken at a very good level and you will undoubtedly be tested as recruiters get suspicious as many candidates lie about their level…

BTW I need help with German... I'd be happy to do an exchange and help with French if anyone who lives in or around Lausanne is interested.

Bizarrely English is more important than French here - I am not saying that out of some nationalistic pride its a fact of life

Unless you are bilingual you are better to be good at English and average at French than the other way around as English is the business language of the world

the op is talking about job fulfilment rather than money - strangely they are not linked and they should be annoyed that they have been sold a lie

increasingly work is become more layered and more vague so you have no real idea what the hell you are doing, who you are doing it for and why you are doing it...so you coast and clock in and get your money at the end of the month

this is NOTHING to do with being proactive or whatever - unless you try to become self employed and create some weird niche market you have to accept that 90% of jobs are no better than serving in MacDonalds - and a lot of self-employed peopel are just doing shit which other people do not want to do or cannot be bothered - take plumbing for example can it really be that hard or complex? No it isnt -  its just that people dont have the time or inclination to get their hands dirty.

Some environments (most actually) stifle creativity or anything imaginative - hence lots of draconian rules about computer software, interent use or whatever

Blaming the situation on people who are NOT setting the agenda is a bit stupid

Well if you have been posted here for a 6 month or year contract - is it really worth learning a whole new language? Good for you if you think its worthwhile - many will believe its not

I would like to see some stats but I would be quite surprised if more than 25% of expats actually stay in the country for more than 2 years

Any additional language skill is an asset. When you have 2 nearly equal candidates, it could just be the thing that goes in your favour. There is nothing worse than hiring someone who can't utter a word in the local language - think of the burden this person will be - short-term as well as long-term - wih respect to sorting out housing, admin stuff, entertainment (happy employees are usually good employees). 

What are the prospects (work, going out, quality living) for someone who can not even function in a local environement ?  . . . you know that guy that eats at McDo every day because he can't read a menu in local restaurants . . . and we all know what happens when you eat McDo every day . . .

“I would like to see some stats but I would be quite surprised if more than 25% of expats actually stay in the country for more than 2 years”

It all depends what you mean by “expats”. Here is what Wikipedia says : “In Switzerland, the term "expat" is not used for all foreigners living and working there, but only to those on "expat" contracts. Typical Swiss expats will be living in housing provided by the employer, with most other expenses such as children's (English) education also paid by the employer. In theory, this is because they are still maintaining a home in their original country. This is in strong contrast with those on "local" contracts who are treated and paid like other locals. The "expats" have a reputation of being flush with money, and raising the prices for others who are not subsidised in this way. Expat contracts are usually time limited, so the expats either move on to another assignment, or are given a local contract without expat subsidies”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expatriate#Switzerland

Here is a wider definition of expats:

In 2010, more than 200 million people will be living abroad. While the number of worldwide expatriates increases, it is hard to quantify the exact size of the worldwide expatriate market.

Depending on the exact definition of expatriates, the following groups of international migrants can be counted as part of the expatriate market:

http://www.justlanded.com/english/Common/Footer/Expatriates/How-many-expats-are-there

I’ve tried to find some statistics about the length of the assignments some 50’000 managers Switzerland considers being expats, but I could not find anything relevant quickly.

But my personal experience indicates that lifestyle migrants and students generally like to prolong there stay and even try (successfully) to settle permanently. Take a cross section of glocals members: how many of them are expats in the stricter sense of the term? A minority, I guess. I have, and have had, neighbours sent here on limited term contracts, which were prolonged. On the day they were told to pack and come home, they frantically searched for ways and means to stay on, and often succeeded.

Since 2002, we have the free movement of persons agreement with the EU, and many came and are willing to stay. More people – less opportunities, since the Swiss market is small.

So, if you mean the “expats” with short term contracts – yes, they may move on after two years. But even if they so, they should learn the language – French for this part of the country – because we are into life long learning, aren’t we? and another languages always us helpful, even if it is only to make your stay more pleasant and economically more rewarding. Not every “expat” can be “flush with money” (Wikipedia)…

"English is the business language of the world".

Yes again, and here I believe there is a big gap between being native and having a good command of English. Ask yourself (I don’t mean you, Keith)  how good you are when grammar, syntax and style are concerned. English is not my mother tongue, but CVs and letters I see often make me cringe…

That's true for multinationals yet if one is desperately looking for the job of one's dream, it may be a good idea to stand out with some skills difficult to acquire like languages...

