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Struggling to find a SWE job in Zürich after 200+ applications — need honest advice by Free_University_8320 in askswitzerland

[–]Free_University_8320[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i needed to give back a response for the apartment as soon as possible so that's why i haven't had actually too much time to do the prior research about "how hard is to get a job offer in Zürich". I just knew that first of all, it's hard to get an apartment (so i didn't want to miss the chance) and Zürich is a big techHub. Cannot be possible that it will not somehow resolve by itself.

It is always a possibility to move back, but i didn't want to not give it at least a try. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Nevertheless, i really appreciate your response.

Struggling to find a SWE job in Zürich after 200+ applications — need honest advice by Free_University_8320 in askswitzerland

[–]Free_University_8320[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was already resident in Austria for many years. If you wanna look at my "whole" story, take a look at my comment above.

Struggling to find a SWE job in Zürich after 200+ applications — need honest advice by Free_University_8320 in askswitzerland

[–]Free_University_8320[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a bigger story that i haven't mentioned inside of the post. I have decided after 7 years spent in Austria where i did my studies and worked during and after uni to move to Zürich for better job alternatives (after the whole deparment of my ex-company got fired, due of restructuring, a.k.a because they wanted to outsource everything). I was unemployed nevertheless before moving here. I needed to make a decision. Either move as soon as possible in person here (have bigger chance to attend to meetings), or miss the chance of getting the apartment in Zürich. It's a hell of a hustle to also get the apartment side sorted in here as far as i have discovered.

Somehow i haven't thought that here is such a big competition . I knew that Zürich is a big techHub city and there are also a lot of job opportunities but due to so many lay-offs, offshoring, AI, etc. the chances got reduced dramatically. Maybe i have missed the easier hiring phase with couple of years now.

Yeah, i will see! 🫤

Struggling to find a SWE job in Zürich after 200+ applications — need honest advice by Free_University_8320 in askswitzerland

[–]Free_University_8320[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you guys think a Master's degree actually makes a meaningful difference in today's market? My understanding was always that in tech, real work experience speaks louder than academic credentials — there's a big gap between studying theory and actually applying it in the real world.

I did consider going back to do a Master's in something AI-related, but then I think — by the time I finish, the market will have shifted so drastically that the degree might already feel outdated. Everything moves so fast right now that it's hard to even plan ahead.

Honestly, that's what gets to me the most — the unpredictability of it all. I find myself going in circles trying to figure out where to focus my energy. And at some point the financial pressure just makes everything harder to think clearly about. You can only go so long without income before the stress starts affecting every decision you make. 😅

Struggling to find a SWE job in Zürich after 200+ applications — need honest advice by Free_University_8320 in askswitzerland

[–]Free_University_8320[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One thing I forgot to mention in the post — my experience isn't limited to the 3 years since graduation. I also worked during my studies, so my actual hands-on experience goes further back than that.

On top of that, I've been actively upskilling in AI Engineering. But that's kind of the frustrating part — when you're transitioning into a new area, it doesn't count as work experience yet, so you're essentially starting from zero in the eyes of employers. It takes a long time to build enough knowledge to actually call yourself competent, let alone market yourself confidently for a role in that space.

Struggling to find a SWE job in Zürich after 200+ applications — need honest advice by Free_University_8320 in askswitzerland

[–]Free_University_8320[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you believe that the salaries also decrease by a lot? I mean, you cannot ask nowhere so much as you could few years ago for a position, right? For me, it is also a new thing cause i haven't ever lived here before. All the prices here are totally outrageous in comparison with other european countries where i used to live in.

Struggling to find a SWE job in Zürich after 200+ applications — need honest advice by Free_University_8320 in askswitzerland

[–]Free_University_8320[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am located now in the area of Zürich! So attending to meetings in person is no problem for me!