Below you will find a selection of the most recent entries from bloggers in our Work/Business section.
To view the entries from individual bloggers, click on the links below:
- Claire Doole - Claire Doole Communications
Claire is a former BBC correspondent and international spokeswoman who is passionate about helping people communicate with confidence. Since 2006, she has successfully trained hundreds of professionals in the art of presenting and public speaking, talking to the media, managing communications in a crisis, and writing for the web. In addition, she has coached C-level executives and public figures to give powerful TEDx and TED style talks in Europe and the Middle East. A Swiss and UK national, Claire trains and coaches in French and English.
- Elizabeth Ballin - Life Coach
As a long time member of the international community in Geneva, Elizabeth Ballin has been coaching adults and students from all parts of the world. She has coached business professionals, musicians/artists, couples, families and adolescents. She is a fully accredited Life Coach by the International Coaching Federation. Elizabeth Ballin, Life Coach
- Patrick Hoza - US Tax & Financial Services
Since 1990, Patrick has many years of experience with US individual expatriate taxation under his belt, including High Net Worth Individuals, streamline/voluntary disclosure filings and tax consulting, as well as working with large multinationals like Novartis, BP, Hewlett Packard and General Electric. He has extensive knowledge in serving both US expatriates and resident and non-resident aliens with their US tax-related issues. Patrick Hoza is a Tax Director at US Tax & Financial Services, with extensive experience in all aspects of Individual US tax and Expatriation, including Hight Net Worth Individuals and large multinationals.
Patrick started his career in 1990 in California, with Westpro Ltd., as a Senior Tax Consultant, then spent the middle part of his career working at KPMG and Ernst & Young. During his time with Ernst & Young, he worked and lived in Russia, France and finally Switzerland. He has gained a valuable working knowledge of the respective income tax regulations in all of these countries.
Patrick holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Colorado, is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents and is a Certified Acceptance Agent.
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Melitta Campbell - Business Coach
Business Coach and Mentor with nearly 3 decades of business experience and a passion for helping women confidently build a business they love. She is also the founder of the Swiss Entrepreneurs Club and president of the Swiss Riviera Toastmasters Club in Montreux. Originally from Wales, she now lives in Montreux in a chalet she has renovated with her husband overlooking the Swiss Alps. - Sunita Sehmi - Walk The Talk
Founder of Walk The Talk, Sunita has been training, developing and now coaching Business Communication skills in both companies and educational establishments for over twenty years. She has a passion for helping people to maximise their potential and created Walk The Talk with the sole aim to drive each and every client to perform their best.
- Robert Harris- Forth Capital
With over 25 years experience working for some of the major financial institutions in the City of London, Robert is a founding partner of Forth Capital, the leading expat financial advisory company in Switzerland. Regulary quoted in newspaper articles and magazines, he is well placed to advise expats on a variety of financial issues that may arise during their time living in Switzerland.
- Debbie Croft - Croft Coaching
As the founder of Croft Coaching, Debbie has a passion for helping people overcome challenges, embrace change and live life to the full; with an ethos of “work hard, play hard”.
- Sarah Santacroce - Simplicity
A certified social media, internet marketing, and virtual event specialist, Sarah enjoys every aspect of small business marketing. Through her own business, Simplicity, it is her mission to help other small businesses and solopreneurs increase their visibility and use social media tools as part of their marketing strategy.
- Diana Ritchie - SSC Sàrl
A Director at Swiss Career Connections, Diana will provide you with some useful tips for job hunting.
By David Cooper, Fund Advisers Europe
Moving away from the continued political infighting in the US (who still have not reached a compromise to bring a resolution to the stalemate over raising the debt ceiling). We will now look at the increasing costs of certain commodities and the effects it could have on all of us. Let's focus on oil.
Is your annual holiday coming up? Are you a frequent air traveller, either for business or leisure? Things may be about to change for you!
Most people in Central Europe have, if not actually used, certainly marvelled at the low cost airlines and the prices they are able to offer to passengers to travel hundreds of kilometres in (relative) comfort.
With the price of oil above $100 a barrel is the day of the cheap flight, and subsequently cheap holidays, coming to an end?
By David Cooper, Fund Advisers Europe
The debt crisis affecting Europe is coming to the make or break point. Often called The Sovereign Debt Crisis, the problems that started at the end of 2009 are at a point where a resolution, of some sort will be found.
