Hi Carl,

 Here is a link (sorry, in French) about what rights you have in terms of unemployment benefit:

http://www.ge.ch/emploi-recherche/indemnites_chomage.asp

 What you are entitled to depends on how long you have been employed here (appart from obvious stuff like having a residence permit for that time of course). You have to have been employed for a year to get access to these benefits. The longer you were employed for, the longer you may get these benefits. They are around 70 or 80 percent of your current salary, depending on circumstances. Really you would need to look at the details on that link to get an idea of what you are exactly entitled to.

 However, as someone who has resigned from a Swiss job before, I can tell you that a) since you resigned and have not been fired, you will have a period when you are not entitled to any benefits, b) your resignation letter or email is an important document that you will have to produce to the authorities to get benefit, c) register with the unemployment office as soon as possible even before you leave your job (so at the same time you notify your employer) and dont miss any meetings they schedule you for.

 When you start getting unemployment benefit, you will also get an advisor to whom you will have to proove that you are looking for a job in the area where you are most likely to find one (they might offer you training, but in general unemployment is not considered suitable to change your career, they are under pressure to get you off benefit asap). You have to show you applied for at least 8 jobs a month. If you fail to do so, or they think you are not being diligent in your searching, or if you miss a meeting with your advisor, part of your benefit for that month will be withdrawn.

 The system is basically fairly generous in comparaison to other countries as far as benefits go, but is designed to get you to find something quickly. I'm not sure what happens if you get to the end of your unemployment period without finding work. Possibly you get nothing at all then.

I did the same last year:

- You will only receive benefits from the moment you register with the chomage, they do not take into account the date you actually quit. So register immidately for chomage.

- You never get paid the first 5 working days from the moment you are registered, doesnt matter if you get fired or resign.

- As you resign you get an additional penalty of atleast 30 working days (+- 1,5 month). This depends on your situation, Im not aware what these conditions are.

- Do whatever they ask you to do and do it on time or get penalized.

The system is basically fairly generous in comparaison...

well it IS insurance based so why shouldnt it be generous?

but in general unemployment is not considered suitable to change your career

unless you are being mobbed, maltreated or something similar you will NOT be treated sympathetically

On the upside: Maybe you won't have to actively resign, if your HR department or your boss sees your post here..  (hint: don't use photo nor real name)

Or put the name of the company you work for in your profile.

On the other hand, this might actually get your fired..