Following your life partner in Switzerland

1777POSTS

6 years ago

Hi everyone,

If love can move mountains, it also makes people move abroad, in countries such as Switzerland.
Following your life partner in a country with different customs and rules is an act of absolute trust and may require a period of adaptation.
This is why we would like to have your opinion to answer these questions and thus help future expats who are preparing to follow the same track by moving in Switzerland.

What preparation do you have, or do you advise, to do before your departure in order to make the best of this experience?

What challenges have you faced? In what areas (finding a job, socialization, well-being)? How did you overcome them?

What is the outcome of this experience for you? Would you do it again if the opportunity arose?

Has your relationship with your beloved changed since your expatriation in Switzerland? Do you have any advice on this subject?

If your expatriation involved children, how did you manage to maintain a family balance in the face of this life change?

Thanks for your contribution!

Loïc

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Twan Contributor

132POSTS

6 years ago

I have never regretted moving to Switzerland because of my partner.
Nevertheless, it uses preparation. First of all on the "bureaucratic" front. You need to have a permission to stay in Switzerland and/or a visa. This may require that you have a job of your own and/or that your partner guarantees that s/he will take care of your costs of living. Let your partner accompany you to the various offices of authorities. S/he knows the languages, the "jargon" for documents, she can help you getting the right thing and translating.

Finding a job in Switzerland is relatively easy as unemployment rate is low. Nevertheless, there may be some hurdles, of which the most important one may be the language. Unless you apply for a job in an international organisation, do not expect to come through with English. Many organisations are very local oriented and knowledge of the local language (German, French or Italian) can be essential for getting the job.
Job applications are done online more and more - nevertheless cvs and (written) references are still required and these are usually pretty detailled. Swiss firms are obliged to give written references of their employees when required and a firm expects that you will provide copies of all these references with your application. This may not be the usual practice in the country where you lived before and it is essential to explain this in your application if such is the case. Otherwise, the organisation may very well interpret this as a "hole" in your cv.
Job interviews go as expected in an organised country. Dress up for the occasion (better overdressed than underdressed) and be on time: this is the country of watches and punctual trains - the employee will frown upon a "my train was late" excuse and may even check it. Be polite, shake hands with all members of the interview committee: shaking hands is very usual here. Of course, this does not apply during the current Corona virus crisis.
In general: your partner knows pretty well how job searches goes in Switzerland. Use his/her help, s/he will usually know better than you!

That last one is a general advice. Your partner will be a great help in finding a job, making new friends and finding your way through Swiss bureaucracy. S/He knows the channels, knows the language (usually better than you), knows the culture. Listen to him/her!