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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

Zug/Switzerland

28 replies

mrsspock · 13/09/2008 22:10

Hello, dh has just been offered a job in Zug, probably starting Jan 09, will probably join him March 09. I have been on maternity leave (dd is now 7 months), returning PT 3 days/week 2 weeks today. Hats off to sahms but probably not for me so wondering how easy it is to find work in/near Zug(am qualified lawyer, transactional/corporate work, happy to do something different). Also any advice re. finding accommodation/settling in much appreciated.

OP posts:
Nanou1 · 14/09/2008 09:51

morning am living just outside zug, up the hill! finding accommodation is a nightmare to be honest. i think immozug.ch is pretty good. do you speak german? re work you could try monster jobs ch or something like that. there is no unemployment here really but it would probably make your life easier if you spoke german or french or italian? i would also look at nurseries quickly and get your dh to visit them put your name down etc. working mothers not popular here and it is not easy to find childcare. rent is very expensive. will dh's company pay for it? big expat community here and great family life quality. hardest was getting used to everything closed on sundays!!! speak to you soon

Nanou1 · 14/09/2008 10:04

try the yahoo group ; expats in zug i think.

LIZS · 14/09/2008 10:15

You may find it difficult to get work yourself easily especially if you don't speak High German, let alone Swiss German. Might be worth doing some sort of language course in anticipation. Your dh's permit won't automatically cover you to be able to so you'd need to find an employer willing to provide one if needs be as there are quotas for this. Financially based companies are all tightening their belts too. Try joining groups.yahoo.com/group/Expat-Moms-In-Switzerland/ and groups.yahoo.com/group/Families-in-Zurich/ to get a better feel for it, what to expect and the social side of expat life, including what is available for children. Also bear in mind childcare costs are high. Do you get a relocation agent funded by your dh's workplace as they can help with practicalities of the move, housing, telephone and utilities, settling etc.

Nanou1 · 14/09/2008 10:55

hello lizs . how are things?

LIZS · 14/09/2008 11:11

hello , fine thanks , at least it is sunny today over here otherwise it has been a dismal summer. How did your move go in the end ?

Nanou1 · 14/09/2008 11:22

madly hectic on the last few days as i was on my own but it seems just a long time ago now! it was hard to settle here beg nov to be honest... felt lonely as dh working long hours and dd missing little people's company... it has been raining for the last 2 days non stop here so pretty miserable! but am not complaining as we have had very good weather, 28 degrees beg of last week

LIZS · 14/09/2008 11:25

!! November is a particularly grim time weather wise there, quite depressing.

Original poster
mrsspock · 14/09/2008 19:11

Hi Nanou1 and LIZS
thanks very much for the responses. I speak some French (did A level a few years ago) and will probably try to at least learn a bit of German...maybe should rethink the SAHM thing, dd is fantastic and great fun at the moment..presumably it is pretty easy to meet other mothers and babies.

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Leoloopydoo · 16/09/2008 15:09

I think Zug has lots of headquarters for companies so there could be international work around for a lawyer and may not necessarily need German, it may just take time to find something. Otherwise its not so far to travel into Zurich to work. I work for a bank (in Zurich) and only work in English.

Nanou1 · 16/09/2008 18:53

I only work in English too. why dont you get in touch with a few agencies to check the market mrsspock and then make your mind up? very cold here for the last 2 days

Leoloopydoo · 17/09/2008 09:46

Its freezing and usually still summer at this time of the year! I haven't got winter coats for the kids yet, poor ds1 went off to Waldspielgruppe this morning with no coat !

Original poster
mrsspock · 19/09/2008 23:00

will definititely check out some agencies. sure it will be great - although i am probably one of the few MNers who loves living in London (despite the crackheads/crime/grime etc). anything you would have done differently if you did it all over again?

OP posts:
tcr2121 · 11/09/2009 14:12

Hi, also live in Zug and with 2 kids, it's hard to find a job. Oldest (4) goes to Int'l school, youngest (20mths) goes 2 days per week to daycare (WorkLife Zug). I myself am actively looking to work, even from home and it doesn't really matter what. But where does one start when one doesn't have a work permit, etc. So good luck, contact me if you need addresses on the school and daycare. Therefore, I'm looking for more info as well. There should be a website on Working and Living in Zug, but I haven't found it so far.
Good luck!