Moreover, in Geneva, the first employers are Migros and Rolex and for both French is mandatory and I reckon German is mandatory as well for Migros.

However, it is indeed a fact that English is the business language of the world. There's no way to avoid that. I think Umberto Eco said (sorry I couldn't find a proper quote) that English is the modern Latin.

Lingua Franca.. 

does the perfect job even exist???

if it's not about money, then is about what??? I DON'T KNOW WHAT RULES YOUR WORLD, BUT IN THE REAL WORLD MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND..... 

The biggest reason many of these people are here in Geneva is not because of "job fulfillment"... is because of MONEY!

She doesn't like her job? well then she's gonna have to be proactive, make the right connections and try to find something better.... 

life is what it is, is ultimately how you deal with it what counts.... you can either go thru life bitching about it, or you can simply make the best outta it.

and I am not blaming anyone, I simply gave her honest adivse.... if she wants to find a better job then she will need to be proactive and make the right connections (something EVERYONE has to do when looking for a job, regardless of college education or not) 

bashing the job she has is useless because she's a replaceable commodity.... there are probably 30 people out there in the search of a job like hers.... 

the job market sucks? YES IT DOES.... WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!

And I also agree, if she wants to widen her opportunities, she's gonna have to learn french.....  English might be enough if you're working for the UN, WHO etc. etc. (almost everyone speaks english these days)

But lots of jobs in Geneva require French.... after all there might be a large expat community here speaking english, but there is an even bigger francophone community.

Out of curiousity, what are your masters degrees in?  What field do you work in now?

I am surprised to see that you guys think that language skills matter. I speak five languages and I am still in a similar position as Marysol …It is neither a lack of qualification or experience. It is the job market, especially in the non-profit sector. There are very few jobs! The best thing is to use your free time to create your own project and so create your own job! It will take some time until you will be able to get a salary for your work, but it is an enriching process, full of learning where you will meet people who may even want to hire you! Good luck:)

Are you saying that languages skills don't matter on the job market then???

If your issue in finding the right job isn't your language skills, neither your qualifications or your experience, then your problem lies elsewhere and needs to be identified before you do something about ït...

I believe aside from money, people are in search of recognition... it is mainly a question of high expectations not met and dreams which aren't fulfilled in doing a profession which isn't commonly perceived as successful and sexy... in other words... some consider an admin assistant not to be f---able...

Isn't that the ugly truth Keith?

if there is one open position a month in a particular field, 300 people applying and at the end they chose somebody internally or find out that they dont have the funding for the position it is not a question of language skills, qualifications and experience.

Of course, one should search in other fields too, but then the profile does not match 100% anymore and therefore the chances decrease again.

True, people are not just looking for money, but also recognition. I dont care if my position is perceived as successful and sexy, but I do not want to spend 8h a day being bored....

a sidetrack from the main thread - if you are asking if I find certain occupations ...sexy...err no - I have little interest in what field a woman works....I am possibly the only man who does not find nurses sexy

i wish we could easily shorten quotes --- anyway...having witnessed this several times when I worked next to hr sections the single biggest factor in their deciaion making process as to whether to hire you or not is simply - will you fit in? you can be perfect technically but a complete a-hole to work with

thats a good answer at first glance - but seriously do you expect her to devote 4years plus to a language?

No that's not what I am asking. I meant sexy in a more general way as some would use the term in meetings talking about a product or a presentation, ie. apealing or attractive. I guess having worked in the automotive industry I got used to a kind of "macho" language.

Maybe I am being a little too cynical as well but I think it's the bare truth. I found there are many people despising their job-that-pays-the-rent because they don't find it appealing enough or not up to their expectations, hence they say it's boring because that's the common thought. Unfortunately they take the job of somebody that could be more enthusiastic and would probably do a better job. The job that looks good on a CV sometimes is not less boring. I have witnessed many cases like that. The ironical side of the picture is that the people into that more appealing / attractive job, whatever that is, may think they are worth more and therefore also get frustrated and despise their job... it's all about expectations, dreams and ego... No boss wants to hire a frustrated animal because even if that employee is technically very good, he or she will not fit in or create trouble or leave the company and will therefore not be worth investing on.

I am not saying we should not have dreams or high expectations... that's what keeps us alive. But I think people should stop despising their job and make the most out of it no matter what it is. I know what it feels like, I have been there and many people I know have been there. But being miserable day after day in the work place but staying there because you are financially stuck doesn't make things any better. My advice is pragmatic: do something about it, explore your possibilities, never give up, stop complaining and SMILE!!!... life is short