My wife and I met a very nice lady from Switzerland while we were on vacation in San Diego, California. After talking to her, I am convinced that Switzerland would be a far better place to live and raise our two young boys. We only speak English and we are not college educated. I run a small painting contracting business. I just had some questions about the work there in Switzerland. Will I be able to find a job in my field of work, can we get by with only speaking English, do the Swiss people like Americans, etc... We work very hard, but it doesn't seem to pay off here in the States. Have a look at my website if you'd like.

Hi Mike, and welcome to the EF!

Switzerland is a great place to live and raise children, definitely a lot less litiginous and there is an attitude that people should take responsibility for their own choices - very healthy for children to learn!

In general, for work, you will need to have an approved work permit from the authorities in whichever Canton you choose to live ... running your own business, I think there is very little chance unless you are very specialised. Working for somebody else, same story - they need to show they haven't found somebody with your qualifications in Switzerland and the EU. For more info, probably best to look in the proper threads here or (even better) check with the Swiss Consulate-General in the USA.

Good luck, anyway!

Thanks for responding. I have heard that it is better to work for somebody else because of the benefits you receive. Are you saying that I will not get a job unless it is not filled by somebody else that already lives there?

If you're outside the EU & Switzerland, basically the employer has to show that they couldn't fill the job with somebody 'local' ... so it's either undesirable or specialised, in most cases. I'm not saying it's impossible to get a job, but it will be hard.

In a word yes! In order to get a work permit for you, your future employer would have to show that there in no one in Switzerland or the European Union (EU) who could do the job. As you can imagine, trying to convince the authorities that there is no unemployed painter available among the 500 million people of Europe who wants the job would be a difficult task.

Is there any chance you qualify for a passport of one of the EU states? If so then you still have a chance.

Good luck with that,

Jim

Maybe you should try looking elsewhere in the US before going all the way to Switzerland. The US is a capitalist society, if you look for the opportunities and are willing to do what it takes to acheive your goals (and no I am not referring to a moral compromise) then you can be successful and provide for your family.

i'm not saying Switzerland isn't also nice, I have been here a few months and I like it a lot. But don't move here because you think it will be some magical land that will solve all of your problems.

There is a trade-off in every situation... Also keep in mind that places like Zurich (where I am) are very very expensive, and the higher salaries do not fully compensate the difference in disposable income.

Good luck with finding what you are looking for, I truly hope you find it

Ah, Mike... You've been entrapped by one of the agents the Swiss Tourist Board sends out around the world, urgently so in these difficult economic times, to try to lure foreigners - and especially their hard-earned cash - to deposit some of it here. But she didn't tell you about the rituals they make you undergo before you even get through customs control, did she? About how you have to sit down, your hands tied behind your back, and eat a whole vat of cheese soup? How you have to then drink coffee laced with a vile schnapps they make out of Alpine flowers - and then prove your prowess at throwing an oversized Swiss flag up in air and catch its handle in your teeth? Or how all the children, day after dreary day, have to eat pancake-size hash browns every day at school, and wash it down with a national beverage made with rennet (don't ask)??

Another victim.

Try Ontario instead - it's closer and they speak a language you know!



J.
P.S. on a serious note, the other posters *do* have valid points: it's not easy to find employment here, especially in your line of work.

Hi Mike
I am an American but have lived in the UK for 6 years and now here in Geneva. Just been here 2 weeks looking for accommodation, but will soon start work here on a 6 month contract. It is a lovely city here with great public transport and I have found the people quite friendly and open, but what everyone has said about a "place" not solving your problems is true.

In financial terms, here's a few "eye openers" for you:

My husband and I picked up our dinner at McDonalds here in Geneva last night: 4 regular cheeseburgers (not double), 1 kid's fruit pack, 1 coffee. Total 16.50CHF or $15.35. What would this cost in the US - about five bucks?

Last week, we ordered take-out from a local thai restaurant. Nothing fancy - two chicken fried rice. Total 44.00CHF or $40.92. The portion was about 1/2 the size of in the US and no shrimp sauce to go with it. What would this cost in the US - $12-15 max.

I have been looking for a room in someone else's house to rent. Not a whole apartment, just a room. So far, the costs have been between $1,000-$1,500 per month and that doesn't include another $200 a month for a parking space.

Having said all of this, I do recognize it's not all about money - I earn half as much in Scotland as I did in the US, my house is 1/3 the size, we only have 1 car instead of 2, and I think my bills are about twice as much, but I still love living there!
Tina

Something to keep firmly in mind when talking about price differences is the fact that wages over here are higher - so anything that involves service is more expensive. Groceries are nowhere near as expensive as you'd expect, going on restaurant or take-away prices ...