Hey guys,

I would really appreciate if I can get some advice from you guys who I believe have certainly more experiences than I do.

I am an engineering uni graduate from Germany. Originally I am from an Asian country.

So here I found myself a job offer in Switzerland. The company is currently expanding well in my country back home. They are delighted to find someone who can speak German and is at the same time a native from the country they are interested in.

So today I was verbally offered a 'package' that will see me working here at their HQ in Switzerland for about a few months and then bringing back the know-how to my country after that. Basically it seems to be an attractive offer for me, although I would wish to work here in Switzerland a bit longer actually. But well they are really expanding well back there and thus it's really up to the progress of the project. I am fine with that.

My problem is, they mentioned that for the first few months in Switzerland I would get a contract by the branch company at my home country instead of the one I am dealing with in Switzerland! Although we never really discussed the details yet, but I see something amiss here. What is the difference between working here on a Swiss contract or on a contract from other country (it would mean that I am 'sent' to work here, although I start my job here)? The first thing that comes into mind is of course the salary involved. I am aware that I might get some allowances due to the high living cost of Switzerland. But still, I just can't see any possibility that it will even be comparable to the usual salary earned by an engineer here in Switzerland. Besides that, I am sure there are some differences in terms of beneifts, rights and all that...

Does anyone of you have similar experiences? I would be really greatful if I can get some feedback from you all. Thanks a lot!!

It might also be that they figure that by doing that they would not need to get you any residence/work permit for Switzerland, i.e. that you would be based abroad but here for training, assuming that your passport is from the "asian country".

Having recently hired someone from an asian country for a similar mission I can see why someone would do that. We went the Swiss contract route as we want that person to return here after 12 months abroad. It took about 10 weeks to get the paperwork sorted out. So, maybe your company was looking for the easiest way to deal with this.

I am just afraid that the differences might not just be merely a paper procedure. I wonder that by having a non-Swiss contract while working in Switzerland, am I still entitled to enjoy some other benefits and rights that I would if I were to have a Swiss contract. Particularly about the salary where the Swiss one is apparently much more times higher than my home country's...I know there must be some extra allowances for the living cost here. But allowances can't be higher than the salary itself right? Even it's as high as the salary at my home country also it is peanuts here...

If it's just due to the hassle of applying permit then I am ok....but it is just not a nice feeling if by agreeing to that I am actually underpaid...

jttraveller,

The best advice I can give you as a graduate is to choose very carefully what field you go into, because it may set the mold for the rest of your working life.
Will you be working in the area you want to be, working on the things you want to work on. Worry about where it is, and how much it pays later.

I can certainly understand that concern. The question is: how long is a few months?

Whilst I wouldn't necessarily approach it as a salary adjustment, you would be fully entitled to ask the following questions:

1) Who is paying for accommodation and what kind of accomodation?
2) If it's in a hotel, who will pay for laundry and meals?
3) Would you get a per diem to make up the difference in cost of living and to compensate you for the local expenses which would be higher than at your future home base?

If they start squawking then you could be in trouble. On the other hand, it could be that they put something decent together for you. This could be a first acid test....

My 2c anyway. Good luck!