Company's summer holidays in Switzerland?

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
21
There was indeed a target start date in the e-mail offer, which is 2 months from now. They mentioned in the original offer email that the relocation folks would contact me shortly before I arrive, and that another team would be contacting me shortly to support with the work permit process.

I supplied them a copy of my passport and birth information; but I would have expected to have supplied copies of my university degrees, and other documentation. I went through a similar process when I worked in another European country, and the documentation requested for that process was far more than what was requested of me thus far.

How often do work permits get rejected? This is for a skilled engineering position, 5 years experience, and a Master's degree.

Thanks for all of your insight!

22
Never had to send any further information on degrees etc, although recently I had to sign an agreement that they would be able contact the uni

23
Firstly, I would change your nickname: Ab(b)ruch means "cancellation".

24
Hahahaha I love the effort that has gone into this!

25
Things move slowly in Switzerland and the first week of August was interrupted by a national holiday. With the addition of the extraordinary heat, I wouldn't be surprised if the person did not get round to your contract.

Another possibility is that the HR might in a different country (like Poland for example) and things move even more slowly. A very large company needed 2 months to get back to me after hinting at an offer.

I have also had recent experiences where the company promised to come back with an offer but failed to do so. These companies were not that large though (less than 200 employees). This was before the offer was made though. I doubt they will make an offer and fail to follow up. So I would say hang in there.

One thing to do could be to look up the number of HR and give a call explaining the situation.

Goog luck.

PS Don't quit your job (if you have one at the moment) until you sign the contract.

26
The relocation people probably cannot do anything until there is a signed contract.

Now that you have accepted the offer verbally and by email, the next step is to draw up the contract. Since it is a larger organization, they probably have a dedicated HR/legal specialist for this who has likely spent 2-3 of the last few weeks on vacation. Then before it can be sent to you, it must be signed by at least 1 more individual, like your department head. He/she has also probably spent 2-3 weeks on vacation recently, but Murphy's law says that these will be a different 2-3 weeks than the HR people. The person from HR onboarding managing this process has also likely been away.

In other words, August is a perfect storm for not being able to get anything done which involves collaborative work. It's easy to accidentally let important tasks fall through the cracks.

Keep trying to contact them, but be patient and polite. It's a slow time of year.

27
Thanks for the perspective. Coming from an American Fortune 100 company, where I am given just 10 vacation days per year; this is certainly a learning opportunity for me to understand the European work/life balance and summer holiday slow-down.

28
OP: you quote your location as Fribourg. Are you actually here, or still in the US?

My advice, for what it's worth is, as others state, chase up the company. BUT do nothing to commit, such as quitting your current job, or moving until you have a contract signed and in your hands.

I have bitter experience of a reputable London-based company many years ago, where a director assured me that I had got the job and to hand my notice in so I could start ASAP.

I waited until I had a contract. It never came. I phoned the company only to find the director who had interviewed me had been fired...

29
Your experience isn't what one can expect at all, regardles of the time of year. When people are on holidays they're expected to have an email-autoreply active, and in many cases to redirect the phone to their locum.

Certainly you have your future manager's name, perhaps including the initials. Unless it's a very common name, it may well be clear which person that is based on your professional field. So you can probably call their official number and have them put you through or have them send you their contact details. Likewise with HR.

If that doesn't result in a contact you probably need to worry.

30
Something tells me they now realise it may be far harder to get a permit than they imagined and are seeing if it is possible before sending out a contract.....

31
Valid point

Is it becoming more difficult for companies to obtain permits for American citizens, or non-EU candidates?

32
Yes, as since they can't limit the number of EU permits, they have to reduce the number of non-EU.

Tom

33
I have called my HR contact twice this week and both have gone to their voicemail.

If I don't hear from my HR contact next week, then I will reach out to the person who is supposed to be my future boss.

34
For posterity sake, I wanted to provide a quick update.

My HR recruiter who offered me the position was indeed on holiday. All seems to still be in order (assuming that I can be approved for the work permit!)

35

(assuming that I can be approved for the work permit!)

and therein lies your answer.....

36
Not really... That process always takes a couple of months and it is not necessary that this is completed prior to signing the contract, as most have a clause rendering the contract null and void if the work permit is not issued.

FYI OP: Since you are a 3rd country national, you are going to need a 'Permit D' in order to enter Switzerland for the intention of working. Once a work permit is granted, you are going to receive a letter inviting you to visit your nearest Swiss consulate to pick up your Permit D. This gives you a single entry into Switzerland. Once you arrive and settle into temporary accommodation, you will need to register at the town hall, after which you will receive a letter telling you where to report for your residency permit photo and fingerprints. Some weeks later the final plastic Permit (L or B) card will be finalized and mailed. Until it does, you must either remain within Switzerland or have a single-use re-entry visa issued for each trip abroad.

37
Tox_Rat, just checking:

Isn't it a VISA D that OP will need before he enters Switzerland? And then later he'll get his PERMIT L or B once he's here?

38
Correct

39
Yes, correct.

40
I guess in Basel they're a little more relaxed. They never get my name anyway (although I state it at the start) - once we've got to the subject of the conversation and we can start taking actions, that's when they ask my name again. And how to spell it.