I can help you with your French if you are interested

Otherwise, do not forget that networking is also a good asset to get a job in Switzerland. So use as much as you can Linkedin if you have an account

J.

Thanks J, my boyfriend is French and this is the language we use together.. so I get lots of practice speaking. 

Yes, I have a linkedin. It's very brief, so I will spend time today updating it.

I want to start socialising more in Geneva as well, this site is full of get togethers and ideas so that won't be a problem :)

the job market is extremely competitive, especially in geneva these days.

apart from networking, you really have to be aware of what skills and personal qualities you have to offer. and, be able to market these better than the next person. this is a learned skill, and most people believe that their cv/resumé is good enough. they believe that their cover letter is written in a way that it will motivate the reader/employer to say "wow, who is THIS person, i really need the meet them" and they believe that, once they get the interview, "they've got it made"......if only!!

you really have to get yourself to be the best you can be, the world has changed, and the longer you take to realise this, the more frustrating your job search wll become. and, in the end ( 6months + of rejections ) you start to be a bit desperate......and we all know, no one wants a person who is desperate.

so, start taking action to change this. others already have.

even jobs that pay "nothing", like internships, are being fiercely sought after. what kind of world is this? is it really a + to be able to put in your cv that you worked for free for 3-6 months? and you can't even call it "volunteer" work, which appears more credible.

if you're really serious about your search, invest time, energy and some money in YOURSELF. if you don't, why would anyone else?

Word! That's all I have to say.

Thanks, this was really some great advice. 

I'm wondering whether it would be better to study French at a college here for a year before looking for full time employment? 

Hi Michelle,

I would recommend you french summer course at the University of Geneva. You can choose from 3 to 9 week course and it's pretty intensive. It's cheap and you study every day, all day if you want.

They are very well organised and well, I'm the proof. When I started I knew "Bonjour" and "Bon Voyage" and now I can even explain to my doctor about my bike crash on FRENCH and I even made it to make appointment to repair a tube in the kitchen on FRENCH wooohoooo!

Sometimes I'm thinking how the hell I'm doing this but it's awesome. =)

Good luck!

Hi Vedra, do you have a link to this course?

Michelle,

You haven't told us what type of job you are looking for?  There are a number of institutions offering jobs where English is the lingua-franca.  P&G, Nations, CERN spring to mind.  Banks, charitable outfits also.

And Epicure, there are plenty of notorious quibblers frequenting these forums already...what is it with all the negativity!

Sure. There you go: 

http://www.unige.ch/lettres/elcf/coursete/index.html

This is very sound advice, not quibbling or negative but realistic.

I met with an experienced entrepreneur today and we discussed how important it is to invest in yourself and to try to understand what kind of work would prompt you to jump out of bed in the morning.

So, what kind of work are you interested in? Do you have a roadmap of how to get there? Have you talked with people who work in that field and asked them what skills are needed?

There are people with wide-ranging experience on this site.  Tell us what you are motivated to do...and good luck!

PS  Don't believe that realistic advice is "negative." Knowing what you are up against can save you from wasting your time and/or money...

"Don't believe that realistic advice is "negative." Knowing what you are up against can save you from wasting your time and/or money..."

Sound advice, for sure. It might be perceived as negative, but it's indeed reality. And, having a sound concept of reality will help keep you focused on your goals. Negatives are just obstacles. And, "obstacles are only those things that frighten you when you take your eyes off your goals" (Henry Ford)

Good luck

My last role was as a Recruitment Consulant, this role really didn't fit my personality and I wouldn't want to do it again. Before that, I worked as a HR Assistant - I loved this role, I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet and speak with new people every day - this is why I thought working as a Recruitment Consultant was a good move for me... Big mistake!! 

I would love to be able to find a role within HR again. I am also looking for different roles within Administration as I also enjoyed this in my past career. 

Hi,

If you speak French - there is this network for women looking for jobs

http://www.pacte.ch/

I went to a couple of events and I started to make a network...

Good luck!

Reka,

Hmmm, I wont begrudge any of you. 

Epicure's generic post, i felt it was a thorough examination of job-seeking in most of parts of the world, not just Geneva. Being a topic replier myself, I hope that all replies were as scrupoulous a standard as yours!  You gave solutions and offered practical help. 

Reka was able to provide specific and practical advice after the original poster stated her field of choice. 

To that, Michelle, I would add that you should not put off getting fluent in French. Many expats neglect this side of Geneva life and never get around to learning more than a handful of phrases.  There are a  number of people on Glocals who offer lessons for reasonable prices if you can't arrange taking a class.

to the OP here is my advice and this is coming from a similar situation.

Jobs for English language speakers are few and far between - check the ads the vast majority require bothe French and English - you will be lucky to find more than 1 in 20 job ads for English-only speakers.

Becoming bilingual greatly improves your chances.

