New to the forum, want to move to Switzerland from the UK

[TimiVala]

Hi everyone,

me and my husband currently live in the UK and want to move to Switzerland as soon as we find jobs. We have a baby and I am currently on Maternity Leave, my husband is working here full time. I have graduated from the University of Reading where I completed a BA in International Relations and Politics and MA in International Relations (Diplomacy) and am looking to find a job related to my degree e.g NGO, Charity. My husband is more flexible but he also needs to find a job in an English company as we do not speak German or French.

I hope I will be able to make some new contacts here that might help us with our job searches and our moving in general.

Thanks a lot

[Medea Fleecestealer]

Welcome to the forum.

The question is what does your husband do for work? Some firms over here work in mainly English, but if he's an electrician or plumber for example he's going to need to speak at least one Swiss language to a good standard.

Have you even visited Switzerland? It may sound like a good idea to move here, but a lot of people don't like it once they've moved. There are more rules and regs than you'll find in the UK.

I suggest getting hold of a copy of "Living and Working in Switzerland" by David Hampshire. It's full of useful info on moving and living here. You can order from your local bookshop or the Internet.

[TimiVala]

Thank you for your reply Medea, my husband is a Manager at a restaurant in Heathrow Airport T5. He also has a BA in Communication Sciences. We have been thinking about the move for a year now, and have got information from friends and some family who live there. We have considered the advantages and the downsides of living in Switzerland but as it is at the moment Switzerland wins. Although the standard of living is high, the salaries are higher than in the UK and it is a more secure place to live than some areas in the UK.

The society in the UK is more tolerant and the rules and regulations are not as tight as Switzerland but then we studied and need to get jobs where we can earn the money we paid to the banks for our education. In England this is immpossible to do with the jobs and salaries available to us.

I have visited Switzerland 5 years ago, where I stayed 2 weeks visiting friends and I understand the point you are making.

We have some hopes that my husband could find a job through some links we have, but I am the one who needs help in this case. I really am in need of starting my career and I would love that to be in an NGO. Considering most of the NGOs are located in Geneva, I am not sure whether I will be able to find one that will accept me with a knowledge of one language only, although I will learn French (or Germand whichever is needed).

I appreciate your help!