Situated at the crossroad of Northern and Southern Europe, Switzerland has a unique cultural heritage. Surrounded by three European powerhouses, Germany, France and Italy, Swiss culture has been entirely shaped by languages and traditions from outside of its borders. Despite the diversity of cultures and languages within the Swiss Federation, an overarching value of nationalism and mutual responsibility unites the country. Although Switzerland remains outside of the EU, it is the EU’s strongest trading partner after the US. The more than 1,000 major international companies that have set up European offices in Switzerland, as well as the continuing tradition of exporting quality Swiss goods, has made Switzerland an appealing prospect for foreign investment and international assignees.
An international assignment in Switzerland, however, can be a challenging experience. Failure to adapt to unfamiliar Swiss cultural rules and behaviours can cause frustration and misunderstanding. Communicaid’s Living & Working in Switzerland courses are designed to respond to the needs of international assignees being seconded to Switzerland by providing practical information and advice on the various aspects of living and working in Switzerland, as well as conveying an understanding of the underlying elements that shape Swiss business and social culture inside and outside the workplace.
Benefits
A Communicaid Living and Working in Switzerland course will provide you with:
- A comprehensive overview of Switzerland’s cultural context including historical, social and economic background
- Key communication tools and skills to understand—and respond to— business and social subtleties and nuances of Swiss culture
- An awareness of culture and country shock and ways of surviving it
- Essential practical information to improve your experience of living and working in the Switzerland
Who should attend
A Communicaid Living and Working in Switzerland will be of benefit to you if you:
- Are about to relocate or have just relocated to Switzerland for business purposes
- Work on short-term assignments or projects in Switzerland and spend periods of time in Switzerland
Course Content
All our Living and Working in Switzerland training courses are designed to meet the specific needs of our clients depending on their personal/organisational requirements and existing skills set. A Living and Working in Switzerland course typically includes:
- An introduction to Swiss social and business culture and etiquette
- An overview of Switzerland’s diverse cultures and communities
- Practical information for relocating to Switzerland
- Tips and strategies for successful living and working in Switzerland
- Attitudes and values in Swiss business culture
- Management and negotiation styles
- Effective business communication
- Working practices and business etiquette in Switzerland
Approach
Living and Working in Switzerland courses are available seven days a week, 365 days a year, either at one of our training centres in London, Paris, Frankfurt and New York or at your offices in any location worldwide. We usually recommend a one or two day course but can also offer a more flexible format to suit your schedule.
Suitably tailored materials will be used throughout your course and your trainer will provide a balance of structured input and discussion of case studies and scenarios relevant to your own particular context.
The most appropriate training format, content and approach for your Living and Working in Switzerland course will be discussed during your diagnostic consultancy (please click here to read more about our approach).
Living and Working in Switzerland Course Trainer
Your Living and Working in Switzerland trainer will be assigned to you following the results of your diagnostic consultancy according to your objectives and areas of focus. Detailed below is a sample profile of a member of our Swiss Cultural Training team.
HRR – Cultural Awareness Trainer – Switzerland Specialist
BA (Hons) in Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Strathclyde
MSc. in International Tourism Management, Manchester Metropolitan University
HRR combines a strong business focus with in-depth knowledge of hospitality, tourism and academic quality assurance, particularly in relation to the Swiss markets. She has lived and worked in Switzerland for over ten years allowing her to develop excellent communication and cultural skills. She speaks fluent German and some French.
A British national, HRR has lectured at IMI, Luzern, one of the top hotel schools in Switzerland, since 1996. She is now Deputy Principal which involves strategic planning, development and implementation as well as academic management and administration. She has also developed international academic and business partnerships. Her particular areas of interest include Swiss and international tourism, consumer behaviour in tourism and how culture affects tourism.
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Cross-cultural
Training