Take stock of your situation - what is your level in French? If you dont know get it tested at one of the MIgros Schools or another school. If its below B2 you have a LOT of work to do before you will be considered a competent bilingual. When I say a LOT seriously you will need to study for a year solid.People who say otherwise are deluding you.

Now take stock of your financial situation - could you afford to just study and concentrate on French? If you can then do that but in the meanwhile keep looking for work.

If you cannot afford to just study only you need to question your long term future here. 1/ finding English-only work will be very hard. Just do the standard stuff network, visit agencies, apply for almost anything... 2/even if you do find work you will be in a temporary fix...you will be working and getting money but the time needed to learn French will be eroded significantly

a side issue - training and investing in yourself...OP - you will find that employers here are very reluctant to train anyone - if you dont fit the job requirements closely and they are not desparate you wont get the job

Crikey, this one somehow escaped off my radar.  Now I wouldn't normally respond if it wasnt for the callous words of Translator when wrote "Reka was able to provide specific and practical advice after the original poster stated her field of choice" . 

With all due respect, it was I who triggered the fact-finding task, whereras epicure submitted a generic response and then chose to cower in the background, letting others reply on his behalf.  Shocking in any sense of the imagination!

I know it's difficult for you, but please try to keep in mind that this thread is not all about you.  You have now made 3 negative comments about epicure and his original post. Your criticisms were roundly rejected. 

Michelle, you might also want to start networking with the Geneva Women in Trade group. Their next happy hour here in July 21st from from 18:30 to 20:30. 

Here is their website.  http://www.owit-lakegeneva.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

I would also check out any events hosted by the Swiss-UK Chamber of Commerce at this link: http://www.bscc.co.uk/.  Seems they have a monthly happy hour as well.

Hi there

Most important thing when looking for a job is mindset. Dont get too hung up about the lack of french as I know loads of people who dont speak any french and that didnt stop them from getting jobs. Focus on your qualities and what you have to offer - lots I am sure.

Decide what you want - get clear - feel it happening and keep alert for ads and opportunities and then apply and keep applying. Now is such a great time to meet people - there is soooo much happening in Geneva these days. Keep the momentum going and enjoy the challenge of finding a new job. Challenges are super opportunites to learn and grow. Let me know when you find what you are looking for!

Happy hunting!

PS Here are a few good words of wisdom for you in your search.

"If you think you can or you think you can't you're right" Henry Ford

Believe that you will success; believe it firmly and you will do what is necesary to bring success about." Dale Carnegie.

" You don't have to be great to get going but you have to get going to be great." Les Brown

"Action is the foundation to all success. " Pablo Picasso

what is shocking chris, is that you don't miss an opportunity to demonstrate your lack of humility.

simply stated your reply to my comments were an indication of what may be your lack of knowledge in this field and really not worthy of a response.

your statement:

"With all due respect..................."

shows no respect whatsoever!!

everyone is entitled to their own opinion

YES you can get jobs with just English language...I have had 2 jobs in my time here (and my French is poor) and simply that is down to luck and the desparation of the 2 employers - a case of right place right time

mindset is NOT important - persistence IS...well technically that can be part of mindset.

I agree that momentum IS key but positive thinking and all that stuff is simply deluding people that a bad situation is good. Keeping it real helps you focus

I question that you actually learn much from being unemployed either. I was a year unemployed and what did I learn from it? not much...well I did learn that ORP advisors are keen to get you out of unemployment in any way possible (well that IS their job) but not that keen on actually making the best of your future...I was asking for French tuition from the start and I eventually got it 9 months later! A very good course but would have been more beneficial right at the start.

to the OP your selling point and your advantage is the fact that you are unemployed - an employer requiring someone to start PDQ will consider that a huge bonus.

Translator & Epicure: Pot kettle black! Cheeky to suggest I am an attention seeker. 

I have signed up for this course for 8-26 August. Who else is going to do it?

Greetings from another job seeker!

Cool stuff! Have fun and take advantage of all the given classes. =)

Oh Dale Dale Dale, Did you really say believe that you will success ? Maybe you shouldnt have believed that your english was good .... Next time dont believe firmly.

Isn't he the guy who wrote "How to made friends and influent people"? :)

yes Tal he also wrote "how to stop worried and start lived"

Farz,

One should use a "spell-checker"? Or rather play safe and copy-n-paste from the web ;-)

Ah! I didn't read that one! Have they translated in to English?

hmmm...checked on Amazon.  Not available in broken English!

If you go to "Cité des Métiers", you may find advice, workshops (CV, motivation letters, interviews...), orientation... in French (good training for you) but also partly in English. All is free.

http://www.citedesmetiers.ch/geneve/Cite-des-metiers-et-de-la-formation/La-Cite-c-est

Both my partner and I are booked on the same course . see you there

yeah, "how I won my friends in the lottery and learned to manipulate them"....this one isn't on Amazon either.