How to become an au pair in Switzerland?

typically

Customs and traditions

The Swiss love their customs and traditions: there are large differences among the cantons, and this is what makes Switzerland such an interesting place!

Languages

Despite its relatively small geographical size, Switzerland is the home of four different languages (German, French, Italian and Romansh) and many more dialects.

Music

Switzerland is also famous for its unique instrument:

• the Schwyzerörgeli
• the hammered dulcimer
• the alphorn

Swiss cheese culture

the Swiss cheese culture has historical roots. Many people associate with Switzerland cheese of different varieties. These include, for example

• Alpine cheese (milk production and curdling takes place directly on the alp) and
• Mountain cheese (all year produced in the valley of mountain areas)

A special feature are the many cheese dairies, which are open for public viewing and where you may even have the opportunity to participate in the cheese making process.

Heidi and Goatpeter

Who doesn't know Heidi from Johanna Spyri, or at least seen the movie or tv series?

Heidi is associated with a very special, romantic and stereotypical view of Switzerland.

typical day in a family

Although Switzerland is probably one of the safest destinations in the world with strong institution and welcoming inhabitants, sadly there has been some difficult situations for the au pair as presented in this article. It states how important it is to discuss with the family about the different tasks (and make sure a typical day in the family looks like that!) and get some free time to also have a positive experience.

On a more positive note, here follows a typical day for a child or for a composer!

cost of living

For more details on the cost of living, the following article on the cost of living from swissinfo.ch (the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation) provides an insight and interesting links for those who likes number or want to get more in depth.

The single items listed below are exemplary. For more information please see the section "Cost of Living in Switzerland" on the website of Numbeo.

Restaurants

• Meal, inexpensive restaurant 20,00 CHF
• McMeal at McDonalds, or equivalent meal 14,00 CHF
• Domestic Beer (0,5 liter draught) 6,50 CHF
• Imported Beer (0,33 liter bottle) 6,00 CHF
• Cappuccino (regular) 4,41 CHF
• Coke/ Pepsi (0,33 liter bottle) 3,94 CHF
• Water (0,33 liter bottle) 3,34 CHF

Transportation

• One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 3,20 CHF
• Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 76,00 CHF
• Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 6,65 CHF
• Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) 3,80 CHF
• Taxi 1 hour waiting (Normal Tariff) 70,00 CHF
• Gasoline (1 liter) 1,50 CHF

Leisure

• Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 18,00 CHF

Clothing & Shoes

• 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or similar) 114,12 CHF
• 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 57,99 CHF
• 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 125,38 CHF

holidays

In Switzerland, public holidays differ from canton to canton.

All employees in Switzerland are entitled to at least four weeks’ holiday per year. Young people up to the age of 20 are entitled to five weeks (and the same applies to an au pair). 

For more details about this please refer to the website of the International Labour Organization (under annual leave).