Hi all!
I have just received my PhD, am a US citizen, and have an opportunity for doing a post doc (short research period after PhD) in Switzerland and wanted to get some opinions. In my googling, I've seen so many helpful posts and thought I would give this forum a try.
My husband is 100% onboard with a move to Switzerland if he can get work there. Neither of us speaks anything but English, and we are concerned about his options for finding a job. (He is an engineer with 5 years work experience). We fully intend to learn the local language, but won't know enough before we get there to advertise it for a job. He also doesn't want a huge gap in his resume, as his career is as important to him as mine is to me.
Are we crazy to consider him quitting his steady job for us to move to Switzerland? He is currently the main breadwinner in our family. In others experiences, will the language be a huge barrier employment? Would it be better for him wait to look until after I accept a job and can get him there on a family visa (scary!)?
Any opinions/considerations would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks everyone! I am hoping I get to be very familiar with everyone and this forum!
I think if you can get a Postdoc offer in the UK (or even in the US), even though the salary is lower, it would be much simpler. Also can you give the forum more info? Why specifically do you want to come here, is it for career reasons? Just that the PostDoc salary is higher than most other places (but did you consider the higher living costs as well)? What is your field, Pharmaceuticals / Biochemistry? Is your offer in Basel, Lausanne, Zurich?
There was a recent thread discussing engineering jobs here, started by poster "aportugueseguy". You can look that up.
It would be relevant to know what kind of engineer your husband is! Engineer is almost as vague as "postdoc".
Consider also other aspects - how close are you to your family and friends there? We also had a recent thread where many people were complaining about e.g. parents not ever visiting them while they were here.
The question is how short a period are we talking about here? If it’s only a few months, it’s really not going to be worth it.
The other problem is what sort of permit you’ll end up with. If your position is only for a year or less then it’s most likely you’ll get an L permit (short stay) and your husband would get one too - but it won’t allow him to work iirc.
Hello welcome to the forum, my wife and I were in a similar situation (in fact she's doing a Post-doc in chemistry). I would love to give you more information, feel free to send me a private message and we can communicate that way. I will say this we packed up our lives 2+ years ago and absolutely love it here. There are a lot of engineering jobs here. Let me know if I can help you out.
Cheers,
Mike
Hi all,
Thanks for the great responses! My PhD was actually in chemistry, Mike23, so fun coincidence! I'll pm you next! My post doc would be chem bio/biotech. My husband is a hardware/rf guy. My not-yet offer is lausanne. I am planning ahead, because if I get the offer, the start date is pretty immediate.
We were thinking of something like this because we want kids eventually, but don't have any now. This 2-4 year period is perfect to do something a bit off the beaten path, experience a new culture, and see some of Europe. Switzerland was a good match because they had a job I was super qualified for and excited about, and my husband had been enamored with the country since a trip he took in college. I've also always wanted to learn a new language. The language challenge is a hindrance at first, but it's something I would appreciate in the long run.
As for logistics, my husband and I both packed up and moved to los Angeles, away from our families, many years ago. We see them once a year as it is, and really got over that some time ago. Even though it's farther, Europe won't feel much different. We also live in los Angeles and are debating a move to San Francisco if this doesn't work out. I know Switzerland is pricey, but we are also well prepared to live in an expensive location.
At this point my husband is just quite uncomfortable with potential job prospects for himself and doesn't want to screw his career, but also doesn't want to spend years apart (while I am in Switzerland!) If I don't actually get this exact position, though, there are several others I am very interested in, so my job prospects seem fine there and this is a very real possibility for me.
Why not give the information here so everyone can benefit?
Few points that you might want to know, postdoc contracts in Switzerland are usually with a limited time, i.e: it is not a permenant job. A postdoc is either payed by grants "soft money" as soon as the grant money is over, then the contract obviously terminates, unless there is new funding, which is some sort of continous stress. Other possiblity is being payed by the Canton/Goverment (through money it gives to the university, "hard money"), but this also have a time limit, not infinite. Actually, most people doing a post-doc would look forward to switch to a permenant job not vice versa.
Language barrier, usually in Universities, which I assume you would eventually be doing his post doc at one, people speak English in the labs, however in daily life matters English is not very commonly spoken.
Apart from the academia, finding a job without knowing the local language is quite tough.
Depending on your contract, you will recieve a certain category of residency permit, your husband will get the same, if it is an L then probably he won't be allowed to work, if it is a B, then he is allowed to work.
Switzerland is an expensive country, so before you accept your PhD offer, make sure you calculate it right for living expenses for both of you, since in the beggining there will be only one bread winner. You might find yourself doing better in the US if you are both working rather than in Switzerland with one working.
All the best
One more thing, why don't you consider doing a Post-doc in the US?
I would say think harder before moving to Switzerland, think long term rather than short term. Yes the postdoc salary there is better than the US but there is a bigger cost that you will face later. First, as non-EU, you have no job security in Switzerland, means if you are fired or your work permit expired you have no unemployment benefits even though you are paying for it! This is a huge risk in my opinion! Also, your permit will be tied to your job and you cannot change jobs. Also, It would be harder for your husband to find a job as a non-EU. Not, to mention the higher cost of living!
Not meant to nitpick, but where in the world are postdocs not limited timed? As far as I know, if it isn't fixed term, it is not a postdoc but a permanent position.
If the boss really likes a post-doc and willing to keep him/her. They sometimes change the title of the position into something else like "Senoir scientist" or "Assistant doctor" etc.. like this it is theoritically an unlimited contract, as long as the boss can pay him/her.
This is one example:
http://www.zew.de/en/stellen/postdocs.php
In accordance with ZEW policy, the vast majority of scientific staff engaged in research activities has a fixed-term contract. However, a conversion into an unlimited contract for postdocs is possible.
In the 'hard sciences' like physics and chemistry, post-docs almost never turn into fixed positions. Especially at EPFL, where fixed position are very rare and very sought-after.
I was in the same position 2 years ago. My girlfriend found a position as group leader at EPFL (4 year position), and it took me 2 years and more or less 35 job applications before I found a position myself in CH... I know of another US couple who moved as he got a post-doc at EPFL, and his wife came to CH with him. She did not find a position for the two years they were there (now they are both back in the US).
So I would definitely recommend your husband to start searching for a job now if you really think of moving to CH, but I would no leave assuming he'll find something quickly once you are both in CH.
Sure, it is just my personal experience. I am sure other people found a job easier / faster. Just keep it in mind before quitting a position in the US.
By the way, I have a PhD in physics, and I am a native french speaker...