The job: I applied for an opening as quality assurance specialist at St. Prex. i had a chat with HR consultant from UK and we agreed on emailing her back with my salary expectations.after doing my homework i came back with 4500CHF net. which it looks in my ignorant eyes like a good salary for a single person in that area.

the questions now:
1)if i have to negotiate it what you reckon is the lowest that i should go?

2) what the story with St.prex looks quite expensive

3) is any one living there to illuminate me regarding gym, connections to France, if i need a car to get around, any restaurants-bars etc.

thanks a lot in advance

p.s. if i have post it in the wrong section forgive me

Another reply suggesting you search the Forum....

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However CHF 4'500 NET of tax and social payments looks OK to me, not average, more like the lowest level.

Use this one http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/e.../salarium.html as salary depends on many faxtors!

Was there anything to suggest that the quoted figure would be after deductions? And even if it were it would represent only something like ~6000, presumably per month. Which really isn't very much at all. One might expect a 'QA specialist' with a reasonable length of experience to be on at least two or three times that much.

Edit: Ooops, poor maths. Still low but not as bad as I thought.

Depending on exactly what the job title means, of course.

Now if it were 4500 per week, then that's a different story again.

I think it is too low for a "executive" job.
A cashier takes a minumum pay of around 4000chf per month. This is said to me by my neighbours.

Do i read this correctly.

You went back to the HR person with a net salary expectation of 4,500 chf????????????

Talk about undercut yourself by circa 2k!!

I suspect you will be hired instantly.

Usual Cleaner = 30chf/hour = 30X8X22 = 5,280chf
(baby sitter also have this same rate)

I think you should become a cleaner instead.
No offend intended.

thanks a lot for the replies, the way i thought was that i will need 1000-1500 for accommodation, another 1000-1200 for insurance,food,bills and the rest for leisure.

anyone is living in St.Prex ?

Hope you are single. The official poverty rate here for a family is 4,600 per month

Isn't "net" after deductions? So we are talking about a salary of 6000/m and a yearly salary of 78K/an. I agree with Sbrinz, that's not outrageously low. Of course it depends on how many years experience and a bit more about what as "specialist" is.

I know, I know, the EF salary has gone up to 240K with inflations, but seriously people.

Anyway, as to the cost of living in St Prex. Switzerland is very small. You will not be obliged to live in St Prex, which can be expensive depending on what part of town. There is great public transportation in most places along the lake. So a car may not be necessary. Of course, the further out you live the cheaper it gets, but the more likely you'll need a car.

Don't forget St Prex has the worst air pollution in the lake Geneva area, caused by the local glass factory.

I think some people are on another planet here!

4500fr isn't a bad wage at all, for a young man single.

Just make sure it is net, with all your contributions deducted already. Also, ask if you get a 13th month because that will bring it up to 4875fr.

4500 x 13/12

A quick scan sees similar jobs going between 60-80k gross per year.

So i guess you have placed yourself in the lower to mid spectrum.

Unlcear how much experience you have etc.

I would have gone with 80k, and let them knock me down if I was over shooting. But, you did say you done your homework and must feel the 4.5 is suitable.

Hi
This looks very low to me, especially in a pharma company (assuming it is because there is a very well known one in St Prex...).

Of course it depends on the exact tasks and your level of expertise / education, but I would aim for significantly more, maybe around 85-90K / year if you have little experience, more around 110-120K / year if you have 3-5 years experience and higher education (MSc or more).

I am not sure that you will automatically land the job if you undersell youself as it might raise questions. And above all you will be frustrated and leave within months when you realise how expensive life is here in Switzerland, especially healthcare and food.

Regarding why St Prex is expensive this is largely because it is by the lake and although because income tax is low. This attracts the rich but with a low to average salary you will not pay much tax anyway so it is not worth it.

Your numbers are about right. BUt still ask for 6000 or more - I will happily take the excess off you hands

IMO, being single is not relevant at all. Neither is being a man. But I can see the point of you saying "young" if you are thinking of it in terms of not having had the time to have gathered as much experience as an old(er) preson could have.

You said the HR person was in the UK? Tell her you meant £4500 (roughly 6700 CHF).