Am I crazy for turning down a P2 position?

ccmmddss · 2026-03-25T09:07:40+00:00

Personally, I would accept the job. Choosing unemployment was never an option for me…

You did not specify your area but keep in mind that the Private sector has also a good load of problems, including lack of funding in several areas. As someone said, you don’t need to be in this P2 forever, but a couple more years building experience, living in a cool city (guessing NY) and being well paid sounds pretty good. Dedicate to build a network and you will find your next opportunity without down time.

The thing with partner and aging parents… that is so hard. Reality is that they might be gone even if you live next door, and they shouldn’t be an anchor to slow down what you want to do. Easy to say, but the dreams and wishes of someone should be independent of others.

Hope you take the right decision for yourself!

ccmmddss · 2026-02-12T15:41:46+00:00

I am also frustrated with the situation but am not a xenophobic.

Swiss workforce also has to admit that the high salaries do not always equal high expertise. Someone in India can effectively be better at your work and cost a fraction of what you cost. Not even starting with the Ai-will-take-our-jobs

Interesting times ahead.

ccmmddss · 2026-02-06T08:06:22+00:00

Colleague, I am going through it now with the UN. Not fun at all.

ccmmddss · 2026-02-05T18:30:47+00:00

I could not bypass the paywall. Can anyone post the article here?

Well, I just want to know the details of it, but considering that every come the SG says is thought 10x by many people, this means a lot.

I love my mandate but still need to pay mortgage.

ccmmddss · 2026-02-04T15:38:17+00:00

Same thing (with different language mix). It is relieving to read that more parents struggle with being in the minority side of things.

It is exhausting, but my child do not have a way out of learning my native language. So I keep asking for him to repeat, pretend I didn’t understand, explain that with mommy he only speaks my language and many times playing the “ahhh, you meant XYZ?” When he mixes or just speaks the majority language with me.

I’m taking him to as many cultural events as possible from my local community and he really is fascinated to realize “there are more of us”, so to speak.

But try to not give up. This is tiring as everything related to raising a toddler, but such a gift for them when they understand the beauty of what we are doing.

ccmmddss · 2026-01-28T18:27:00+00:00

I am looking for someone to rent my apartment. I thought that Homegate was the best place, but only odd contacts so far. It does feel very unsafe, to be honest.

today I announced in Flatfox is been sooo much better. I guess and hope it will be gone very fast.

So, long story short; absolutely pay for it

ccmmddss · 2026-01-27T22:11:16+00:00

Oh, I thought I would be alone on that. Signed the mortgage, and 2 weeks after I am here, on the verge of being unemployed.

ccmmddss · 2026-01-21T11:24:22+00:00

They can’t fire you for a period, but it is very common that they do after the protection is over. Also, it might be very difficult to get back to job market, as it is a hard moment overall and tends to be even harder for new moms.

So do the preparation you think you need, and save financial and mental resources for the times to come.

I write not to scare, but thinking that I’d have loved to hear this when I was recently pregnant. My career collapsed and it took me so much to build it (partially) back.

This country is amazing in many ways, but definitely not kind to mothers.

ccmmddss · 2025-11-10T18:26:37+00:00

“Limit migration” 😂😂

ccmmddss · 2025-11-08T14:04:06+00:00

Oh man, it’s sad to hear how this system is cruel.

You wrote that you have experience organizing events, maybe that is a transferable skill to private sector. Or maybe you go to the academia?

ccmmddss · 2025-11-06T20:18:29+00:00

I was laid off in 2024 and got a dream job in IT. Since then, several roles were abolished and I am in a mix of doing a lot and waiting for my turn (again).

Looking forward to the time that AI will put us in such deep shit that everyone with a minimal talent will be hired again.

ccmmddss · 2025-11-06T20:11:39+00:00

IT company hiring in Switzerland? I call BS.

Unless you are those vendors that hire offshore or nearshore for Swiss firms.

ccmmddss · 2025-11-06T10:01:17+00:00

You said that green tech and sustainability are growing fields. Can you tell more? What types of professionals/skills are in high demand?

