You get money and don't have to work. Why would there be any​ downsides?

not that I think people who are out of work and receive unemployment benefits are not entitled to it - they paid into the system too - but it is still 'our money' in that it didn't grow on trees. 'The state' got it from 'us'.

Dougal is certainly not abusing the system or looking too and as you say, taking a little back from what he's contributed.

Not sure i could give the same endorsement to Daily though.

I don't get no satisfaction...

Damn, I read the entire thread with the intention of making this suggestion, surprised that it hadn't been mentioned. And there it was, 50 posts in.

5 days a week, get 1,000 words out. Don't make my fatal mistake of spending your time "just doing a quick edit of yesterday's stuff". 1,000 words a day for 10 weeks and you have your 50,000 word first draft. Don't worry if you're not sure what to write about. Partway through it will start to reveal itself. Crack on. On your 2nd draft you write the thing you now know you want to write. 3rd draft is the final polish. Have a routine and do it. You could have a book to your name well within six months if you put your mind to it. You have the ability, and now, at last, you have the opportunity.

Regarding more conventional job hunting, it's a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the better you get at it and the greater your chance of finding something. But don't apply for just anything. Try to apply for at least one job a day if possible but if nothing suitable comes along to aim at, take some other constructive action like calling a recruitment agency or sending out something about yourself to potential employers. As I said, it's a numbers game. The worst mistake in my experience is getting disheartened and thinking, "What's the point? I'll never get a job." If you lapse into that way of thinking and stop trying, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

That said, if you apply for 50 jobs using the same method, and get no interviews, you have to reassess your approach, and the sort of positions you're going for. That doesn't mean stop. It means 'what can I do differently and better?'

Good luck.

Were you a more humorous troll when alive?

Although you seem to type better dead than I do alive, which is irritating.

It will give you time to reflect over your life. What you have done good and what not. You know what I mean.

Yup I read through the thread and come to the conclusion that most who have posted here have never been Arbeitslos for long and when, then you seem to regard it as a kind of holiday, a nice break between jobs, hit the reset button, have a breather before the next coal-face looms.
Truth is unless you are the kind of person that regards work as a burden to be avoided at all costs, being out of work hurts, hurts bad. Agreed, the first few months are a great laugh, stretching out and turning over in bed one more time knowing that your former colleagues are running to the bus.
But then after a few months where you have gone to all the museums, seen everything on the internet sent out loads of CV´s with no results you kind of start to wonder what is wrong, I mean come on! Who could possibly refuse YOU??? Then at some point you hit 700 CV´s without a single bite, then 1000 and waddya know you had one face to face.... aaaaand never heard from them again.
1200 CV´s
1500 CV´s
1700 then you lose count.
and before you know it your 400 days are over, however long before that you have started to have nightterrors, the end of your 400 days approaches like a runaway train that you can´t stop and you begin to have panic attacks, the kind where you think you are going to die, you no longer wish to get out of bed, you hide from friends, family everybody, good advise given to you is ignored because it is useless, and still no work, you have gone up and down the food chain ready to accept any kind of job, right down to where you are competing with unskilled labourers, only to find out that they are skilled at being unskilled and you are not.
Started to watch Roy Batty on youtube, over and over again, methinks he sums it up pretty well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTzA_xesrL8

__________________
Lummerland
Eine Insel mit zwei Bergen,
und im tiefen weiten Meer,
mit viel Tunnels und Geleisen
und dem Eisenbahnverkehr
nun wie mag die Insel heißen
ringsherum ist schöner Strand
jeder sollte einmal reisen
in das schöne Lummerland

Yes slammer I agree with you and think this is the norm rather than the exception. Not necessarily being unemployed for years, but those fears and thoughts, these fundamental concerns and pains about one's existency - I'm surprised so few have touched upon that in this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo

I am on garden leave currently. What I have found about the situation, I need to keep it under work schedule - at the beginning I was thinking about it all day long which was tiring.

I realized that I have to limit that. I keep a 'work schedule' 9 to 5, 5 days a week, for the rest of the time I make sure I do enjoy my time and release the stress.

