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Expat Life in Neuchatel, Switzerland

By ExpatExchange.com Member

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Summary: The beautiful lakeside city of Neuchatel, Switzerland is home to many expats, but don't pack up and move before securing a job that you love. Jobs here are highly specialized!

How long have you lived there?

25 years

What activities, clubs and organizations would you recommend to newcomers to help them meet others?

Neuchatel International Club, English Speaking Ladies Group, Chappel des Charmettes religious (Christian Protestant) & social activities

In general, what are peoples' priorities in this city? For example, do lives revolve around work, family, socializing, sports, etc.?

Neuchatel is famous for watchmaking and high-tech industries and is home to a number of English-speaking companies such as Philip Morris, Baxter, Auto-Desk etc. In areas of the canton outside of the town of Neuchatel, there are other companies such as Johnson & Johnson, So, there are more English-speaking ex-pats than one would imagine for a town as small as Neuchatel. The Neuchatelois also have a football team (Neuchatel Xamax) that is EU class, again something most towns its size do not have.

In terms of religious, racial, economic and cultural diversity, are the people of this city or town diverse? Are they accepting of differences? Describe.

Neuchatel is traditionally Protestant, but there are many Catholics in the canton. In Switzerland as a whole, one in seven people is not Swiss and this holds true in Neuchatel. The Neuchatelois are very tolerant, but are made uncomfortable by highly visible symbols such as burkas.

What are the main industries in this city? What types of career opportunities commonly exist? How do most people find new jobs?

The Neuchatel work force is highly skilled, consisting of watchmakers, precision mechanics and other exacting disciplines. Better to get the job before arriving.

If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.

You should have a particular reason for moving to Neuchatel, such as an interest in high-tech work, and not just choose it because of its lovely lake-side location, for example. It is a specialized place and you should be prepared for that before deciding upon Neuchatel as a place to live.


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Comments

job4U2
Jan 20, 2011 05:05

Living in Neuchatel is, I believe, a very good option while being expatriated to Switzerland, beside the beauty of the country side, Neuchatel remains an affordable place to live in comparison with Lausanne or Geneva and offer multiple possibilities in the different fields of going out, sports, children education and jobs. In contrast to the Lake Geneva region where a parallel community system exists, local and expatriate, Neuchatel offers a rich mix of people from different origins living as one community. Social integration may request a little bit more effort than in some international cities and therefore job4U2 (www.job4U2.ch) offers career support to expatriate spouses decided to pursue their career while settling in the region.

guest
Mar 29, 2011 17:39

Hello Everyone. I have just created a website where I list all events happening in Neuchâtel and its surrounding. neuchatelforexpats.weebly.com It's a 100% free and a 100% in English! Check it out and do not hesitate to give me feedback! Cheers!

guest
Aug 18, 2011 09:24

And there is something new in Neuchatel now: I am putting together an English-speaking amateur theatre club in Neuchâtel. There will be an info session mid September. For more info about the club, the exact date of the info session and to signup, please visit http://neuchatelforexpats.weebly.com/expats-meetups.html Looking forward to meeting you in September, Aurelie Lambruschini, founder of neuchatelforexpats.weebly.com , a listing of everything interesting going on in and around Neuchatel.

guest
Dec 5, 2012 17:53

Hi and welcome to Zurich! As for a dnceet salary I suggest you compare what's had been offered to you with the living cost in Switzerland. Websites to visit for this purpose:or the one of the Federal Statistical Bureau: there the page for management wages might be of special interest to you:To be frank, everything below 150 grand (in Sfr., of course) wouldn't be considered a good pay. If in IT or banking, double this. Make sure to get a company car and full travel allowances as well as (what's already been said) the expenses for immigration.General remarks about working, salaries and leave:Don't bother too much about your kids, they'll pick up the language within no time. I remember that back at school, we had two Americans who arrived with zero knowledge in Alemannic (that's what is spoken amongst us, German as such is only thought and spoken in classes) one of them ended up as a doctor soon As for hospitality: Zurich is a very cosmopolitan town, we are used to ethnical groups from around the world. Still, the Swiss can be nasty if foreigners don't show at least a certain willingness to integrate. The best to do so is of course to learn the local language(s) as quickly as possible. You might be told that you would go by without; but I'm sure you'll think of me once you have lived some time in the country.

guest
Dec 6, 2012 11:13

Hi Nekky! I'm happy to have stumbled upon your blog as I'm blog hoippng today! We sound alike in your description...migrated due to marriage and then now building our families in a foreign land. Thank you for sharing that link for Expat women. I will surely check it out and am also eager to come back and read more of you on this site! Hope you can check out mine too as it sure sounds like you could relate to some of my posts (be sure to go to the top of the page 'If You Are New to Catharsis'). THanks and hope to see you soon! ---- www.joypagemanuel.com

guest
Dec 8, 2012 03:03

Switzerland's cost of living is very high, do some oninle property research and this will give you an idea of the market.Your salary will be very much dependant on the industry you're working in. Project manager for what?The Swiss can be wonderfully charming and welcoming, and at the same time arrogant, aloof and xenophobic.There may also be some language barrier issues for the kids starting school there, too.You have a wonderful opportunity, but it won't be without it's problems.Additionally, check that the company offering you the job is going to sponsor your immigration.

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