I heard RAV only helps for German learning in A1-A2 levels and not for intermediate or higher levels needed for many jobs.
Any way to get them paid for courses of B level?

I was a high A2 when I was with the RAV in Zurich and they didn't pay for me because it was too low. I was told by my counselor the exact opposite: people who are B1 and low B2 get the lessons (which for me meant the difference of one point on the effing test) and people who are A or C do not.

In Lausanne, a friend of mine was on the RAV and she paid her own language lessons rather than wait on the RAV to approve them, and the kasse got wind of it and reduced her payments, despite it supposing to be 70-80% of salary. I think the justification in her case was because in language class you are not available for work. Money for me was tight, so I waited for the RAV to sort itself over my German for two months based on this apparently anomalous situation in Lausanne and lost two months of time I could have been learning German for them to not pay for my German anyway.

Hi NicoleCZ

What do you mean by a high A2? Doesn't that mean that you are ready to progress to the B level and that would be enough to get RAV to pay for the course.

Sorry I am new to all this, which is why I am asking.

thanks

I was one point on their little form from B1 but apparently they decided it was still too low. I didn't know if I could fight it at the time.

At the end of November I was assessed as A0, and quite rightly so as I speak no German. The RAV have paid for me to do an intensive German course starting on Monday. I'm not sure how far it will take me, it is half a day a week for 3 months, but they apparently will pay for complete beginners. I am with the RAV office in Dietikon which is still Canton Zurich, so maybe it depends on the individual office or advisor?

JEALOUS! no seriously, congrats i was at zentralstrasse...my advisor seemed nice so who knows.

I've just been to the RAV myself and as for the German studies my adviser said that being that I am at A0 (no German at all) they would only cover my lessons if I could get to a level that would make my job search more successful. But being that I work in an office, i would have to be at a much more advanced level in German to be able to use it in my job search and that would take a lot of time, so it is least likely that they would accept my request. In any case, i do have a friendly adviser who, aside from speaking English, said he would see what he can do to put my request through. Once again, i guess it does depend on who you are dealing with at the RAV .

I just started my course and it is an intensive course....3 hours of class everyday of the week for 3 months! I thought it was once a week but the letter was in German and I skipped the bit that said "Montag bis Freitag".

English isn't required for my job but it helps if you show you are willing to learn, so maybe that is why I managed to get a course.

As far as I understood it is up to the RAV advisor to decide whether or not you get the course. I got the impression it was entirely their decision... mine decided on the spot and simply inscribed me in one, so you might want to make your case and express lots of interest and determination.

Yes, true Atna, I did communicate with my supervisor once again and I'm looking into doing everything I can to get these classes. I REALLY want/need them .

Yes it's matter of adviser to decide, and normally if they think it's likely the guy to find a job, don't wanna spend time and money for courses but if goes longer they will do it easier. In any case some pushes from unemployed guy can help, but don't try saying "I like to have" or similar sentences but explain the need and importance beforehand.

My first ever RAV visit is approaching, I need to register there. I was just laid off and have not had time to apply or look for any jobs yet. What you described above; do you have to have all that stuff with you on your very first visit or can you first register and then bring all the stuff? I have understood that first you just sign up and then they book you a one on one with an advisor on a different day and that´s when you need to bring all those documents, including copies of sent job applications. I live in Zurich btw. I know the procedure might differ from place to place.

Go to the RAV as soon as you can to get that initial appointment with your counselor, which could be a week or two after the first one, which is just processing, like you said. But you get paid from the date you have that first meeting. in the meantime, apply for as many jobs as possible (the form is on the website). I got screwed my first month for "not applying for enough jobs" before I came to the RAV even though they weren't paying me...anyway. Do you know which RAV office you have to go to?

Finally, if you don't speak German, the first time they want you to speak German or have a German speaker. The next time you work out with your counselor how it is going to roll.

Do you mean you left your work without any notice? If not the RAV will not accept that you did not have time to look or apply for any jobs, you will loose some payment for this probably 1-2 weeks in addition to your waiting time.

For the people interested just FYI, RAV isn't only about language courses, you can actually have courses / certifications / diplomas in many fields, i quit my job in November and got offered IT vendors / Project Management certificates to do over 6 months which my councilor thought it would help boost my C.V based on my previous experience.

Following RAV instructions and showing great motivation is always the key to get the best output of it and just remember something, you're not begging nor abusing the system, you actually pay for this when you work, so it is a right rather than request....you can feel free to discuss openly with your councilor about what you think can be right for your career on the long run and he will definitely help as long as it complies to laws.

For mums with babies, it's possible to register as 'part time unemployed' - you will then get unemployment benefits at that percentage.

A friend of mine was doing this - she had childcare lined up for 60%, so was looking for a 60% job, and the RAV paid 60% unemployment benefits.

It filled the gap (financially, as well as giving her a few extra resources and motivation to find a decent job) and she started her new job in January.

She was able to take a family holiday in there - I'm not sure how that affected her payment, but she had the job lined up before she went on holidays, and came back from holidays and started her work as soon as the kids were back at childcare.

Hope that helps

Registering as part time unemployed is not limited to mums with babies, anyone could do either because they have a part time job or they only wish to work part time.

Being unemployed, your allowed 4 weeks holiday a year, so after 3 months without work you get 5 days. Holidays may only be taken in blocks of a week.

No, I´m still on my notice period which ends on May 31st. We have agreed that I will work until end of April. Naturally I will get full salary through May.

Of course I will sign up with RAV within my notice period to ensure I will be eligible for unemployment payments when my actual unemployment starts. The reason I have not had time to look for a new job yet is simply because I just found out this past week that my employment will need to be terminated (due to restructuring and financial problems of the company) I also need to work on my CV and get the initial paper work in order before I sign up with RAV. And apply for a number of jobs....

My notice period is not over yet. I´m sure they don´t pay anything before my notice period ends.

I speak fluent German and feel comfortable with the idea of having my RAV meetings in German. However I would not mind them testing what level I am and maybe sign me up for a course. My grammar could use some brush up!

You need to provide advertisements for jobs that you have applied for during the notice period, 10 or more per month is required!