It is clear that DB, who is an intelligent guy, is aware of the potential pitfalls of unemployment, and I think I remember him saying he has had the same or similar situation in the UK before, where it is worse to be unemployed. He is asking about positive aspects that he can take away while he is searching for a new role.

The fact is he has a lovely family with two young children, so he can't afford to mope around and feel sorry for himself too much and needs to be positive and constructive about it. While it is never a great situation to be in, there are worse places to be unemployed than Switzerland, and I would hardly say that Slammers much-bemoaned situation is "the norm" for unemployed expats in Switzerland, the vast majority of those I have seen seem to find work again.

I wasn't aware the scope was expats only. Also because I was under the impression DB wasn't really a typical expat, but I might be wrong.

There are also four pages of very positive contributions and recommendations about what to do and how to do it.

Other than that you should quote Slammer and direct your comments towards him, he's the one who posted the negative aspects of prolongued unemployment.

DB not a 'typical expat'? Well, as far as I know he isn't Swiss. And my quote was directed at you as you wrote that you were surprised that no-one was posting about the negative mental consequences, and that Slammers story constituted the norm, so I'm not sure why me addressing those somehow confuses you.

One thing, put "protection mode" on because you are most likely going to hear a lot of "Why are you not going home?" (if you are unemployed abroad).


As for the rest, great advice:


1) Buy the proper outfit prior to go to ORP (Swiss Job Center)


Dressing up is important, start buying burberry, lacoste, etc...


2) Start using the proper lingo (oi init bruvv 'Y'alreet,
i am lookin' for a job, dee ya hav any position opened?)


3) Remember you are a job SEEKER, not a job FINDER. Big difference.

And sooner than you think you'll have infinite benefits, free money, free housing

PS: well it works in UK, maybe not in Switzerland???

I don't know advantages of unemployment but after seeing struggle of trailing spouse for 4 years I don't even think in my dream to be unemployed. Initial charm of moving to Switzerland didn't last long Luckily she found a contract job now. Good luck with the job hunting.

Incorrect it's not 'our money', in Switzerland it's an insurance based system, so just a regular insurance claim. Even if you work for 1 hour, 1 day or a week, you have to pay for this insurance even if there is no chance you would be eligible to claim.
I paid over 40,000 in health insurance in Switzerland & never was able to claim 1 CHF back, I don't begrudge paying those premiums, no doubt being older you have had a better deal from Swiss health insurance.

You are right Slammer I have never been unemployed. And it's probably true that it gets harder the longer it lasts. But - and there is a but - we don't know if that will be the case with DB. He might be snapped up soon. Maybe even before two months are over. So what I was trying to point out - given that the aim of the thread is "advantages" or positive aspects about being unemployed - is that he should enjoy the summer. Look for jobs and apply to suitable ones but not fret about it all day long. At least not for the first three months.



If I can help you DB, do let me know. I can proofread cover letters in German if you wish. I work at the University of Applied Sciences so have no direct contacts to primary schools but if you think I could help you with anything, please do not hesitate to contact me by PM.



I would leave my Name and contact details with the entire international and bilingual schools in the area. All of them. Even if they tell you they don't have any vacancies. Maybe some teacher will break their foot or become pregnant. You never know. And suddenly they need someone. Might only be temporary or might not be full-time. Take it nevertheless. Show them that you are a good substitute teacher, that you work hard and that the children love you. It is always helpful to "have a foot in the door" (einen Fuss in der Türe haben as we say in German).


I wish you all the best and hope that you will find a fulfilling position shortly!

It's not a purpose or a finality. It's a transition, a journey to various opportunities. Sometimes they will occur randomly, but most of it will required work, perseverance, creativity and attention.

Enjoy.

I quit my job went on unemployment benefit for few months then decided looking for 9 to 5 job was not for me and that I prefer to work 9 to 9.

I asked state for money to start a cleaning business with my friend. We got the money and opened our cleaning business many years ago. Now my friend has half a million saved in his bank and I have saved a bit too. Two mini failed marriages later I am single and free. University educated I run a cleaning business, who would have thought.

So everything is possible. If our business had failed I would have not been shy about being unemployed or on benefit for my whole life.