Will that involve making telephone calls to people at their places of work?

Anyway, the offer is a joke. Sure, people live on such salaries in Switzerland, but they don't move here from England, lured by 'tailored suits' and 'company ski trips'.

Proceed with extreme caution.

My thoughts exactly!!
At least now we will have an insiders opinion to these jobs

the company has agreed to pay 600 ch monthly towards rent. i have sales experience, but if it doesnt work out for me i can always come back home !

cheeky bastard !!!

Bordering? You are being too nice

Ok really a 1 bedroom apartment will cost you at least 600 CHF, not including utilities, phone or power.

so its clear from all these comments that i wont last very long in switzerland, unless i land myself in one of the pharma companies (where my background and experience realy lies!) after arriving. And, if it doesnt work out then i guess i have no choice but to return to the UK (with no limbs missing!!)

Thank you for all your comments.

as you can already notice....im the pleasant one amongst you ALL!!!

...or at least the one with the sharp suit.


Richard James at the very least, I would hope...

you all sound like a bunch of sexually frustrated middle-aged part-timers.....living alone !

Maybe so.

But at least most of us are considerably richer than yow.

You say that like it is a bad thing ?

Come and have a look at my barrel.

As a plastic Brummie {who escaped the hole} originally from Redditch, has pharma/banking/it and travel realm experience, who's worked in Basel, and lived in CH for 3yrs in total. Additionally my family have been here hundreds of years. (Thought you'd like to know where I'm coming from)

I am telling you that the salary is too low and you will find it expensive to live in Switzerland, food can cost up to x3 times what it is in the UK, add in accommodation (London Prices) and travel back and forward to the UK and you're on the verge of the poverty line in CH, where you will not be able to feed yourself.

Health insurance will be a big expense too. 300chf per month average its compuslory. There is little or no access to cheap alternatives like there are in the UK, you pay the price there is no EASY way around this.

The rules cannot be bent in CH as they can in the UK and if you do try to avoid billag (TV Licence) or similar expect a fine (a large one) if you don't pay you go to jail.

I lived on a good wage in Basel and I found it difficult to get all my social needs dealt with feed myself, accomodation, health insurance, flights back to the UK etc paid. Maybe I have a big beer habit, but that's not the point. 25k is far far too low.

By all means ignore the advice given, it's straight to the point and honest. I don't think anyone will thank you for your comments.

If I was you I'd cut out the crap/abuse if you want any further help from people who have spent the time to answer your questions.

Yes some people in this thread are morons, but we love them all the same and one day you maybe part of the same community and understand that it's the 15th Spreadsheet they've looked at today and they're going slightly mental over lack of access to brown sugar.

So when you do arrive in Basel and find yourself not able to feed yourself, register, or pay the health insurance/rent you'll need the good will of the very same people who are trying to help you right now.

Don't cut of the hand that feeds you.

The offer stinks and they are preying on your lack of knowledge of Switzerland and what is a reasonable salary, up to you! Personally I'd wait for the next one to come along.

You are one of those "oh-i'm-so-smart-I-don't-need-your-advice" hipster types....aren't you ?

Anyways...do as you wish...and don't complain later that we didn't warn you.

Good Luck.

"We'll see..." said the Zen Master.

Just to put this offer into perspective...

I am on social aid. My rent is paid for me (1,250 per month - and this is above the normal baseline for a single person, social services have agreed to pay it because my doctor says it would be detrimental for me to move). I get 1,100 per month living costs. My health insurance premiums are paid (375.90 per month), plus they also pay my franchise and then the 10%. I get 50 per month towards my internet bills.

So if you add all that up... I get 2775.90 per month, plus all my health costs paid. I think that's more than you're being offered. And you'd have to pay your health costs.

In other words, I'm better off than you would be and I'm ON social security. And if you think I have a comfortable lifestyle... I'm not complaining, I'm very grateful, but it's not easy.

Just to put it in perspective.

ive obviously touched a nerve...or two, but anyway YES i realise things are going to be difficult for me in switzerland BUT lets not forget im not chained to a lamp-post or glued to the ground. basically, if it doesnt work out, i will return to the UK immediately. im sure the company also realise the financial burdens for a new employee, they more than anyone know that i could be forced to return if im upto my neck with money problems. so will they put me in that position ? God knows!

The basic of CH 2000 is perhaps low indeed, but a commission of 600 per client interviewed sounds like a reasonable amount of money.

my manager (to be) has also assured me that i will gain any support necessary whilst in switzerland.

The monthly health insurance does sound a bit scary if im honest !! just comes to show how much we take for granted in the UK.

As far as the "wait for the next best thing to come along" comment goes, ive been out of work for 7 months with experience in the NHS. its so so so difficult to find work in the UK, you cant even imagine. what am i supposed to do? i dont like sitting on my backside, but enjoy contributing to society in lots of different ways.

And after all that, if i end up packing my bags to return to the UK, at least you can say....."we told you so".

They are putting you in that position.

Either they don't know what is a reasonable salary in Basel, or they do know but are counting on you not to know. Given the MO of these 'financial consultancy groups' (can't name names as their lawyers have threatened to shut EF down - send me a PM if you like though) I wouldn't care to lay money on the former.

You'll also need to give notice on your appartment - which may take a number of month to get out of. Do you have the finances to cover that? And the costs to clean/move before you leave? Do you have the 000's CHF up front for the appartment deposit?

Switzerland is not the UK - things are very different. You have received plenty of valid and accurate advice so far - and are choosing to ignore it.

2000chf will be your salary in month 1 - and your commision will only arrive in month 2. Rent will chew through a lot of that - and so will around 11% of basic deductions. Health Insurance (from 170chf per month), travel-card, food etc etc.

Your intial costs will take a long time to recover. 80,000chf is probably around the level at which a single person can live a comfortable life (living along in a 2-room IE 1 bedroom) apartment.

When you look at CHF costs and values DO NOT convert at 1.5 (current rate) - convert at around 2.0 to GBP - that was the average for the last 5 years.

Min: 1.44
Max: 2.49
Avg: 1.98

A financial consultant is being advised not to take a job because the salary is too low and yet he ignores good advice.

This whole thread is dripping with irony.