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Networking in Switzerland

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15/06/2010Networking in Switzerland

Crissy Mueller is surprised to find networking events in Switzerland something to enjoy, as well as build her confidence, contacts and sense of community.

Tips for expat women in Switzerland

I didn’t really believe people when they said networking is critical to career success.

What does ‘networking’ actually mean? How does one ‘network’ successfully? Is it worth all the effort? I often wondered.

It was not until I moved to the Lac Leman area and discovered an organisation called Geneva Women in International Trade – usually referred to as GWIT – that I finally learned what networking is and how rewarding it can be both professionally and personally.

As a newly-arrived expat looking for employment, I was very eager to find out more about how to approach a job search in the Suisse Romande, what local employment trends are like, and so on. The economy was still suffering from a downturn, and I had read countless articles that emphasised how most people find their next job through networking. So I decided that I should give it a try.

A friend told me about GWIT, a vibrant organisation of over 300 professionals from across the Lac Leman region. Members are mainly women and work in a range of fields, including large and small private companies, the public sector and NGOs. It is culturally very diverse, with over 50 nationalities represented. But what impressed me most about GWIT is the emphasis placed on networking.

The first GWIT event I attended was a Networking Happy Hour – an informal gathering held once per month at a local bar in Lausanne and Geneva, where members and prospective members can meet and mingle. After about an hour of informal mingling, the organisers provide a networking activity. The outcome of these activities is usually that each person gets to speak to as many people in the room as possible. Because there is a theme or a topic to talk about, it allows meaningful conversations to develop more quickly.

For example, at one event, participants formed small groups and each person told their group about three impressions they would hope to make when first meeting someone. Then, each group member asked a question about what the speaker said, in order to draw out more detail. This sparked lively discussion in the group and highlighted memorable facts about each person.

In other places I have lived, I have been involved with similar organisations that focus on networking. The difference with GWIT is that it not only facilitates networking among professional women – it also provides some guidelines along the way, taking the mystery out of it.

I continued to attend GWIT’s networking happy hours, as well as a wide range of other events, such as ‘open door’ events to gain an inside look at a local company, a mentorship café aimed at encouraging mentorship relationships among members, and events featuring guest speakers who share their views on topics like marketing, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment, to name a few.

Each time, there was an opportunity for in-depth networking to take place. Everyone I met was friendly, internationally-oriented, and striving to make the best possible out of their careers and lives. Some people had lived in the region for over 20 years, others were fairly new, like me. Some were going through a career transition, others were long-established in their professional roles. But, regardless of the particular background or personal circumstances, I was amazed that I could learn something from everyone I spoke to.

I started to approach each new encounter with curiosity and an open mind, and by doing this, I was able to find out about job opportunities or get referrals for contacts at companies I was interested in working for. This made the experience of networking more comfortable. Eventually, I learned that networking does not just stop after each event – it becomes truly useful if you continue to follow-up afterwards.

Most importantly, I realised that networking is a two-way street – it works in both directions. Because of the opportunities and the tools that GWIT provided, I was able to expand my professional circle, determine the next steps in my career path and feel more connected to the community.

I may not have found a new job yet. But armed with more confidence in networking and more contacts, the process of finding one has become much more fun.

GWIT is a non-profit organisation and chapter of the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT), which has approximately 3,000 members in 30 chapters throughout the world. As of 2010, GWIT will be known as OWIT – Lake Geneva. For more information, visit www.gwit.ch.

Crissy Mueller / Expatica

Originally published in the April 2010 issue of the CVCI magazine for International Link. International Link facilitates the integration of foreign businesses and expats in the canton of Vaud through offering services and events in English. For more information, visit www.internationallink.ch.