European leaders will decide today how much they want to save both the European Monetary Union, and ultimately the Euro.
The Sovereign Debt Crisis – caused when a country that has run out of money to pay back the loans it has taken out in the past and is therefore being refused loans for the future – started two years ago in Greece. It has gone on to affect Portugal, Ireland and Spain.
The effects are now being seen in the government bond markets of Italy, and even in France, with higher interest rates being applied by those lending money to these countries. They are viewed as having shown that they could default so are now not seen as a good risk, and are therefore charged more for loans via bond issues. Much the same as someone who has failed to pay back a past mortgage would be refused, or charged more for a loan in the future.
Practical advice on choosing a mortgage
When you live and work in a foreign country, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed when you arrive, some more pressing than others. If you have a family, you will need to make sure they are comfortable in their new environment. Decisions will have to be made about where you are going to live, and whether you should rent or buy a property.
Many of the expatriate community in Switzerland originate from “property ownership strongholds” – countries where it is clearly the norm to buy rather than rent the house you live in. Many people in these countries will also own their own holiday homes and others will buy properties purely for investment purposes.
In Switzerland, the process of buying a house may seem daunting – however it does bear many similarities to other countries. At the end of the day, you will need to ask essentially the same questions as in your home country: How will you buy the property? Where will you get the funds? When will you buy it?
A new career support service has been set up in the region to help English speakers further their career development in Switzerland.
Called Swiss Career Connections, the service is being provided by the Spouse Career Centre (SCC), which has been operating successfully in the region for over 9 years, providing career-related counseling, networking and coaching to partners and spouses of international employees relocating to Switzerland. Until now, this service was provided exclusively to multinational companies for the benefit of their employees.
Describing the new service, SCC Director, Diana Ritchie, says, “At Swiss Career Connections we believe a career support service should provide a 360° approach to active job-hunting. From the start, you will be supported by our trained and experienced career coaches on a one-to-one basis. We will help you to develop and profile your skills, know-how and experience, keep you motivated and on track, prepare you for effective job searching, and guide you through the application process. We will also show you how to use your network more effectively and build upon it as well as benefit from ours.”
She continues, “Experience shows us that this approach adds value in a number of key areas. Not only does it give you a better understanding of how to position yourself in the Swiss job market, but it also improves your self-marketing ability and your competencies awareness level. By improving your access to and impact on potential employers, it ultimately increases your chances of securing employment.”
Clients will be able to choose from four packages, each tailored to individual needs and budgets. The table below shows the key elements of the four tracks on offer (Smart Support Services), with descriptions for each.
Switzerland: the promised land, beautiful mountains, clean streets, efficient transport system, excellent quality of life - who wouldn’t jump at the chance to live here? The answer is: those who will give up their job to follow their partner. Who wouldn’t live here forever? The answer is: those who want to work here but have not succeeded in finding a job or settling in.
The Spouse Career Centre (SCC) works with dual career couples intent on making their relocation a success, by finding a job, setting up a business or settling in.
A successful career search is based upon understanding the local job market, having and successfully using your network, dedication, remaining motivated and knowing the job search process. The centre has successfully supported expats for the last 10 years throughout Switzerland in all of these areas.
Diana Ritchie, Managing Director for SCC in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, provides a few brief tips, to keep in mind while you job hunt:
1. Job openings are found:
a. on the internet (job search websites like jopup.ch, jobs.ch)
b. through word of mouth – important to work and expand your network
c. sending spontaneous applications to targeted and well researched companies
2. It takes on average 4-6 months to find a job.
3. Your resume and covering letter should clearly state what you can do for your potential employer.
4. It is an employer’s market and job advertisements ask for it all (5 languages, relevant experience, MBA, willing to muck in where needed etc.). Do not get discouraged – you do not have to have 100% of the requirements to apply, 80% could be enough, especially if they do not find the candidate who has the 100%. If in doubt call ahead and ask.
5. Recruitment in Switzerland can appear like a black hole – you send your application and never hear back. I have no explanation as to why this happens, but I can recommend that you follow up on your applications whenever possible.
TRAILING MALE SPOUSE/PARTNER
If you know of a trailing male spouse/partner interested in sharing their relocation experience via SCC’s online survey, please direct them to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/spousecareercentre
As encouragement they will be invited to a men’s night out.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about SCC’s services please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
