Eyleen, a University of Lausanne graduate, struggles to find work
- Eyleen spent years earning a master’s degree at the University of Lausanne, finishing in September 2024.
- Across Switzerland, young graduates are increasingly struggling to secure their first professional roles.
- For many students, a master’s degree was supposed to guarantee stability.
Eyleen spent years earning a master’s degree at the University of Lausanne, finishing in September 2024. Yet today, at age 32, she remains locked out of the workforce, told by potential employers that her background lacks coherence and direction.
The Generalist Penalty in the Swiss Labor Market
She is not alone. Across Switzerland, young graduates are increasingly struggling to secure their first professional roles. Employers frequently dismiss generalist degrees in fields like political science, social sciences, and international relations as lacking practical application.
For many students, a master’s degree was supposed to guarantee stability. Instead, interviews with a dozen graduates aged 25 to 33 reveal that the transition from university to employment has hardened into a major barrier. Recruiters routinely brand academic backgrounds as too broad, highlighting a sharp disconnect between lecture halls and the concrete demands of entry-level hiring.
Facing the Paradox of Entry-Level Experience
The friction leaves candidates caught in a familiar loop. For those holding degrees in the humanities, international relations, or public administration, the lack of prior, industry-specific experience is treated as a fatal deficit.
On m’a reproché un manque de cohérence et de clarté, on m’a dit qu’on ne voyait pas où je voulais aller avec un tel CV.
The Deadlock Facing Early-Career Professionals
These graduates face a shared frustration: they are actively searching for the exact professional experience that employers demand they already possess.
Individuals who invested years in higher education now find themselves sidelined for positions that prioritize hyper-specific skill sets over the generalist training delivered by universities.