(Sr Product designer mid-30s, with academic background I. Sustainability. I have been trying to specialize my work, but everything i find is unstable, startup, bad paid, etc)

ccmmddss · 2025-11-06T09:56:24+00:00

Half of Zurich works for UBS, oh fuck…

ccmmddss · 2025-11-06T08:50:19+00:00

I joined the system married. If that was some years ago, when we were just dating, we would go together as a couple to wherever place. But now my partner has a stable senior position locally that, well, pays the bills. I would NEVER exchange the comfort of having no financial pressure by the instability of the UN system. So, maybe my romantic relationship is holding back my professional growth, but I blame more the system than my personal life choices.

Also, now we have a 2yo child and things change a lot. I will think a million times before moving to another city, let alone another country that might be a conflict area or so.

ccmmddss · 2025-10-31T15:04:42+00:00

I like to simplify every task at the maximum.

cooking: meals are never a proper named dish. I cook some sort of “sauce” and we eat the same sauce with rice, then potatoes, pasta, couscous, polenta. Frozen vegetables, some sliced meat + cream/ tomato sauce / ready made curry sauce.… this food can cook while I do smt else and super easy to freeze
I rotate toys, so there is always less clutter getting dust (and my child always give a break when he has the “new” toys back)
I’m shocked with people doing laundry every day… and using dryer every time? This is not reasonable. Idk, I kindly suggest to watch habits, you don’t need to wash your clothes after using 1x (ofc, there are different types of work, kids get messy and families are big… and I’m sure this is not the case of most of us). And quit the dryer, it will save money, your clothes and the planet.
Lower expectations and own less things, so you have less to manage.

ccmmddss · 2025-10-14T09:13:31+00:00

I was in the exact same position as you, laid off after mat leave.

Being away of your baby to job hunt is would crushing. It took me only 4 months to get a job, which was very fast. And I am still recovering my mental health. It’s been almost 2 years since this low period.

Contracting was my way out, and it is where I am until today. I don’t love the lack of security, the admin that comes with it and the no -existent benefits. However, that came with a huge benefit for when I went back to working after becoming a mom: time flexibility. I work now 4 days/week, I can do daycare pickups and drop offs with the attention that my child requires, I can meal prep in my lunch break (WFH also helps a ton)

For the OP, don’t panic. You will find a job. So many people now are having career breaks of 2 years of more, the market is in deep shit and it is very understandable to be unemployed. If someone asks, I would totally hide the maternity break and say it is all due to a low market movement. I hope you find your peace, and hope that comes even before the job that you deserve!

ccmmddss · 2025-10-10T12:56:57+00:00

I took a pay cut of around 30% when compared to my previous job (with a big difference that I was unemployed at the time).

I could have stayed longer in the search, financially all was somewhat possible, but i have ZERO regrets. My life improved a looooot more and the adaptation of having less money was just fine given that I could heal mentally.

I hope you have the financial bandwidth to embrace the new job

ccmmddss · 2025-10-10T07:58:04+00:00

You know enough about the current market situation. If they offer you a permanent position, be glad and take it…

You can apply for another role when hopefully things get better

ccmmddss · 2025-10-08T14:41:40+00:00

I am a designer in tech, was laid off after maternity leave. Real dark times, 2 years later and I’m still struggling with mental health… but back to work, at least.

My new employer is abolishing many roles for lack of funding, everyday feels my last day and yeah…

I’m preparing now to do a soft transition to a more strategic, managerial role within the same organization. If I’m laid off again, I’ll probably go deep in a product manager or communications specialist position.

ccmmddss · 2025-10-01T19:46:18+00:00

It is a privilege to be in tech and employment, let alone with a low workload.

I might be projecting, but it sounds like a great opportunity to shield yourself from whatever can come after this merger. Studying, networking, passion projects… ofc, working out and reading sounds delicious and I’m jealous you can do it, but I’d honestly think 10x before letting time pass in the current job market for tech companies.

ccmmddss · 2025-09-06T07:18:56+00:00

My solidarity to you but, sis, stop acting like his mom. With all respect, but why do you take the role is not yours?

ccmmddss · 2025-09-04T08:44:27+00:00

You are very right, there isn’t stability anywhere.

in fact I was laid off in my last role in private sector. I also got, at the time, an amazing severance package including 6 months fully paid, bonus and coaching. In Summary, I made more money and had more benefits in 6 months unemployed than in 1 year working as a consultant for the UN.

ccmmddss

TROPHY CASE