Can you work in Switzerland without knowing German?

Yes, you can find a job in Switzerland without speaking German. In fact, many people have found jobs and managed to build a career in Switzerland without being fluent in German. There are many international organisations and companies in Switzerland that have English as their company language.

Do I need to speak German to work in Zurich?

The official language of Zurich is Swiss German although English and French are widely spoken. Many of the IT, computing, banking, and engineering companies in Zurich will employ non-German speaking staff for skilled jobs that don’t involve Swiss customer services.

Do you need to know French to work in Geneva?

This depends on the type of permit you’re applying for – but for example in order to apply for the right to stay – you need a DELF A1 level of spoken French, whereas for a work permit you need a B1 spoken level and an A2 written level of French.

Can you get a job in Switzerland only speaking English?

However, finding a job in Switzerland is possible, including a small selection of jobs in Switzerland for English-speakers, especially in sectors where there are high shortages of skilled workers. In multicultural Switzerland, however, language is often key to finding work in Switzerland.

Does Swiss people understand German?

Swiss people can understand regular German. For most Germans, it’s very difficult (often impossible) to understand Swiss German. People in southern Germany can often understand Swiss German. Local dialects in all German countries can be difficult to understand for anybody not familiar with it.

What language is most commonly spoken in Geneva?

French is the predominant language spoken in Geneva, but most citizens speak at least one other language. English is spoken by about a quarter of the local population and majority of foreigners. Of course, you can hear just about every other language in Geneva if you listen hard enough, from Albanian to Zimbabwean.