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Jobs | Permit G confusion. Help!

Feb 10, 2010 @ 17:01

Hi All,

I'm an Indian national, married to a French national from Haute-Savoie; moved to Ambilly, France about ten months ago. I have been looking for Project/Change Management/Business Analyst roles in Geneva. My last permanent role was of Project Manager, Sales Operations in VMware, Bangalore.

I understand, for a Permit G (source: http://www.ge.ch/permis/uk/p_main_tiers_uk.asp) ,

1) One must have lived in the defined border area for over 6 months and

2) Find an employer who applies for the Permit

Super. #1 has been completed, I've been in Ambilly (border area) for more than 6 months. Have spoken to the OCP folks too, who've expressed no doubts over my eligibility, having seen my profile.

Let's crack #2, hunt down an employer.

I have applied to over 300 suitable positions and I'm now getting to understand (from more than five recruitment agencies) that Genevois employers are not interested in seeing profiles sans Permits, eligible or otherwise.

The recruitment agencies have gone to the extent of saying..."When you have a Permit G, please do call us."

Imagine the cheek. What would I need them for, if I already have a job (which'll get me the permit)?

Catch 22, huh?

Now, I'm unsure whether to carry on looking here...the issue is, there're loads and loads of my kind of jobs out there. In English. :)

a) Have you, or do you know of anyone who's faced a similar issue?

b) Is there a way out of this looped-up quagmire? Any best practices?

c) Or is it the crisis that has led to a cut in the no. of Permit Gs issued, which the employers are wary of?

d) Any HR folks that can throw some light on this? I'd really appreciate

e) It's probably some other reason, which the recruiters don't want to waste time explaining

Look forward to reading some interesting responses, while I go back to sorting out my crab apples and horse chestnuts. :)

Cheers,

Arun

The text you are quoting:

Hi All,

I understand, for a Permit G (source: http://www.ge.ch/permis/uk/p_main_tiers_uk.asp) ,

1) One must have lived in the defined border area for over 6 months and

2) Find an employer who applies for the Permit

Super. #1 has been completed, I've been in Ambilly (border area) for more than 6 months. Have spoken to the OCP folks too, who've expressed no doubts over my eligibility, having seen my profile.

Let's crack #2, hunt down an employer.

The recruitment agencies have gone to the extent of saying..."When you have a Permit G, please do call us."

Imagine the cheek. What would I need them for, if I already have a job (which'll get me the permit)?

Catch 22, huh?

Now, I'm unsure whether to carry on looking here...the issue is, there're loads and loads of my kind of jobs out there. In English. :)

a) Have you, or do you know of anyone who's faced a similar issue?

b) Is there a way out of this looped-up quagmire? Any best practices?

c) Or is it the crisis that has led to a cut in the no. of Permit Gs issued, which the employers are wary of?

d) Any HR folks that can throw some light on this? I'd really appreciate

e) It's probably some other reason, which the recruiters don't want to waste time explaining

Look forward to reading some interesting responses, while I go back to sorting out my crab apples and horse chestnuts. :)

Cheers,

Arun

Arun K VFeb 10, 2010 @ 17:01

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Re: Jobs | Permit G confusion. Help!

Post 1

Feb 10, 2010 @ 19:02

Pump Up Your Value - Free Info Evening Picture
Member Activity > Other
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 @ 19:00
Morges. Residence de la Còte 30. (next to Beausobre ) Look for the Glocals Poster., Lausanne
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Pump Up Your Value - A not for profit, non sponsored, non - commercial free information evening. ( this is to insure glocals management that this is a public interest activity)

Once again, back by popular demand ( this will be the 3rd time we do this ) , we are organising a free information evening.

So many people have been impacted by the economic crisis here in the french speaking part of Switzerland, ( 6% in Vaud and 7% unemployement in Geneva)
It is time to address the issues of : unemployement (rights and obligations), job searching, CV preparation skills, cover letters,
Interview techniques and your personal self-worth.
Sales training may be an important aspect as well.

Come and join the information evening, where industry speacialists will answer your questions and present valuable tips on how to best be prepared so you can "Pump Up Your Value"

When: February 16th, 7pm
Where:Morges. Residence de la Còte 30. (next to Beausobre ) Look for the Glocals Poster.
door is outside the main building

The text you are quoting:

Once again, back by popular demand ( this will be the 3rd time we do this ) , we are organising a free information evening.

Come and join the information evening, where industry speacialists will answer your questions and present valuable tips on how to best be prepared so you can "Pump Up Your Value"

When: February 16th, 7pm
Where:Morges. Residence de la Còte 30. (next to Beausobre ) Look for the Glocals Poster.
door is outside the main building

epicure, Feb 10, 2010 @ 19:02

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Re: Jobs | Permit G confusion. Help!

Post 2

Feb 10, 2010 @ 19:18

I made the experience that employment agencies do have contacts in order ot make the swiss administration issue a permit within a few days if needed.

The problem is, that due to the crisis there is a very strong tendency of swiss employers (and agencies) to recruit only people with swiss nationality and B or C work permit. This fact has also been noticed by the Groupement Transfrontalier. So your case is no exception at all.

Look at the website of the Maison Transfrontalier (www.frontalier.com) - they organise also workshops of CV and cover letter writing (the 9th and 15th february). They have an office in Annemasse/Ambilly too. You only pay a tiny fee to become a member. But telephone advice even from their lawyers is free.

In short: All you need to get a G work permit is a job.

But currently it's really a battle. I wish you good luck!

The text you are quoting:

I made the experience that employment agencies do have contacts in order ot make the swiss administration issue a permit within a few days if needed.

In short: All you need to get a G work permit is a job.

But currently it's really a battle. I wish you good luck!

just_me, Feb 10, 2010 @ 19:18

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Post 3

Feb 10, 2010 @ 23:14

The rules on G permits changed. There is no border area - anywhere within the EU is considered a frontier region.

Best is to move accross the border, get a B permit, and then get a job., when you have it swap the B for a G and move back.

The text you are quoting:

The rules on G permits changed. There is no border area - anywhere within the EU is considered a frontier region.

Best is to move accross the border, get a B permit, and then get a job., when you have it swap the B for a G and move back.

tax_exile, Feb 10, 2010 @ 23:14

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Re: Jobs | Permit G confusion. Help!

Post 4

Feb 18, 2010 @ 13:40

Thank you epicure, just_me and tax_exile; for the extremely useful tips on this situation.

I have come to believe, based on (a lot of) further reading and discussions from subject matter experts:

1) The Permit G has a marked difference in procedure between EU and other nationalities for the border folks.

It is a pity I wasn't enlightened (didn't have the brains to realize) before in my numerous calls and visits to the related offices in France and Geneva.

Rules are rules and I believe that the folks making them are reasonable enough to have made them this way. So no offense to anyone here while I make them objectively clear, as I understand them.

2) Despite folks like me being part of the EU labour market, a Permit G takes the person's nationality into account. Period.

3) There is still a possibility of obtaining a Permit G, if an employer really wants my skills and is able to prove that no Swiss or EU national can perform these tasks.

Moving to Geneva is a great idea but is as best a loophole and a way to circumvent this process.

4) There is still hope. To try and use this "disadvantage," combined with my skills as an advantage. ;) Network, plan, research, find and attack those little corners and where opportunities for people like me exist.

While I'm able to work in France...so it ain't that bad.

Again, I thank you for all the information and directions. :)

Regards,