After much wailing and gnashing of teeth I have an interview in Vaud,CH.

Its a tech position and its a second interview following a ph tech test.

Apparently its a panel of an HR bod and Line Manager.

Would anybody be able to shed any light on the differences between UK and CH interviews if any?

They are paying for all my travel costs, is this significant or de rigeur?

I am sure I will do a bit better than Spud from "Trainspotting" but was wondering if their where any faux pas that I would not be aware of coming from London?

i cant help you much except wish you good luck. As for paying travel expenses i think is normal. They did it for me and from what i recall reading for other forum members as well.
But i guess main rules are the same. Smile, be polite and happy to be there

That is normal here. I turned down an interview invite to London last year when I was asked to pay for the flight myself.

gata , Thanks


I am also guessing that the job market in CH is improving but still pretty tight.

London seems to be going from strength to strength, powered mostly by finance.

Is the market improving or did I just get lucky(I have been applying for > 6 months IIRC)?

OK

I will give feedback based on my UK vs CH experiences now.

I havent ever had an HR led interview in the UK. Generally they are separate whereas in CH IME it seems that HR hosts the interview.

I was expecting to get crunched and baited and it was a suprisingly pleasent experience as far as interviews go.

Anyway, according to the feedback its now at about 80/20 in my favour , and I am really nervous now, waiting for the phone to ring.

I hate this

I would avoid any reference to the travelling costs in the interview itself. Screwed myself stupid at a well-known Pharma company in Basel over that...

If they offer you the job, well travel exs are not so important, if they don't, hit them hard with everything and they'll pay

In vaud I know they do not like you bringing up salary issues. wait till they start talking about it and be humble when doing so.

I got another interview at 10 am tomorrow (promotion)

Sunnysan,

PM and tell me who the company is. I worked in the Vaud (tech position) last year and know a few things about the companies in the area.

Some tips (sorry, this comes from my 15+ years of interview exp. on both sides of the table for techie and management positions):

You need to be 2 different people - one for the HR people and other for the Line Manager: HR like people who fit in, especially in Suisse Romande it's important to stress to HR that you won't arrive and (I quote!) "start behaving like some arrogant consultant from Paris trying to tell us what to do".

The Line Manager is a different kettle of fish. But, in general, it does depend on the nationality of the Line Manager:

1. French - for a tech position they want you to be one of the boys and respect hierarchy. you can show some flare - but not too much.
2. Swiss/French - slightly more reserved attitude is required and don't talk for too long - they want short punchy answers
3.Swiss German - stick to answering the question as directly as possible NEVER waffle, as soon as you feel yourself waffling - do something - anything - to finish what you're saying. Focus on your qualifications and why they make you what you are.
4. Italian - be yourself - but be open - laugh with the Manager - but not for too long - compliment the manager and praise what you've seen so far. Show you have experience - life experience that they can use.

Never talk salary. Do talk about and ask about how the company creates a great working environment and team spirit.

Be ready to answer the following type of questions:

1. Why are you leaving your current position?
2. Why us?
3. When will you leave Switzerland?
4. What about your family?
5. What is your 5 year (professional development) plan?
6. What will you do if we can't give you the work you are really good at and give you some tedious stuff to work on for 6 months?
7. Have you ever clashed with someone at work (argument / personality)? Say NO to this at all costs - demonstrate how you head off conflict by negotiating in the first place.
8. What would happen if another company in Vaud offered you a different position in a years time?
9. How will you contribute to our success?

Good luck!

As others have said (very good advice in this thread btw!) - don't bring up the issue of salary. However! Be prepared to answer with a figure if they ask you what your salary expectations are.

Just don't be honest when you're asked how you deal with stress on a deadline: "...we order pizza and take loads of coke" is the incorrect answer. Trust me, don't be honest about these things... and good luck!

Arrrrgggggh!!!!!

I am in pieces and knots!!

After 9 months of looking, since I am in a holding pattern in London, they have confirmed that they will be making me an offer and are discussing the salary.

Can this process possibly be drawn out any longer, I am at my wits end...

getting an ulcer or a heart attack whichever comes first

How did it work out? My interest is based on having recently gone through exactly the same thing for a job in Geneva. The time between the "we're going to make you an offer" stage and receiving the actual offer was painfully long and excruciating, although I'm now told that it was somewhere between normal and quite quick by local standards.

Depends on the company.

Since your location is London, I assume you are still in London. In that case it seems to be normal, that the company pays the flight for your Interview.

If you were in Geneva and had an Interview in Basel or Zurich, you would be expected to pay yourself.

Doc.

This might sound ridiculous but it's worth remembering that the Swiss, especially during interviews NEVER use an old-fashioned cloth handkerchief. They are out but out. Only use paper ones if you have to use anything at all.

Done!!!

Offer in email form, paper is in the post.

Will be in Vaud in April.

I never thought I would say this but I am on my way after 9 months of searching :-)

But first my landlord is going to take his pound of flesh and I need to pack and sort the dog out etc etc etc

Congrats!! I wish you a satisfying life in Vaud!

Hhmm are you sure you don't want to post how much a good salary would be on the EF? That seems to be the done thing at the mo

OK, 21 days and counting

Contract signed,
Early termination of lease in LDN negotiated
Packing starting
Flights booked
Dog has his shots and passport
Storage and removal arranged
Utilities cut

I am sure many of you have been here and know how expensive it is to relocate even with a relocation package. I am oscillating between excitement and fear.

Have I done the right thing? EEEEK!

Good luck with your move. Hopefully the dog survives as well.