job advert Switzerland. Young family with 2 kids primary age. Please help

[worriednow1]

2 kids primary school age ( just the beginning of primary). the jobs advert is really appealing. Pros: 1. kids could go to international school in Switzerland, 2. good move for me in career. Cons: 1. what to do with my husband job ( earns 24,000 a year, 5 min from our home - so really really convenient) 3. good country for family life ( but! expensive). The reason for change 1. I need to change the job, fed up at my present job politics etc and constant undermining ( I am getting ill from this situation and lost my confidence ) 2. kids could be in an international school. Biffest problem I guess my hb's job? could I go myself initially and see how it goes ( My hb can deal with childcare + parental support - parents live min away from our home)? Or go with children and my husband later? please help me with ideas. sorry for chaotic post

[Baytree]

I live in Switzerland,child in local school.

pros
Fantastic scenery, mountains
great public transport
expat network
high salaries
international schools accommodate children well
healthcare

cons
hard to get a job unless you speak one of the 3 languages
locals not v friendly and hard to get to know, especially in the german speaking part
for most people it is apartment living not houses with gardens
cost of living (which by clever shopping across the border can be reduced)
children in international schools are always moving on so your child loses friendships
many rules and regulations to instruct you how you live that can make you feel stifled (eg no noise on Sunday, everyday between 12 and 1pm )

[tertle]

I'm based in CH. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
Would be concerned about your husband finding a job, what does he do? And as pp said, do not underestimate the cost of living here.

[Sunflower123456]

No, I was a technology specialist. The company that hired me paid for all my relocation expenses plus a golden hello.

[worriednow1]

sunflower did you teach there?

[Sunflower123456]

I've worked in Switzerland for 7 years. They were the happiest and most rewarding years of my life. If I didn't have a young family now, then I would go back in a flash.

International private schools are expensive, but your children can attend Swiss schools. Young children can learn a new language very quickly, so they will adapt. However, if you or your husband's German/French is poor, then you may struggle to help them with homeworks etc.

Income tax is lower there, but everything is much more expensive and private medical insurance is mandatory. It may be difficult for your husband to find a job there, unless he has specialist skills. So you need to carefully calculate your income and expenses before moving there.

Hope this helps.

[LIZS]

Agree with Kennet. On one teaching income the lifestyle can be modest and several I knew couldn't easily afford international school fees even with the discount.

[worriednow1]

yes it is teaching job

[Kannet]

Hi Is it a teaching job.i only ask as I know a few people who have come to Switzerland to teach and I think you would struggle to manage financially with just a teachers salary here. Please do not underestimate how expensive it if here.

[marcopront]

Look at the teaching overseas forum on the TES website, they will give you advice on the school. There is also the International Schools Review website but that is a subscription one. And there is a Facebook group called International School teachers and one called International School families.

I agree with LIZS most support roles will be filled by locals.

[LIZS]

Just realised you are same poster who had misgivings about moving from London to Kent. CH is about 20 years behind again in many respects!

[LIZS]

Expat moms - you need to join then start a thread saying you are considering this and in their experience what prospects would there be for a trailing dh to get work . Many are based further north but their experience will be generally true. There are other spin off groups. It is run by a friend whose dh teaches and she now works at an international school.

I believe the English forum , which is more specific to Geneva area, can be searched or discussions started. Be prepared for some blunt responses.

I don't know if Geneva is similar but at least one Zurich school is cutting back this summer having added extra facilities and campus only a few years ago. Demand for places and staff can fluctuate.

[worriednow1]

What specific info shall i look out for on these forums pleade?

[LIZS]

Try:-

groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Expat-Moms-In-Switzerland/info

www.englishforum.ch/commercial/37045-new-website-expat-moms.html

[worriednow1]

thank you will look at forum for expats...

[LIZS]

If you join expatmomsinswitzerland as I suggested further down you will find several who work in schools in non teaching roles.

[LIZS]

So is it at an IS school? Unless he also teaches, other positions are recruited locally. Often they are also trailing spouses, but there are plenty of applicants to choose from already in situ and with previous experience having moved around before. The recruitment fairs for expat teaching staff will be early in New Year. Can you go along to discuss face to face ? Tbh the packages for teachers tend not to be highly lucrative and are usually on local terms.

[HerrenaHarridan]

Your talking to the wrong people.

Talk to your dh. How does he feel?

Explore the possibility, look at the link suggested and talk to ex pats already in situ to find out what the reality is like.

How important is this to you? Does it sound quite fun? Is it your lifelong dream?

Personally I say go for it, ok so it might not work out in the long term but if you keep everyone in the family involved in the decision making it could be a great experience for your kids.

[worriednow1]

it is a school and in theory his skills could be utilised by the school

[LIZS]

Does he have any relevant experience or skills? Ime they recruit locally for all but specific roles. How likely are you to be the ideal candidate? What type of company is it ?

[worriednow1]

yes they might think that but it would be our position and if it is not suitable for them then i would just accept that it is not for us...

[LIZS]

I think it really unlikely he'd be offered anything on spec. If you need to make such stipulations this early on they will think you hard work.

[worriednow1]

what about applying for it and my husband applying on spec? then stating it clearly in my cover letter that we would consider it as a family package? I agree that just for me it is not worth it...

[LIZS]

Actually most of the international schools are full of Americans, Brits and Australians , and Geneva probably more diverse than others due to UN and other multinational organisations. Due you have experience?

[SunnyBaudelaire]

I would not relocate to Switzerland with a stay at home male spouse if you paid me. Alot.
Have you any idea how traditional that society is? When Swiss women got the vote?
Also international school will be v v expensive and full of repulsive euro trash.

[rabbitstew]

ps Friends of family moved to Switzerland for the dw to chase a dream job in a place they thought would bring them a great quality of life, requiring her dh to give up a job he enjoyed and was good at. It took her dh 5 years to find suitable employment - far longer than they had anticipated. In the meantime, they'd had children, she felt she was missing out on enjoying them growing up and being part of it, because her job was very full on, more stressful than she had anticipated and she had the pressure of now being the sole breadwinner so felt unable to leave it or ask for reduced hours, even though she wasn't happy and it wasn't quite what she had hoped for, and her dh was unhappy because he couldn't find suitable work and didn't like being a house husband... Finally, he did find alternative employment and she did manage to negotiate reduced hours at work, but it was a miserable 5 years in the achieving. Certainly not the improvement in quality of life they had for some reason assumed Switzerland would automatically offer them. I don't think moving countries is a great idea if only one person in the family really wants to do it and only one person in the family has any good reason to do it, with everyone else just tagging along to keep them happy. Reversing the mistake when it has involved relocating to a new country is also pretty hard work.