Hypothetically.. say you knew someone somewhere else in the world who was considering taking up a job offer in Switzerland. Say they could only speak English and had a fairly secure income, and a fairly prosperous life where they were... plus a significant other who would not work.. and kids.(i.e. they would be moving for a marginal perceived improvement or 'for an adventure')

Would you recommend they come here ?

In the past I'd have been very positive.. but now I'm not so sure. I used to think Swiss firms were reluctant to let people go.. but more recently they seem far more likely to hire and fire, especially on a 'last in first out' basis. And then, if you're not fluent in French and/or German I think your chances these days of finding another job inside Switzerland (let alone the same city where you landed) are pretty slim.

I know it's a 'how long is a piece of string' type question.. but I've seen some pretty horrible scenarios develop in the past few years.

I'd probably say 'if you think it's a good career move and the family is behind it, then take it on the basis that you might be gong back in a few years'.

yes. its certainly is a how long is a piece of string question and as such I won't vote as its missing way too much information for me.

I would say I think most people coming over in those situations may not be coming to Swiss companies (English only). So are you talking about Swiss companies becoming more likely to hire and fire OR Foreign companies with offices in Switzerland who hire and fire?

When we moved for my wifes job I asked that she ask for a clause that if it all went tits up we would be moved back (geographically not a job on the other side). The company declined but I know others who have negotiated similar clauses with the same company now. We were in the US and at the time there was a lot of downsizing going on (some last in first out as you mention) so I was concerned it could happen to us here.

The move here has worked out reasonably for us. We see each other and our child more often which was the main reason we moved but we are now on one nice income with some unwanted US tax obligations. We are doing well but would be doing better with 2 jobs whether here or another country.

I think that the send me home clause is important. Luckily I dont know anyone fired and not suitably packaged. But I'm sure it can and does happen.

edit: i live in Zug. Speaking English only is not as big a problem as I thought it would be when I said no to moving here 3 years ago ;-)

Depends where.

Ticino, sure.

French and German speaking parts, not so sure.

Certainly, our moving from Zurich to Ticino was the right move.

Tom

Easiest. Poll. Ever!

"It all depends"

Apart from the fact I speak French, that basically describes my situation before I moved to (German speaking) Switzerland. I've no regrets whatsoever, and no intention of returning to the UK - well, it's ok to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I'm not sure we would have moved here for a new job as immigrants, but under our circumstances the move was almost a no-brainer and we have generally had an amazing experience in the just-over-a-year we have been here. nobody in our family spoke any German when we arrived in Zurich, which was obviously a challenge but we are slowly muddling through and working to pick up what we can of the local language. although our kids don't realize it, their perspective on "the world" has changed tremendously in just one year, and they have seen places and done things that their mother and I were unable to do until we were long since married.

the hardest part for us was the first couple of months - in part this is because the typical American (which included us) knows very little about Switzerland, which of course meant our expectations were not entirely consistent with reality once our feet hit Swiss soil. part of it, as well, is that the typical Swiss local in Zurich (despite what they might like to think) knows very little about the US, which of course means that the average local's expectations of us are not always entirely consistent with reality.

I have never believed that a person should make career decisions out of fear of being fired - you can be fired just about anywhere, and in my experience the good and saavy folks almost never get fired anyway.

I've never realized Ticio is such a place of plenty of jobs for English-only speakers ;-)
What's this unknown competitive advantage of TI over Mitteland?

It all depends - on YOU. Moving to Switzerland, or anywhere, just for the job, just for the money, just for the security - but when your heart and mind is not opened and ready for a change, when you are not prepared for learning a new language, adapting to new foods and ways, etc. If you don't see those changes as positive and enriching, then NO- I would not recommend it. Otherwise, yes - go for it.

I wouldn't know, I've never had an English-speaking job in Switzerland.

Tom

Agree with Odile. I will add - if you are very attached to the lifestyle you'd be leaving behind (not only economically), and you don't realize that, invariably, you will have to deal with an entirely different world, and you are unprepared/unwilling to make compromises and work with what you have here, then don't come. I know of someone who came to CH for a great job, already spoke the language fluently, family was behind it, but went back after 6 months because the spouse couldn't find a job that would allow her to be a professional and a mom of 2, and they missed their single family house with lots of land around it. Luckily they had a "plan B" lined up, which is the second thing I would say - don't pack up and close all doors behind you, come for a while with an "option to return" from the employer, then see if you like it and decide accordingly whether to stay or to go.