My wife with a master degree in civil engineering, simply cant find any work here in Switzerland. After her graduation she got pregnant and stayed at home for 2 years and made her B2 german certificate.
We first tried applying for couple of jobs as a technical illustrator since she worked in Switzerland prior for 3 months in a kind of "Praktikum" as a technical illustrator which isnt what she learned in university, but she had no problem to do it and the employer liked her a lot. Unfortunately, this company doesnt have any open job she worked before and any application we sent went back negative.
She tried of course looking for a job as an engeneer but without experience and from a foreign country, no chance. We tried to apply for a Praktikum to get her foot into the door but again, nothing but negative feedback.
She is even at that point of thinking to start a new career but me her husband, thinks its ridicoulous that such a good career path like an engeneer (and she had very good grades top student) cant find anything.
If someone with a similiar career path could help us, we would pay it back a thousand times. On a side note: The CV we made with a professional here in Switzerland.
Yes, all three are very good suggestions. I've taken the liberty of numbering them. Also:
4. Your wife could probably increase her chances of landing a contract if she could improve her working knowledge of German. If she could get her level up to fluent (even if with errors) in speech, comprehension, reading and writing, then that would make her much more attractive for many employers, who would then be able to trust that she could deal with reading and applying regulations, speaking to staff and contractors, etc.
5. Think about and plan child-care. If your wife does manage to get a job interview, she may be asked when she could start, and if child-care is in place, such that she will be able to work without interruption.
1. If she is not getting interviews, there is likely something wrong with her CV and/or application letter and/or she is applying for jobs with poor alignment.
2. If she is getting interviews but not offered a job, then she needs to work on her interview techniques.
3. RAV claims that around 70% of job openings are not publicized and are part of a hidden job market. Following are several approaches to crack the hidden job market:
a. Networking
b. Spontaneous applications to companies of interest
c. Requests for informational interviews
d. Self-advertising via LinkedIn and Xing
This ZHAW website offers guidance on looking for a job with many worthwhile sublinks (German):
I was in a very similar position. I am also a civil engineer, I worked for several years in the UK then moved to Switzerland pregnant. I took quite a bit longer away from engineering - about 10 years - looking after family / teaching English.
I applied for lots of positions, and finally was offered a 'praktikum', and have just been offered a permanent job!
I would say B2 German is probably not enough to be able to do the job. I think you need at least C1, and a good understanding of Swiss German ( if you are in the German speaking part of CH)