It is fine then but you have to realize that the hiring manager at the firm you mention could be on this forum. Your posting history reveals already quite a bit of your personality.

I do realize this, and i still believe there is nothing wrong here for them not to see...

Good luck. I hope you find a position that satisfies you.

Agreed, on the other hand however if I was the hiring manager I would see someone who was trying to get some information ahead of an interview and come in with reasonable expectations rather than some yo-yo who will come in with expectations that are not of this world. I don't see anything in the original post that a hiring manager would take exception to? What to expect in an interview? Salary ranges? All legitimate questions in my book. And, by mentioning the company he increases the likelihood of someone within the company giving him some relevant feedback (as was indeed the case).

I might also question the manners of one or two people who posted, but then I wouldn't be hiring them so that's not relevant to the thread.

Snoopy,
You are right. It can be brutal on EF. I also got 3 red smarties in my first month. However, I think it is better to walk into an interview being completely neutral. If I were the hiring manager and strictly for an engineering position there are a few things this thread bring-up that I would explore carefully.

I would never discuss the job I was in or was interviewing for on a forum.

The best thing to do is get an idea of how much you need for the standard of living you require. You could get the name of a similarly ranked employee and then go to the tax records but in any case you won't earn the same as a Swiss. ABB won't be lacking applicants with the same qualifications worry about getting the position first. Then make yourself indispensible, then push for more salary. What a lot of these companies want is someone who has experience from rival companies or patentable material. Have you got lots of material/ideas that you could patent? If so hint at it but don't give it away.

Good Luck you may be up against PhDs You are obviously bright- only 23 ? It seems as if you have no trouble moving and adapting to cultures, sell your energy and initiative.

http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/ABB-..._D_KO16,40.htm

I was thinking more around $60-$70,000 startting but I may be out-of-touch

A representative from that company gave a talk at my university recently and mentioned that we can expect something in the 60k range as a starting salary.

That's around 60'000 CHF (maybe it was 65'000) a year to start off with.

Good luck!

I would also limit the info a lil bit more, there are a lot of us who are either Alstom or ABB, and it's a very small universe between this 2 companies in CH.

Snoopy is more or less right about this one.


mmph, well now that he knows the OP is getting the info He could theoretically under pitch the salary to him (the lower end of the salary band).
Also, since you don't know who reads here, it could be that you get the hiring manager in an awkward position with some other applicant.

as I said, many options.

Keep your head cool please, avoid the: "don't post on this thread" if you want it to remain helpful

__________________

"Curses are like young chicken: they always come home to roost."

Ouchboy you are right that if the hiring manager was reading this he could lowball it I suppose. However, and this applies to your second comment also, information here is for guidance purposes only. As I said in my first post, there are a whole myriad of factors which can affect the salary band and so each case needs to be taken on its own merit.

Maybe not completely on-topic, but from your (all) experience do companies in Aargau (ABB is in Baden, right?) offer a bit lower salaries compared to say Zurich because the cost of living is lower? Or have you ever heard it justified as such?

I appreciate all your replies, probably the best thing was to ignore the comment that said i'm a (fool) and just reply to the helpful comments.

You have, as yet, limited experience - as such, the company you have mentioned would be an excellent first employer - if you do well there, it will help you in your career.

A company such as this has salary bands, so they will never "underpay" you - they may start near the lower end, but that is not unexpected, given the risk they would take with somebody essentially without experience.

And I second some of the other opinions here, Switzerland is small so it would be best never to divulge the name of the company.

Wish you all the best.

Too right. I absolutely would not walk on a bridge that has been built by the original poster. His posts on this thread have completely proven his unsuitability as an engineer!!!

Thanks for sorting that out ch-expat, the world will now be a safer place.

Cheers,
Nick

Orchiles, perhaps you might wish to continue in academia ?
Most companies are looking for young university graduates to train, so if you get a position in industry, do expect to start with the basics as a trainee. This may appear frustrating to you as you indicate that you're soon going to collect your 3rd degree, nevertheless in industry, youth and experience are an important factor.

I have much more potential for the industry. I have noticed that the university holds people down, and beyond a masters degree, you really need a supervisor with a brilliant mind for your phd so that you evolve in the research area, and finding a professor with a brilliant mind is a scarcity.

I am sorry, but this makes me cringe a little bit. Your first position will not be that exciting. You will need to show that you are dependable, that you deliver quality products on time, that you demonstrate good judgment, and I may add a humble attitude.
Maybe a fast pace start-up would be a better fit for you if you are willing to work around the clock for a few years.

I don't think this is the case at all. I have helped a lot of new hires (not just to ABB but other companies in the Baden region) find housing and I know the salaries. Many new hires are young people, starting a first job, armed with degrees but little or no work experience. My overall impression is that many of them are looking for an interesting position with a large company with a promising future, are grateful to have found employment and to have the opportunity to live and work here.

.... and informing everybody that there is an upcoming desirable position to be filled, is a little like cutting off the branch on which you are sitting orchiles.

Oh Sky...you've put ideas into my head..I'm going to apply for this job....I've been working with UNIX for 22 years...will that get me in?

And there are Migros shelf stackers just queuing up to apply too.

The OP must be really bricking it by now!!

Cheers,
Nick

Come on Nick, you'd be perfect for the job..

Seriously, I find that it's a good learning experience for orchiles. He got a crash course on do's and don'ts regarding the job market here. He sounds like a smart youngster and I'm guessing he'll adjust his parameters quite well.