Finding work
Using recruitment agencies in Switzerland
An agency can introduce you to employers or employ you for temporary assignments. These arrangements create different relationships, so establish which service is being offered at the start. A specialist recruiter is most useful when its actual mandates match your occupation and experience.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026
Understand who employs you
For a direct placement, the hiring company normally becomes your employer. In temporary staffing, the staffing agency is the employer and assigns you to a client business. Ask who signs the employment contract, pays salary and handles questions about working time. Request the assignment location, duties and duration in writing before deciding whether the opportunity fits.
Clarify payment and permission to submit
Many employer-commissioned searches are paid by the hiring company. Candidate-paid placement services can have regulated contractual fees, so ask expressly about any charge and its legal basis before signing. Distinguish recruitment from optional coaching or document services. Agree which employers may receive your dossier and keep a record to prevent conflicting duplicate submissions.
Check the intermediary and the opportunity
Swiss recruitment and staffing are regulated, and cantonal authorities issue the relevant licences. Verify the agency’s identity and authorisation through the responsible authority or official register. Ask whether the recruiter has a specific mandate or is only collecting profiles. Continue direct applications alongside agency contact, sharing updates about interviews and availability. A recruiter’s interest is useful evidence of a conversation, while the hiring decision remains with the employer.