That sounds good, for sure. The two I know of we struggling to find any accommodation for less than 1,ooo a month (earning 38-42 k). Although overall, in comparison to the neighboring countries, CH is the best for PhD students.

A lot a PhD students get a lot less than 78k. ETH being federally funded, they pay better than most. Also varies between institute, research area, professor, funding source, phase of the moon etc...

Back to the original topic, a friend of mine was receiving unemployment after quitting (or maybe being asked to quit) her PhD in a lab here. And she was from eastern Europe, I think the main part is if you've contributed for 24 months, you're entitled to it....but I'd start checking with the authorities first.

Like accident insurance too? You contributed, so you have to make sure you take the same amount out of it again?
Its not a "money depot" its a "insurance".

I'd rather take a timeout, travel, search for a job and keep my pride other than starting a career with registering to the unemployment office.
(my oppinion)

Certainly better than the 25K a year I was getting in straya

I think you are misunderstanding what I am saying. I may not have written it correctly.

I would feel mighty robbed if I was paid into the unemployment insurance, made an effort to find a job (which you have to do in order to get the unemployment payments), got no job after making an effort and was then told that I can't get unemployment insurance money despite having paid for the last 3-4 years.

I see no problem with taking unemployment money. I don't view it as being paid to be unemployed. It's more a job seekers allowance.

Everyone doesn't have the funds to take time out and travel straight after a PhD and unemployment insurance is a lifeline for them, not an embarrassment.


Also I don't pay into accident insurance. My employer does.

Ok, gotcha, but it seems that this thread is about "planning to take the max out of it"..

Well, if you make it until the PHD, and managed somehow to survive til then, you might as well add another few months, right?

Ok, then take the household insurance, and you'll get my point.

What do you mean somehow managed to survived? You get a salary (or do the cool kids call it a stipend) while you do a PhD.

Why might as well add another few months when you don't have too? Why when there is a system in place to ensure that you don't have to live in hardship? A system which you paid into for this very eventuality

It's like having household insurance and when someone breaks in and steals all your stuff not claiming.

the very cool kids have a side job, like bartender..

I wouldn't want it on my CV

No, it's like having household insurance, and when you think you want some "benefits" back, you start breaking things on purpose.

F§$%& Hell!!! I was in the ETH as well, but as a postdoc, and I have got far less money!!!!!

The really very cool kids have contracts which don't allow them to have a second job without permission. Do you think your supervisor will want you to be pulling pints after work and coming in the next day half dead?

You will find VERY few PhD students with enough time to do a second job and complete a good PhD.

You will find very few CVs where there is no period of unemployment. Also if you are travelling it's the same as not having a job. You don't expressly put on your CV that you are taking unemployment money.

Like someone already said, you will only get unemployment insurance if you have shown that you have started making applications for jobs in the run up to the end of your contract. There is no on purpose unemployment here.

You don't put that on a cv... But if you need it, it is there for you to use it as something to help you out while looking for a job. If you get a full time job in a bar or Migros, or name it, you won't have much time to look for a job that you actually studied for.

So You are telling us that those of us who have a household insurance is in the idea of getting benefice back some day?

I am paying for it and I can assure you that I really hope I won't never have to use it...

"Let them eat cake" - that's what you mean?

I know it might be hard to believe, but there are still people who cannot afford themselves travelling, chilling etc., and are forced to seriously concentrate on hunting for a job. And, yes, swallow their pride and register at the unemployment office to have some income to support their family.

Back to my question - Does anyone happen to know how may I contact the unemployment office in order to settle this issues and to realize whether I might be granted a working permit of another 18 months after graduating (this was indicated by someone before)?

Yes. Go to the RAV that serves your place of residence. For Zurich, you can find out where it is here: http://www.awa.zh.ch/internet/volksw...standorte.html

Last I checked if you have paid unemployment tax for the previous 2 years you are entitled to 70% of your last pay if you have no kids, 80% if you have kids. It is capped at a certain income level, but you are nowhere close. You will have to provide monthly documented evidence that you are applying for jobs (something like 10 applications a month), and have a monthly meeting with your assigned RAV person. Plus attend a course for the newly unemployed. It can be quite a humiliating experience as many of the people on the course will be uneducated, or unemployable people, but I think they do that on purpose to scare the crap out of you.

Nopes, I am exactly your opinion. I wrote: "insurance" is not a "money depot". And I dont understand why someone already plans to be "unemployed" next year, just cause he payed unemployed insurance.

What about a language barrier? I reckon the courses are in German, whereas the working language at the potential jobs is English. What is the abbreviation of RAV? Is it really the unemployment office?

I'm wandering whether I should really contact this office (which at first sight looks to me 'too local' and irresponsible for special cases like mine) or some other office in order to figure out whether I might be entitles to an extension of my work permit for 18 months as indicated by some forum member in above...

Hi Vlad,
just to say that in my experience the communication with the RAV was very pleasant, so don't be too stressed in advance! I was concerned about calling them with my very basic German but they appreciated the effort I put in trying to say at least something in German and then happily put me through to somebody speaking English to discuss in more details.

When I was made redundant, I called the RAV first during my notice period, to double check what the procedure is, and then we agreed an appointment shortly after I was really out of job. For this appointment I also needed a certificate from the Gemeinde confirming that I was a resident (also easy to get within 5 minutes during a personal visit).

Good luck!

Because some people believe that the job market is tough, or perhaps some people happen to be pessimistic - and they definitely don't ask a permission from you, and certainly your opinion or your understanding of the issue is irrelevant for the topic - especially when you conduct your posts in an arrogant manner.

Expect the best but plan for the worst.