I am from India and graduated this year with a master degree in engineering. I recently got a job offer from a Swiss company based in Niederdorf, Basel-Landschaft. During my interview company people asked me my salary expectations and naively (since I was unprepared!!) I gave them a figure of around 24000 Euro per year (and I could hear interview panel laughing at the figure:|). I arrived at that figure from my expenses in Paris two years ago when I was there for an internship. When I read some posts in this forum I came to know that Switzerland is lot more expensive and 24000 Euro ( 27717 Swiss Franc) may not be enough even to meet my basic expenses. I would be grateful if you can spend some of your precious time to answer few of my questions?

1. Since they are still in the process of drawing my contract I guess I can still negotiate my salary. I would like to know about the minimum salary that I can expect as a recent graduate with no professional experience. Also I am just looking towards meeting my living expenses and nothing fancy?

2. If they don't agree to pay more than 24000 Euro. Then how much can I expect to save after taxes,other government deductions and insurance. I calculated it to be around 21000 Euro after tax deductions but am unaware of other deductions that might take place from my salary?

3. Do employers pay for employees health insurance in Switzerland?

4. Will it be possible to get accommodation for less than 1000 Swiss Franc in Niederdorf or surrounding area?

I know its not possible to give exact numbers but I even rough estimates will help me a lot to take a decision. Looking forward to your replies.

P.S sorry for the verbosity.

Regards,
Tanmay

This thread might help you.

The salary they are offering you is extremely low.

What does your job involve?

@Dougal's Breakfast thank you for the insight. Now I am definitely going to renegotiate my salary with them.

@Porsch1909 I will be working in the field of avionics

they are ready to pay 6000 SF per month. Should I negotiate for more?

Is that x 12 monthly payments, or 13 monthly payments per year?
Are they paying your airfare to get here?
Any settling in allowance?
Contributing towards expenses such as insurances?
Paying for you to take German classes?
- little things that can make a difference to your full package here and maybe easier to negotiate that straight extra monthly salary.

It's enough to live comfortably on.

its x 12 monthly payments and they haven't given me further details. I am still waiting for the final contract letter. Thanks

you can live very comfortaly on 6k take it

I was wondering if someone could assist answering this. The company in question here will be paying for the visa of this graduate, i presume. Ive heard the engineering sector here is doing it tough (granted, we are talking different engineering specialisations not like for like) and with EU (but not swiss) graduates having trouble finding work. So my question is, how can they not find someone for this position with the EU at our doorstep of 500million people who are easily eligible to work here? I fully understand when we are talking experienced and specialised where the number of suitable applicants falls dramatically, but that doesnt appear the case here with a 23yr, recent graduate and non eu.

If someone could shed some light on this that would be appreciated.

Congrats on job offer by the way, i'd take it with what they are offering

Nicobari, are they applying for a permit (B or L) for you? If so, you can relax a bit as they need to pay a realistic salary (based on your age, family status, education, experience) otherwise the permit gets questioned by the canton.

I know that in Basel Stadt they recently refused some visas until salary offers were raised to a more realistic level.

What was your question, again?

@adrianlondon my employers are applying for B permit so I guess I am safe.

@Lex even I know companies in Switzerland have to do an exhaustive search for people in EU before they can hire non-EU people and also they should be highly experienced. In my case the company in question is relatively new, small and they advertised for the job vacancy (required specialization in automatic control and avionics) nearly a year and half ago so I believe only small number of people applied for the job . Even I am skeptical whether authorities in Swiss will find it proper to give me a work permit as I am a fresh graduate. Only time will tell and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Today I signed my work permit application so I guess if I get VISA I will be working for 6000 CHF/month. Thank you all

By the way does anyone know what are the chances of not getting a work permit if you are just a recent graduate with no professional experience and that too from a non-EU country even after getting an employment offer from a Swiss Company?

Hi,
Update on my status. I got news from my employer today that Baselland canton has given me the permission to work and they have forwarded my application to the federal immigration office in Bern for final approval which they say is just a formality and I should get the permit letter by next week. I hope I can apply for VISA by next week.

for those who want to know, my employer officially applied for my work permit on August 8 2011, so it took little over 2 weeks for my work permit to get approved by Baselland canton.