Written by: Trea Tijmens, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Many professional, successful singles ask me if dating apps in Switzerland are worth their time. Let's unpack the myths about dating on an app in Switzerland. Find out how to use modern-day technology to maximize your chances of finding the right partner.
Being single in Switzerland
If you’re a single expat living in the Alpine country, you may be wondering what the dating market in Switzerland looks like.
First of all, Switzerland is a small country. Its population is currently at 8.7 million – roughly that of New York City! Contrary to the Big Apple, however, people are spread all over the country and its two biggest (and most expat-friendly cities) – Zürich and Geneva – are about a 3-hour drive apart.
Living in a small country naturally means the pool of singles is smaller but there’s a plus side too. Since Switzerland attracts highly educated, driven professionals, that small pool is quite diverse and interesting, and in the end, all you need is one great partner.
And there are native Swiss singles of course. The majority of Swiss do speak English. Switzerland is a multilingual country and most of its citizens have a good command of German, French, Italian and some even speak Romansh as a mother tongue!
The downside of being single in Switzerland, especially if you’re focused on meeting other expats, is that some top professionals don’t plan to stay here forever. For many the land of chocolate and cheese is just a few-year career stop. Keep that in mind and if you wish to stay in Switzerland in the long-term, make sure to communicate it early in the dating process.
Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash
Should you use dating apps in Switzerland?
I’ve been an elite matchmaker and dating coach for over 18 years and I can safely say: yes! you should be using a dating app if you want to find a partner in Switzerland.
I have followed the online dating market from its humble beginnings and have helped numerous professional singles find love via dating websites (back in the day) and more recently, dating apps.
The most common concern I hear from my single clients is “But Trea, dating apps are just for people looking for casual flings.” The truth is most dating apps are like a train station; there are all kinds of people. And yes indeed, some of them are only looking for hook ups but the vast majority want to find love. One Bumble survey found that 85% of users say they're looking for marriage or a boyfriend/girlfriend.
If you're single and wish to find a partner for a lasting, happy relationship, you may be looking for love, but … can love find you? You must allow yourself to be found and meet new people every month. Dating apps, when used right, can help you achieve that goal faster.
Of course, you should continue creating opportunities to meet people in real life but let's be honest for a moment: How many singles of the opposite sex have you met organically (not in the work context) in the past four weeks and how many dates have you had out of these connections?
Which dating apps in Switzerland are the best?
If you're just starting out with dating apps, you may be overwhelmed by the choice. There are many niche apps that cater to different users, from the younger generation to seniors, geeks, dog lovers, faith-based, vegan, the list goes on!
The challenge with these specialized apps is that in a small country like Switzerland, they simply do not have enough traction, and you’ll quickly run out of new profile suggestions.
In Switzerland, the biggest players, such as Tinder and Bumble are still your best bet. The key is to have a realistic and positive approach to using them.
Expect everything on these apps – the good, the bad, and sometimes even the ugly. You can find great people there, but to avoid frustration and dating burnout, you need a strategy.
I help my clients navigate the dating app jungle with ease. Take Ciara, a bubbly, beautiful, blonde-haired marketing executive from Basel. She told me she was losing hope of ever finding a nice man. “All I want is someone to settle down and start a family with, she told me.”
We started working together in my dating coaching program and soon enough we came to auditing her current dating efforts.
I took one good look at her dating app profile, and it was immediately evident why she wasn't attracting the right men. Her choice of pictures and bio text made an impression that she was up for casual romance, not marriage and kids.
We tweaked her description, picked different photos and within two weeks she started going on dates with more serious-oriented candidates.
Get strategic about dating on an app
Dating apps are the tool modern singles in Switzerland shouldn't ignore. You can find interesting, relationship-oriented people in all age groups and professions.
A word of warning – without a carefully considered strategy and consistency, you may quickly reach a point of frustration and disappointment.
Working with a dating coach can help you uplevel your dating profile, work out a strategy to have the algorithms work in your favor, avoid common mistakes, stop wasting time on the wrong people, put the fun back in dating, and enjoy process of the search for Mr. or Mrs. Right.
For over 18 years I have been helping professional singles in Switzerland and beyond find love. My science-based approach has helped thousands of single men and women fulfill their dreams of personal happiness. Get in touch for a free introductory call and find out how I can help you find your match.
Trea Tijmens, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Trea Tijmens, the CEO of www.successmatch.ch, is an international elite matchmaker and award-winning dating expert and coach.
Trea believes that to love and be loved is a basic human need and that people do not thrive without love.
A former head-hunter, she founded SuccessMatch in 2005. Based in Switzerland, she works with local and international clientele and prides herself on her high success rate.
Trea is passionate about helping her highly international single professional clientele transition from where they are today to where they want to be; in a happy, fulfilling, lasting relationship with the right partner.