TheMysticMasseuse · 13/09/2009 15:03

hey mrsspock- fellow london-lover-not-the-SAHM-type-at-all-about-to-become-swiss-resident here!

i am following dh to geneva and less than enthusiastic about it. i love london, love my job, love my life here. however am now slowly trying to find things to get excited about...

first of all you can get a relocation consultant to help you out with the practicalities such as finding a flat etc. some are better than others but overall it should help.

secondly, on the job front. if you are a british citizen you automatically get a work permit (B, i think?). you are fairly close to Zurich and i am fairly certain there should be something for you there (she says longingly, as i would have found a job in zurich much more easily than in geneva!) and german shouldn't be an obstacle. I know lots of companies (incl my dh's former employer, which is american/british) are relcoating to zug and i think as a corporate lawyer you should be able to find something.

if alll else fails (as it has for me) would you consider going back to school for a postgrad degree in something slightly different?

dh and i have a deal that if it doesn't work out after one year we'll come back- i have taken career leave from my work whcih makes me feel a lot less stressed about it all. could you do the same perhaps?

kreecherlivesupstairs · 14/09/2009 11:21

TCR. It isn't hard to find work, it's impossible. I can't wait to leave this awful country. Apologies to anyone thinking of moving here, it is just my personal opinion.

whatdoidonext · 27/09/2009 20:16

i wonder what mrsspock is making of zug? kreecher - i so agree re finding work and how hard it is to live here. i wanted a part time job and found nothing. so i work full time and it is far from ideal. and with the current climate it makes job hunting even harder. you need to speak german-even if you are not going to use it and i would say that 99.9% of part time jobs go to swiss people. another thing to consider is the schooling system, there are funny hours and many holidays; it has been a nightmare to be juggling work and family life until dd started private school. we pay through the nose but at least she gets full days and the wednesday afternoons sorted out!
i so miss london and get more and more homesick - AND i used to work behind selfridges... LOL

kreecherlivesupstairs · 29/09/2009 08:01

She is either loving it or hating it or didn't come. I stand by my earliar statement, this is a shocking country to live in. It is expensive, unfriendly and just bloody horrible. I can't be arsed to learn to speak German so exploit my dd shamelessly, she is doing really well with the language, but, she learns hoch deutch and around here a lot of people refuse to speak that and insist on sweizer deutch.

whatdoidonext · 29/09/2009 12:46

LOL re your daughter - i am the same ;)

kreecherlivesupstairs · 29/09/2009 21:07

Good, it's great to have refusniks amongst the very proper Swiss german peoplage.
DD can sing many songs (mostly about greeting and dismissing people) which do occasionally come in handy. Her greatest gift though was the gift of body areas. Taking her to the doctor is a piece of piss, she generally explains where it hurts or how high her temp is and I collect the drugs and pay the ebill.

Original poster
mrsspock · 21/11/2009 17:22

hello! Sorry, I haven't checked mumsnet for ages and am crap generally (would love to say that it's because i have been out having too much fun but that would be a lie!) I am here (well, in zurich, zug was just too bloody quiet for me..despite the appealing tax rate). kreecherlivesupstairs, would say that i like it now, mainly..but have had my moments (breaking mops in a fury after another LOOONG day cleaning the sodding flat and feeling bored out of my brain, moments of feeling really hacked off and homesick). no joy on the job front - if I had a franc for every expat 'trailing spouse' who is desperate to work i would be very happy. my german is still crap but i can now ask 'what's that?', rudely, at the market. themystimasseuse - am studying PT for a masters, at least i feel like i'm doing something.
whatdoidonext,how did you find your job? recommend any agencies?

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londonlottie · 24/11/2009 10:33

This reply has been deleted

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Newb · 30/11/2009 19:27

Hi All

Quick lurk in this section.... I know of a couple of groups of expat UK Mums that meet in Zurich, if you fancy some stimulating conversation ;)

PS I'm in Waedenswil.

Original poster
mrsspock · 01/12/2009 22:46

Hi Newb
where do you lurk?

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Original poster
mrsspock · 01/12/2009 22:47

sorry, few glases of wine so trigger happy, meant where do you lurk at expat groups not where do you live..

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kreecherlivesupstairs · 02/12/2009 08:08

I know I should learn german, but as I made the effort for arabic and thai, I feel I've reached my limit on foreign languages.
Feeling even more cheesed off at the moment, I hate snow