A Roadmap to Success with Pragati Siddhanti from My Swiss Story

We speak to Pragati Siddhanti, the founder of the popular blog My Swiss Story, about how expats can get set up and build a successful career in Switzerland.

Topics Covered

- Pragati’s Swiss story
- Coming to Switzerland with a plan
- First actions when you arrive
- Finding a home in Switzerland
- Health insurance
- Finding a job
- Starting a project or side business while working in Switzerland
- The importance of networking and where to start

Timestamps

00:00 Intro
00:33 About our guest
01:24 The move to Switzerland
07:37 Practical things to do before moving to Switzerland
15:57 Getting a furnished rental apartment
20:21 Public transport
21:35 Finding a home
23:02 Getting your health insurance
27:57 Being successful in Switzerland
29:03 Speaking the local language
32:09 Cultural differences and looking for a job
34:11 Networking
36:45 Starting your own side projects
42:46 Hosting events and webinars
43:33 How can people get in touch or find out more?

Next Steps

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Who We’re Talking To

Pragati Siddhanti is a technology leader, lecturer, and the founder of the popular blog and non-profit platform My Swiss Story - https://myswissstory.com/.

With a background in computer science engineering and a master's degree in business and information systems, Pragati brings nearly 20 years of experience in the tech industry. Also, her platform has become an essential resource for expats adapting to life in Switzerland and has significantly contributed to increasing women's visibility in various fields.

Pragati resides in the picturesque city of Basel with her husband and 13-year-old daughter.

About the Episode

We discuss some of the key steps for new expats in Switzerland. The first part of the podcast focuses on practical matters while the second part is all about setting yourself up for success, both professionally and socially.

1. Arrive with a plan: Make sure you have a permit and a job or university spot before you arrive. Coming to Switzerland on a tourist visa is usually a bad idea if you want to stay long-term because it can be hard to find an employer who will sponsor you.
2. Get set up: Many expats get a furnished apartment for a few months when they arrive, so they can register with the council and get a bank account.
3. Find a home: Since housing is in short supply in popular areas, you may have to look at several neighbourhoods. Many people commute to cities like Zurich because homes are less expensive and more abundant in smaller towns.
4. Get health insurance: Basic health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland, and each person is insured separately. Use a service like Comparis to get various quotes and find an affordable provider.
5. Get a job: If you’re the trailing spouse, explore all possible avenues to find a job. They might include searching on Linkedin, contacting your network, attending local networking events, and joining groups.
6. Start a project: As long as you’re transparent and there are no conflicts of interest, you should be able to start a side project such as a blog, craft shop, or coaching business even if you’re working for a Swiss company. Once your project starts making more than CHF 2,300, you’ll need to declare your income and pay tax.

Resources

Pragati’s blog - https://myswissstory.com/

Pragati’s Instagram -   / pragatisiddhanti  

Rigby’s Living in Switzerland Ebook Guide - https://www.rigby.ch/newsletter) (for newsletter subscribers

Residence Permits in Switzerland - A Guide for Expats - https://myswissstory.com/residence-pe...

Checklist for Moving to Switzerland - https://myswissstory.com/checklist-fo...

Banking in Switzerland - A Guide for Expats - https://myswissstory.com/banking-in-s...

Moneyland - https://www.moneyland.ch/en

Expat Diaries: 8 Steps to Renting that Perfect Apartment in Switzerland - https://myswissstory.com/expat-diarie...

ImmoScout24 - https://www.immoscout24.ch/en

Homegate - https://www.homegate.ch/en

A Guide to Swiss Healthcare for Expats - https://myswissstory.com/a-guide-to-s...

Comparis - https://comparis.ch/en

How to Find a Job in Switzerland, No Matter What - https://myswissstory.com/how-to-find-...

Coffee with a Purpose - https://mailchi.mp/c06f5d4dd6b5/cwp