Warning about the harsh employment situation for elderly job seekers in Switzerland was absent from my knowledge
Life's Kick in the Teeth: A 56-year-old's Tale of Job Hunting in Switzerland
After three decades of living and thriving in the United States, I dusted off my old passport and set my sights on returning to my homeland, Switzerland. With a Bachelor's in Psychology and Linguistics, teaching credentials, special education certification, and a Master's in Special Education under my belt, I naively assumed my work experience and qualifications would open doors galore.
I had my heart set on Lausanne, and a special education position at a local school was mine for the taking. The only hiccup? Getting Swiss recognition (équivalence) for my US credentials. The school had me covered, right? Wrong. When the dust settled, I had been turned down, their boasts of recognition amounting to nothing more than empty promises.
With my application rejected, I found myself back at square one. I spread my net wide, from international schools to cafes, hotels, retail, and even Multinational Corporations like Nestlé and Philip Morris. Despite my fluency in both French and English, I hit one brick wall after another.
I sought help from the Canton of Vaud's employment office, who helped spruce up my CV but admitted that my luck might lie in the Swiss-German region. I even reached out to local homes for people with disabilities and childhood friends in education, but my efforts were met with deafening silence or polite rejections.
The job market in Switzerland may be strong, but it can be a cold, unforgiving beast for older job seekers like me. No one warned me of this before I returned. Many of my students at Migros were healthy, unemployed individuals in their 50s, facing the same harsh reality.
It's like this invisible wall exists, repelling those of us over 47 or 50. And when I asked the unemployment office for advice, I was told to keep doing what I'd already done. Talk about soul-crushing.
Switzerland, my beloved country, didn't exactly roll out the red carpet for me. I felt like an unwanted, discarded relic. In desperation, I applied for a single job in the US and got snapped up. I had planned on staying, but life had other plans. The US, with all its challenges, was still willing to offer an aging (and experienced) workforce like mine a chance.
It's a sad truth that the employment situation for older workers in Switzerland isn't being discussed as openly as it should. I guess it's easier to sweep this issue under the rug or chalk it up to 'inevitable' retirement trends. But it's high time we acknowledge and address this issue, lest we find ourselves turning away valuable, experienced workers, like myself, who are desperate to contribute.
ALSO READ:
- The odds stacked against older workers in Switzerland
- The hidden obstacles older job seekers in Switzerland face
Have you faced similar challenges? Share your story below.
- In the face of these challenges, one might opt for education-and-self-development opportunities to improve marketability and stay competitive in a job market that appears to favor the younger workforce.
- With the employment situation for older workers in Switzerland not being recognized or addressed effectively, it might be beneficial to delve into career-development resources and options, and consider advocating for policies that promote general-news discussions about age discrimination in the workforce.
