Hi all,

I joined today but I have been reading the forum for a few weeks, it has been very helpful. My boyfriend and I wanted to move to Switzerland in the new year, he works in IT, whilst I am an accountant. He has had one interview so far. I have been contacted by recruitment agents who mainly seem to have jobs in investment banks.

Does anyone know what it is like to work for one in Switzerland? I imagine a cut throat business as seen in IB in NY. IB also have a reputation for working you really long hours (my boyfriend worked for one in London and he was always up during the night working..).

Any advise is appreciated, and also if someone knows where I could work apart from an IB it is much appreciated (I am a UK qualified accountant, but can only speak a bit of German)

Thanks

If you have the ethical scruples of a young wolf and enjoy being pampered with plush offices, fancy company ski trips and very high salaries, then you'll be in clover.

• Downside is they own your soul
• You'll be surrounded by like-minded wolverines
• Lunch is for wimps
• Get up_work_go to bed
• Assassins come with smiles
• Female collegues are rare
• Nose candy is everywhere, plus associated tantrums
• BSD's/Master of the Universe mentality the norm
• It's crushingly dull, unless you like that kinda thing

Ask yourself if money and status are important, because it is to them and you'll be expected to play your part.

However, I write this as a Temp, so experience all the negative elements without the glory of a flaming Ferrari. Perhaps there's something in it. Beats me how they ever make friends though...

Dull. Dull and Dull. But then if you're an accountant and presumably enjoy the black-art of attributing figures from one column to another

Money's & benefits good , politics crap, environment Maus Grau.

dave

couldnt agree more

Umm, I thought as much, but I stupidly thought that it might be different in Europe..
OK, I will have to look again..
I hope it is possible to find a non-IB non -audit job there...
Thanks!

Mary

PS Not all accountants are dull!!

with the kind of money the I-bankers get, they don't make friends... they just buy some.

and change them every season....

I think you're being a bit tooo cynical here, which is quite a concession from me

Investment bankers, expats especially, are usually well educated, driven by money and think because they are "living abroad" they are somehow a player of elevated status.

IT people are a bit more palatable, as their bonuses are more steady, and a reflection of doing something useful rather than trying to be Top Banana the whole time.

dave

Umm, this does really not bode well..

I wouldn't be working as an investment banker, but as an accountant in one of their divisions..

Might as well have an interview and see where it gets me (to Switzerland I hope!)

Thanks all

You can always take the high salary to over here, then get a lifestyle job, herding cows, cheese making, etc, once the expensive move is out of the way. Just don't stay in the job if you don't like it. It can be suprisingly cheap to have a high standard of living here, unlike London, where it is even expensive to have a poor standard of life. You can shop in German supermarkets for nothing, buy top class designer goods second hand at fleamarkets for less than UK Oxfam prices, cheap skiing holidays, free mineral water at the local fountain, etc. I have worked in IB IT and survived.I really enjoyed it. Would maybe do it again. It is far far more civilised here than in London, better infrastructure in the banks, higher professional standards at work.

Joe, dude, you're replying to a post from last December. Whilst your effort is to be applauded, your due diligence perhaps is perhaps malfunctioning

Yes thanks, I turned down 2 IB jobs in Zurich, and moved to Lausanne, as my fiance got a job in Geneva... I must admit it was difficult turning down those "we can't promise anything, but this is what you might get" bonuses....

Good job I don't work in IB now then!