Hey all, just wanted to come in and introduce myself. I'm currently in my mid 20s and a sophomore (just started 2nd year of 4 year Bachelors', yea I got a late start) student at a school in the Rocky Mountain region.

I'm trying to learn more about Switzerland culturally and as it pertains to my future career. I'm specifically interested in the finance sector (private banking, asset management, investment banking, etc), but kind of open to new ideas, too. Coming from a non-target school (as applies to finance) I'm afraid to see what opportunities are available to me. I just want to be involved in something that involves interaction with other people, business, and making money. As much as people say not to worry about money, it's a pretty big part of our lives, so I won't lie and say it has no effect. In another life I may have been musician, but alas...

Culturally speaking I'm very interested in the Swiss political system, especially as it seems to embody many of the American ideals which the US has forgotten. I'm somewhat of a reserved person, so I'll hopefully fit in a bit. I'm afraid that may keep me from jumping straight into the Swiss culture, but I guess I'll find out.

I just though I'd introduce myself as I've been reading all of your great posts on here for quite a while. I'm hoping to get an internship over there at some point so I can get a better idea as to what life is like (although I have no idea how that process works... ugh). I guess, in short, I have a general idea of what the culture is like, but I'd like to get a lot better idea and find out how to position myself to get a job over there. Look forward to interacting with you all and learning from you!

Hi and welcome to the forum. Good luck with your internship search.

Welcome to the forum

Hello & welcome

Hello and Welcome to the EF, and eventually to Switzerland.
Good Luck with your internship.

Hello and welcome to the forum

Hi, welcome to the Forum!

Great intro, sounds like you've got a plan for what to do once you're done with your studies. If you start talking to Swiss businesses now (or even US businesses that have offices in Switzerland), you can find out what they want to see in a new employee / intern and work towards that over the next two years. If you can create a positive relationship with the right person/people/company now, then your transition from study to work will be much smoother.

Hopefully you'll get to live your dream of at least having an internship over here!

The USA loses its AAA status, and the exodus has started...

I was in the same boat as you many years back. I went to a non-finance school in the US and basically couldnt get hired at any hedge funds/Investment Banks/Money Management firms etc... So I moved to London. Got offered 7 or 8 jobs, picked the one I wanted the most, and everything worked out. Its not easy for non-Ivy Leaguers to break the ranks some times in the US.

Id tell you to go to Hong Kong, Singapore, or London if you really want to break into this profession. Switzerland isnt bad, but its hard to get into and unless you know someone here its hard to break into the finance profession (which is 95% sell side anyway .......). I know a couple of Aussie kids who have been stuck here, because of their wives, for more than 5 years and neither of them has been able to get a job in finance yet. Im sure youre going to be successful at this endeavor but Id would say it would be easier for you to start out in either Asia (because they are hiring private bankers etc at a break-neck pace) or London (as you speak English and they like enthusiastic Americans there).

As for your fascination with the "US Ideals That Are Still Alive In Switzerland" please have a read of these. You dont understand how it works here. You have much less personal freedom here. Read the replies.

Greetings from Texas

To all you Swiss people: Do realize how great your country is?

Welcome to Switzerland. It has been very welcoming for this new comer so hope you have the same experience.

Thanks for the welcome Music, Meisie, dino, ashish, and liver!

araqyl: thanks for the advice, I've already begun networking, reaching out to friends and family. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with something haha

Jonny: The loss of the AAA status is merely a drop in the bucket, and not even the one that pushed me over the edge. And, honestly, I'm not quite over the edge yet, just looking to find out more!

Zuger: I'm definitely looking to other places to get started abroad (have some connections to Singapore, London and especially the Middle East). I've got some options here in the US, but I wouldnt be looking to move specifically for a job, more for a change in lifestyle. As for the US ideals, it's more of the decentralized government that gets me. I know I don't know enough about the culture and their politics to say I want to move right now, but I definitely am excited to learn more about it!

Hello and Welcome (eventually) to Switzerland. Although I have very little experience living or working in the financial cities like Zurich, this is a great place for outdoors and if you like nature and mountains like, this is a great place. And I find people in general are quite friendly, although I live mainly in the countryside..

The countryside is not far from the very centre of Zurich ... no more than half an hour by public transport and you're out in farmland! Much faster if you have a car ...

hi and welcome. I agree with others getting into finance is not easy here. I have sevral friends with experience who are getting nowhere and talking to people who work in the finance industry, things have slowed down a great deal hiring wise, you may be better off looking elsewhere as well. good luck in any case.

Hi. Go for the life with music instead.

Have to agree with Zuger on all points. It'll be easier to pay your internship dues elsewhere, preferably London if you are interested in eventually relocating.

On the cultural front I'm not sure how Americans would think they are living their ideals when instructed rather harshly not to flush the toilet after 10pm...

Having said that, this IS their country - the Swiss make the rules and that's their right!

welcome to the forum !!

Oh, and don't believe all that no flushing after 10pm nonsense please. Most Swiss, like me, have never heard of it and shower/flush whenever they feel like it.

As for your internship, people will probably tell you that it's not the best of times to look for one in finance, but I know plenty of people (mostly Germans) though who managed fairly easily they say.

As with everything in life, if you're above average it mostly depends on you, if you're average it mostly depends on the system.

It's in my rental agreement that there be no showering, flushing, use of water, etc. after 10pm. Honsest! Now, whether or not it is enforced is another matter. I have, on occasion, forgotten what time it is and flushed, then worried if I'd get a nastygram or a knock on my door the next morning. I haven't yet, but if someone wanted to be an arse about it, I guess it is a possibility that I could given the rental agreement rules.