An accidental journey to Switzerland
The war began in Poland when Daria Mazurok found herself in the country. She planned to return home, but her path took a different turn: thanks to volunteers, the girl from Kharkiv ended up in Switzerland, where she stayed. In her hometown, the woman ran her own cleaning business, working independently, involving her friends only for large orders.
Difficult integration and first disappointments
The first two years in Switzerland were a real challenge. The job search was often accompanied by misunderstandings with employers: from illegal deductions from wages to overwork due to overtime. “I was literally knocked off my feet. In addition, I started having health problems,” the woman admits.
Social media or RAV?
After a negative experience with social assistance, which resulted in a debt of 6,700 francs, Daria refused to receive social assistance on principle. Instead, she turned to the RAV (Arbeitsamt). “They help you find a job and pay you benefits while you’re looking. This allows you to stay afloat,” the Ukrainian woman explains.
Courses and support
The decisive moment was the courses from RAV: a three-month course in German on communicating with employers and writing Bewerbungsunterlagen (resume and motivation letters). “We had lectures from 8 am to 4 pm. There I not only improved my German, but also gained confidence in myself. The teachers and the group became a real support for me. And I also found friends there,” says Daria.
It was after the courses that the woman passed the official language test: written level B1, oral level A2, and was already able to pass interviews in German. This became the key to getting a new job.
Looking for a job is not easy, but it is necessary
There is often a widespread fear among Ukrainians that RAV forces you to accept any job offer. The interviewee says: “Their task is to get you onto the labor market. If you refuse the offer, of course, they can remove you from the program. If the conditions are unacceptable or the potential employer does not communicate with you properly, the decision is yours.”
Daria gives an example: she did not succeed in a job where only Portuguese people worked, because she does not speak Portuguese. However, despite the lack of language communication, the woman agreed on a Schnuppertag. But after that, no conversation with the head of the company took place. In addition, even later Daria did not receive any response. It became clear that she had fulfilled her obligations, but did not get the job.
Language as a key
Another myth: Ukrainians with A2 or B1 level will “not understand” RAV specialists. In fact, consultants adapt the language to the person’s level. “At first I took an interpreter, but one day I came without one and understood everything. If something is unclear, you can always ask for clarification again or use an interpreter on the phone. It is important to strive to communicate yourself,” the woman says.
“Accept the rules of the game”
The main lesson that Daria learned from her experience with Rav: Switzerland has its own rules and you have to accept them. “While I was resisting and proving that everyone around me was wrong, I was not succeeding,” the woman admits. “When I realized that I had to live by the laws and rules of this country and the organizations I turn to for help, everything became easier. Then the doors started to open.”
