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27.11.2019, 12:09
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kt. Bern
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | So far contracting in IT for banks seem to be the best option. | | | | | It was back in the 90s when we were at it....
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27.11.2019, 15:38
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Work in ZH, live in SZ
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | To make it big as an IT freelancer in CH you have to basically be good (not even exceptionally good, but just good, dependable and reliable) at what you do, make and maintain a network of colleagues and partners (managers) and be flexible on where you work and what you do. I got three follow on contracts at one big bank based upon the work I did on an initial project with them.
I started freelancing in CH in 1994 and from the outset was making 200k a year; in the early noughties that rose to around 400k then dropped back rapidly to 200k after the '07 crisis.
I was fortunate enough to get hired by one of my last freelance employers on a real good permanent package at that time, and I have stayed with them ever since. | | | | | Besides all the willy waving... as you just illustrated - the contracting market isnt exactly what it used to be. 200k is an unusually high rate to get in 2019 and certainly not without good experience and network. And there probably was a reason why you accepted a permanent position for what I assume less money... because you know that the market is bad. So no young guy can base his plan on the experience you made back then... IT is a great way to get a decent job relatively easily. But it is far from hitting the jackpot.
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27.11.2019, 17:23
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CH
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | Besides all the willy waving... as you just illustrated - the contracting market isnt exactly what it used to be. 200k is an unusually high rate to get in 2019 and certainly not without good experience and network. And there probably was a reason why you accepted a permanent position for what I assume less money... because you know that the market is bad. So no young guy can base his plan on the experience you made back then... IT is a great way to get a decent job relatively easily. But it is far from hitting the jackpot. | | | | |
FWIW my full package now is better than when I was contracting in '07
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27.11.2019, 21:08
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CH
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
Oh yeah, just for Treverus | The following 3 users would like to thank ch2013 for this useful post: | | 
28.11.2019, 00:21
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Work in ZH, live in SZ
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | FWIW my full package now is better than when I was contracting in '07 | | | | | | Quote: | |  | | | Oh yeah, just for Treverus  | | | | | I´d say my full package looks better than yours.
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28.11.2019, 06:29
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CH
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
And I guess you have a big car too
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28.11.2019, 07:58
| Banned | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CH
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
Making it big means making millions in a year. Not a paltry 200 thousand.
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28.11.2019, 08:01
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Switzerland
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | Making it big means making millions in a year. Not a paltry 200 thousand. | | | | |
I agree. IT contracting doesn't make you rich but can give a good income at maximum.
To make it big, you have two options:
1. Develop a product and sell it
2. Have people that work for you
In all other cases, your maximum income is limited to daily rate * number of days.
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28.11.2019, 12:23
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Work in ZH, live in SZ
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | And I guess you have a big car too | | | | | Big cars are not really a good indication for a full package...
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28.11.2019, 14:14
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
If you say so | 
01.12.2019, 09:49
| Banned | | Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Lake Zurich
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
Restricting this to legal ways:
1) become a professional athlete in a popular field
2) become rockstar
3) become a specialist in an area where great value is generated (e.g. trader, banker)
4) be lucky by joining a very successful startup very early pre-IPO, almost in any role
5) work your butt off and become an executive at a 'normal' company and get bonus, equity, etc.
Only nr 5 is a long term sustainable career but it requires immense effort (in addition to talent, luck, etc.).
So, I suggest you just marry a rich woman as somebody else already alluded to. I wish I had done the same!
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03.12.2019, 12:18
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
Tip of the day:
Get hired by Credit Suisse and then become one of the 1'070 so called "Material Risk Takers".
As such a key risk manager you will get an average compensation of 1.5 Mio CHF. https://insideparadeplatz.ch/2018/12...655-millionen/ | 
03.12.2019, 12:37
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | ..
2) become rockstar
..
Only nr 5 is a long term sustainable career but it requires immense effort (in addition to talent, luck, etc.). | | | | |
Anyways, make it big means different things to different people. Big means happy for me. Happy today.
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05.12.2019, 02:45
| Banned | | Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Lake Zurich
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | 
Anyways, make it big means different things to different people. Big means happy for me. Happy today. | | | | | Come on, get off your high horse. It's clear what the original poster meant.
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05.12.2019, 09:13
| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | Come on, get off your high horse. It's clear what the original poster meant. | | | | |
Omtatsat ?
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25.01.2020, 23:42
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Zürich
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
Just trying to retire early make 3million fast as possible and not die from stress or go to jail. So far it will take me 30years >.< i was hoping it could do a little faster.
So to sum up.
Option 1 (basics - good option but need to be techsavy)
IT contracting, as a good options but kind of capped at around 200k in todays market. Getting permanent job at bigtech probably a better experience.
Option 2 (hitting the millions - likely burnout)
Senior banker, seems to be the most likely way to go, but probably not worth it when it come to life quality. Correct me if i'm wrong. Requirements to be a senior banker i guess would be a masterdegree in finance and 10-15years work experience at a tier 1 bank? Likely 80hours workweek for 10-15years. Not sure how many people can actually handle that.
Option 3 (no limit but close to impossible)
Start a great company/product many people want to buy. (Be among the 5% of companies that do not go bankrupt.) I know a few guys the did this but most were setup with wealthy parents from early age and very few just went from zero-hero. Extremely difficult to succeed and actually cash out at the end, but happens. I think the Facebook/Google stories are extreme outliers and bad references.
Any other new suggestions?
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26.01.2020, 00:37
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Switzerland
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
This thread started a year ago. Perhaps time to actually do something instead of still figuring out how to make it big
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26.01.2020, 01:29
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Zürich
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich?
Oh it's moving. I have 200k now but would like it to go a bit faster  Just wanted to reactivate the topic. Do you have some new suggestions?
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08.05.2020, 21:24
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Zürich
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | 
We clearly have different ideas what "making it big" means then... | | | | | So you seems to have experience. What are you suggestions  Thanks
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08.05.2020, 21:28
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Zürich
Posts: 75
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| | Re: Common ways to make it big in Zürich? | Quote: | |  | | | Besides all the willy waving... as you just illustrated - the contracting market isnt exactly what it used to be. 200k is an unusually high rate to get in 2019 and certainly not without good experience and network. And there probably was a reason why you accepted a permanent position for what I assume less money... because you know that the market is bad. So no young guy can base his plan on the experience you made back then... IT is a great way to get a decent job relatively easily. But it is far from hitting the jackpot. | | | | | @Treverus So what is hitting the jackpot? You come with no ideas. I'm trying to find what to do not to get reminded i suck |
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