I have an interview next Tuesday I'm wondering now what to expect.
They did not want to discuss money before the interview. I don't want to ask for to much in case it ruins my chances and I don't want to f*** myself by asking to little and then have to live like a church mouse!!!
I don't even know the general cost of living.
This site is helpful but doesn't quote prices.
Does anyone knows how much aprox a QA Engineer earns?
Prices on property?
Food?
HELP!!!!!!

The Swiss don't like to discuss money, and your not likely to know from your fist interview. Thats my experience anyway.

The cost of living is genrally higher than he UK, although higher slaries compensate for that. The cost of apartment rental all depends on what you are looking for, what area etc. I would recommend looking at www.homegate.ch to get an idea for yourself.

I've no idea for the approx. salary of a QA engineer, sorry.

There's lots of useful info on EF, you just have to search for it. You will find many similar questions, and the answers to them

saw this website and thought it might help some of you out there....

good luck

http://www.rolandberger.com/index.html

hi

this thread is really helpful. thanks for those who contributed the links. I tried browsing them it seems that most of the companies requires experience. I have Bachelor of Electronics & Communication Engineering in PH but work at call center for 2 years where i support customers re: their internet & email problem. My Bachelor was accepted here in Switzerland.

After 2 years of working in call center i get married & followed my husband here.
They say in Zug there are many English companies but as I searched it in the website, most of them are in German. I'm already here for 1.5 years & would say that my German is getting better although not perfect. I tried some temporary job for 6 months & work in a Swiss company. I started to like the job but the people around were quite unfriendly & lately found myself being mobbed. My Swiss boss didn't inform me that they will not need any temporary workers instead my Arbeitskollegin informed me about what the boss said (which sounds unfair on my side). She was informed why they don't need me coz of my German that time which was not very good. But sometimes i don't get it, they would require that you speak German but most of the time people are speaking in Swiss German which is sometimes very hard to understand (and quite irritating). So I started another job, was also a temporary one but didn't like it because I felt that I was overqualified for the task & I think I could do better. so I decided to study in the university here as Engineer but unfortunately due to my German, i discontinued, but in return I got a practicum job in this university. And again its all Swiss around. It's good that in our department we are developing some projects technically & electronically, but my tasks right now is quite more of administrative stuffs & designing our website. i would like to do some electronic job, but my concern is I don't have enough experience in engineering field & I noticed here if you work in a Swiss company, they expect you already to do their requirements or to do the said job. That means you have, to have a full knowledge of what you do... now I'm quite confused what to do. I like designing our website & at the same time I would love to learn the practical thing of engineering. the problem is, all my "Arbeitskollegen" are always busy. Nobody seems to coach me. Also sometimes it's quite strange when everybody is just sitting in front of their Pc's and busy with their own projects. While me, always worrying what to do next. Now I'm thinking again of going back to school or just look for another job. A job counselor told me maybe I could try the Lehre (4 years)here in Switzerland as Electronikerin instead "das Studium" in the university. I'm not sure if that make sense.

Do you have any ideas, where companies give trainings & courses for the task or responsibilities you have to do? or start as junior engineer? English companies are most welcome. I find Swiss environment quite stiff (hope i don't offend any Swiss here)

Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks

Dear all,
My boyfreind and me moved to switzerland a few weeks ago. He is looking for a job in the food industry he has a MSc in Food Technology and BSc in Chemical engineering. Does any of you have any idea of where to find jobs in the food industry where German is not a requirement?
Thanks a lot

---------

I have some info PM me.

Nestle could be an option?

Hi All,

I am looking for a job in the banking industry, in switzerland. I am currently based in the Philippines, I'm both Filipino and Swiss citizen (my dad is Swiss), and have already 3years experience from HSBC and Citibank. I'd prefer an english speaking job, although I do speak and can read german. Can anyone help me get in touch with some banks?

Hi,

i can strongly recommend Stamford Consultants as Employer as well as very professional recruitment company.
the company has english as company language.
As recruitment agency they do really make the difference to others.
they are based in basel, zurich and geneva as well as UK. They offer various jobs for financial, it and life science specialists

see here for details: www.stamford-consultants.com

hope this helps.

Hmmm. Well, as an employee of the company you would recommend them, wouldn't you?

Hi Danny, I've read your post.

I'm also interested in finding a position in a food industry, I have a degree in Food Technology as well as in Agricultural Engineering. I have already a home in Zurich because my boyfriend is working there.

I'm Spanish, and have no knowledge of Swiss-German. I'm fluent in English, though. I can send my CV if you want.

Thanks a lot in advance.

hmmm... quite a few... to search for jobs...

Hello All ,

I am looking for a position in or related to the Hospitality (Hotel) industry in Zurich. Not as popular as the Banking or IT industry in CH, I'm sure you agree.

I am currently the General Manager of an International Award winning beach resort but moving to Zurich in 3 months time.

I have excellent qualifications (BSc) from Les Roches, Hotel Management School in Valais as well as Florida International University in Miami and great experience in Switzerland, USA and Africa mainly in Hotel Operations.

I'm fluent in English, almost fully conversant in French and speak only a little basic German.

I'm pretty sure that my skills can be used in the Hospitality Industry as well as the Customer Service departments of many industries.

I would sincerely appreciate any help from any of you out here.

Danny, if my services can be used in the Food Technology industry as well, I would be grateful if you could pm me or give me further details.

I am extremely hard working, intelligent, honest and dedicated and my performance will show it.

Thanks for your time!

I only know about IT Jobs. But the company I am working for is an IT Recruiting Agency and my colleagues in Zürich are often looking for candidates who only speak English. So you can try out: www.elanit.ch

Greetings from Basel
Thomas

Thanks Thomas, will check out the website. If you have anyother details, please do send me the info. Thanks again Thomas.

Ronnie

Hi everbody,

Do you know if companies/banks in Switzerland ask you a specific letter from your previous employer stating what activity you were exactly doing and also the dates of your employment? (obviously right before/after signing the contract in your new job)

Example:

If someone have worked in a company for, say, 3 years in two different roles then will the new employer ask for a letter from your previous employer about your job in detail? So from when till when you worked in your first/second role. All this in a declaration from your previous employer.

Thanks and good luck for everybody in job search

Hello Sailor,

I think it depends on the employer. Some are less bothered by this sort of paperwork than others.

I've had 3 different employers so far and none of them asked for references and only one wanted to check my certificates stating my qualifications.

They are also less concerned about references if the person who is hiring you already knows you or about you from, say, a friend of a friend or another employee.

On the other hand, I hear that employers are generally more interested in written references in German speaking rather than French or Italian speaking parts of Switzerland. It all depends on the potential employer.

As to the reference itself, certainly it should have the date from/to, your official title(s) and a sentence or 2 about what you did. More important is the what and the tone of what they say about you as an employee and a person.

That's my two-penny's worth...

BigDave

Hi, this is Sarah and i work for an international english based company. we aim to give expert financial advice to our clients and we have an office in Zurich. we currently have various positions in client support and account assistance. i am available to provide further information on the company and the vacancies and eventually if one is interested one may submit a CV for further review. cheers

i have tried all these companies that you post, some are in german and those that are in english expect you to know german. i am not having much luck. Also today i heard from a company who said that they would not look at my application as i never had a work permit but my understanding is you can not get a work permit until you get a job.
please help

Hi everyone!

I will move to Zurich at the beginning of 2009 but I am already looking a bit and applying to things. It is definetly not the best time to find a job now, even less without fluency in German. I find myself as shazzles, every international company tends to require German aswell.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank all of you for a great thread with lots of help!! I keep looking!!