Zurich vs Relationship

Wondering whether WSO shed some insight into my current dilemma. I have recently been offered a job in the mining finance team in Zurich with my existing employer. My background is asset finance primarily risk mgmt with 2 years experience having started on a grad program at a top tier in Sydney. The offer is a significant step forward and gets me fantastic exposure and career benefits etc etc. Problem is the job is a 1-2 year stint which is difficult as I am in a long term relationship and my partner is starting at a top tier law firm in February. She has the option of deferring for one year so she could come with me but the issue is working visas in Switzerland are supremely difficult and neither of us speak German. A tourist Visa is only 3 months and she couldn't work so we would have to be married before I move for her to get permanent residency. I have a euro passport so no dramas for me. Then the issues start with her actually landing a job given if an employer wants to hire a foreigner they have to prove there is no Swiss that is qualified for the job.

Does anyone here have experience with expatriation to Switzerland or getting a job in the legal industry for non german speakers?

What is the opinion on long distance relationships? Would you sacrifice a big step your career to keep your significant other? Obviously that's fully dependent on personal circumstances but for me I wouldn't ever take a job which would mean I lose my life partner since happiness is the most important thing and I know I can always find another job in finance. We've been together for 8 years but I don't think we could last 1-2 years apart.

Life throws some interesting curveballs sometimes. Anyone been in a similar situation before?

 
Best Response

Can't give you much on the Switzerland part, but I will chime in on the long distance part. If you can help it, I wouldn't do it, unless it will be for a fairly short duration such as less than an year AND an end is in sight to that distance apart.

My last relationship was long distance and we thought we could do it but it ended up just being too hard for her. Especially when both of you are going to be really busy, there just isn't that time to be able to spend together. I remember toward the end it felt like we were two people living separate lives, who just happened to be together. She ended up not feeling emotionally connected anymore, and well, you know the rest. Add in the fact that you will have a time difference between the two of you, the difficulties are compounded.

I'm not sure how some others are on WSO, but I'm like you in the aspect that I would, hands down, want to keep my SO over that one job. I don't remember which thread it was in, but there was a pretty good statement in there along the lines of "there are many great jobs out there, but there aren't that many great wives". Pretty sure I butchered that, but you get the point.

Plus, you don't ever want that feeling of wondering if it would've worked out had the relationship not been long distance.

 

I am currently in a LDR with my girlfriend - we are facing quite a long period, but there is an end in sight. The most important things are good communication, trust and an ending point. If these 3 are present, it's worth giving it a shot.

P.s. I tried to shoot you a pm, but I do not have 10 banana points yet.

 

Since this relationship seems to be very serious and you already dropped the m-word, I would definitely choose the relationship over the job. The job seems like an awesome opportunity, but it is still only a job (sorry WSO). And btw, I had (yes had..) a long term relationship over 8 months (I was on the westcoast of the US, she was home in Europe -> 9h time difference, which made everything considerably harder), it just doesn't work in my opinion. Think about what is more important to you, I think you already know the answer.

 

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