Switzerland has a GDP equivalent to one quarter of that of France for a population of only 8.45 million. This economic success is largely down to a few key industrial sectors : the pharmaceutical industry, watchmaking, machinery and electronics. Swiss industry, which is highly successful in so far as concerns exports, relies on niche markets, high added value and high-quality products, a large capacity for innovation and a widespread network of SMEs.

Good to know :

Language Spoken : German, French, Italian, Romanche
Local Currency : Swiss franc
Capital : Bern

The conditions for undertaking a Business France V.I.E in Switzerland

Do you already meet the International Young Talent Program criteria ?

 Do you have any doubts about your eligibility ? Feel free to contact us.

The conditions for undertaking a Business France V.I.A in Switzerland

To go to Switzerland as a V.I.A, you must fulfil the conditions for accessing the V.I.A.
The administration that is recruiting you is responsible for your residence permit.

Cultural work codes in Switzerland

To communicate with the Swiss in both a professional and personal context, remember these 4 key words : trust, consensus, realism and discretion. In the workplace, the Swiss are used to being fairly formal and pragmatic : they are efficient and results-oriented.

As regards hierarchical relations, it is not a pyramid but rather a chessboard. Each colleague contributes to the decision-making process and each level of the hierarchy is very independent.

In Switzerland, technical skills are very important ! Its inhabitants have a lot of faith in and attach a lot of credit to expertise. Another essential quality for working well together : reserve. People will appreciate you if you are modest, reliable and discreet.

You will soon realise that the Swiss have a very particular sense of time. And not only because they are the kings of watchmaking ! While punctuality is, for the sake of efficiency, a prerequisite in relationships, processes often unfold slowly. The Swiss take their time in negotiations and decision-making to ensure a general consensus.

Finally, avoid comparing Switzerland too much with France or Germany. Swiss people are proud of their individuality and their differences !

Things that may surprise you in Switzerland

- Don't be surprised to see major differences in the laws from one canton to another because Switzerland is a federal nation, consisting of 26 cantons !

- Switzerland is also a multicultural and multilingual country, with four national languages, not all of which have the same weight. Did you know that French only represents 22.9% whereas German (or Swiss-German) is spoken by 62.2% of the population ? Finally, 8% of the population speaks Italian and 0.5% Romanche.

- Switzerland has been the world leader in terms of innovation for many years !

- Committed to its neutrality and the principle of direct democracy, Switzerland does not belong to the European Union or NATO. But it hosts many international organisations on its territory.

- Despite the economic importance of Zurich and the diplomatic importance of Geneva, the capital is Bern in the heart of the country !