CEE Is an Important Talent Market for Swiss Companies

Central and Eastern Europe has developed into an important recruiting market across many industries. Swiss companies find highly qualified specialists there, particularly in IT, engineering, life sciences and other specialised fields. At the same time, HR departments are confronted with education systems, universities and documents they barely know from everyday Swiss experience. An English-language CV creates a common language, but does not resolve the question of how a degree should be classified within its national context. This is precisely why education verification is gaining importance in cross-border hiring. The goal is not to question foreign qualifications more strictly across the board than Swiss degrees. Rather, it is about establishing a comparable quality of decision-making basis for all candidates – regardless of the country in which their education and professional experience were acquired.

A Diploma Alone Does Not Prove Its Value

Digital documents today can be altered relatively easily, or convincingly recreated visually. A professional review should therefore not rely solely on whether an uploaded diploma looks plausible. What matters is the issuing institution: does it exist, is it recognised, and does it confirm the stated qualification? The source document refers here to ENIC-NARIC and the Bologna Process as important points of reference for assessing European qualifications. The duration of study and ECTS credits can also provide clues to plausibility. However, an unusual constellation should not be too hastily interpreted as a false statement. Rather, deviations are an occasion for deeper verification. The goal is a reliable confirmation of the qualification, not an automated assessment based on Swiss expectations.

Diploma Mills Are an Issue Within Europe Too

The source document points to so-called diploma mills: organisations that offer academic-looking titles or certificates without genuine study performance or a recognised qualification behind them. This risk is not limited to particular world regions. For employers, the accreditation of the institution is therefore at least as relevant as the visual authenticity of the document. Especially with specialised or lesser-known private educational institutions, it should be checked what status the institution has in its country and whether the stated qualification was actually awarded. Direct confirmation by the university, or a suitable verified source, is considerably more meaningful than a mere review of the document itself. This helps prevent qualifications that look formally convincing but are not substantively reliable from flowing unchecked into a hiring decision.

Correctly Assessing Language and Local Documentation Culture

International verification is also a linguistic and cultural task. Original documents are often in Polish, Romanian, Czech or another local language, while the CV uses English terms. In the process, translations can unintentionally upgrade or alter the nature of a qualification or further training. The same applies to employment confirmations: their content and form do not necessarily correspond to Swiss reference culture. A brief confirmation of role and length of employment may be entirely standard in one country and no indication of weak performance. Professional background checks should be aware of such differences and interpret information in its local context. Native-language or country-informed review can therefore create significant added value over a purely automated translation.

Validato Verifies International Qualifications in a Structured Way

Validato carries out education and employment verifications worldwide, within the possibilities available in each case. Depending on the country and institution, confirmation is obtained via suitable official or verifiable sources, or directly from the issuing institution. Where official digital registers do not exist, or direct access is not possible, the process is adapted accordingly and documented transparently. The candidate gives the necessary digital consent before the screening and provides the required information or documents. This creates a consistent process for Swiss companies, even though the underlying education systems and documents can vary considerably. This makes cross-border recruiting easier and creates a more solid basis for assessing international qualifications.

Verifying International Degrees Professionally

Are you recruiting specialists from CEE or other international markets? Validato supports you with education and employment verification through country-specific processes and a central digital platform.