Employers in Switzerland generally expect a current CV, a cover letter and relevant references and educational certificates. For academic positions or in the pharmaceutical/life sciences sector, diplomas, certificates and lists of publications are also common. It is important that the documents are complete, clearly arranged and submitted in the required language (usually German or English).

As an EU citizen, you usually need a residence and work permit to work in Switzerland. The most common permits issued are the L permit (short stay of up to one year) and the B permit (stay of one year or more). The permit is usually applied for by the employer. Cross-border commuters also receive a G permit if they live in the EU but work in Switzerland.

Switzerland has a compulsory health insurance system. Every employee must take out basic insurance with a health insurance company within three months of moving to Switzerland. The employee bears the cost of the premiums themselves; the employer does not contribute. In addition, employers pay contributions to social insurance schemes (e.g. accident insurance) so that employees are covered in the event of illness or accident.

The application should always be written in the language in which the job advertisement was published. If the advertisement is in German, the employer will expect German documents; for English-language advertisements, the documents should be submitted in English. English is often the standard language in international pharmaceutical and life science companies, whereas German is usually used in regional companies.

In the life sciences industry, both permanent positions and fixed-term contracts are common, especially for project work or clinical trials. There are also many temporary positions available through recruitment agencies, as well as freelance or consulting assignments for specialists. Depending on the size of the company and the project, flexible working models such as part-time or remote work may also be offered.