From: Thibaud STOLL < >
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 14:36:00 -0800

Hi everybody,

I generally agree with what has been said so far regarding the career
problems faced by Swiss scientists abroad. I would like to make a few
comments, based upon my personal experience and some discussion with
compatriots:

One of the main problems faced by Swiss scientists abroad who are
looking for a position in Switzerland is indeed the very limited and
difficult access to information on job openings, whether in academia, in
federal or cantonal offices or in industry. Specifically:

- Many research or teaching positions in universities or in engineering
schools (Technikums) are advertised in DIFFERENT local newspapers,
usually not available outside Switzerland. In some cantons, these
positions are advertised only in the so-called "Feuille cantonale des
avis officiels", which is even very difficult to obtain from another
canton !!! Geneva is a typical example.

- A similar comment can be made about positions in industry; apparently,
many companies are not aware of the good potential of Swiss scientists
abroad and advertise their openings only locally.

- The "Vision" magazine, containing a fraction of academic positions
available in Switzerland, is published only quarterly; the deadline for
applications is often past by the time Swiss scientists abroad receive
the magazine.

- "Telejob" contains mainly offers for PhD and postdoc fellowships, but
very few positions for "advanced" scientists.

- Very few companies bother searching through the so-called "hot list",
particularly now that the unemployment rate has risen in Switzerland and
that they receive a lot of spontaneous applications from good candidates.

As a remedy, there is thus first a need for an efficient, modern and
ideally centralized way of advertising positions for scientists in
Switzerland. I guess an obvious solution is a Web site, with advanced
search capacities. With some improvements, Telejob could play this role;
one could also conceive a new site maintained for instance by the Science
and Technology Office of the Embassy of Switzerland or by the Federal
Office for Education and Science.

Then, there is a need to inform universities, engineering schools,
cantonal and federal labs and offices as well as private companies,
about the large potential of Swiss scientists abroad (not only in the
Bay Area !) and about the benefits of advertising the openings abroad
and on line. Both human resources departments and hiring managers should
be regularly informed.

The idea of forums abroad, suggested by the 3 Laurents, is a good
complementary solution; the problem is that usually only large
companies, hiring scientists on a regular basis, tend to participate to
such events. Small companies might not bother or afford to come.

I would like to thank the 3 Laurents for the excellent work, for
starting this very interesting discussion and organizing the meeting
with Mr Kleiber.

Thibaud.

-- 
--------------------------
Dr Thibaud STOLL
Cell Culture and Ferm. R&D
Process Sciences
Genentech, Inc.
1 DNA Way
South San Francisco, CA 94080
E-mail: thibaud_at_gene.com
Phone: (650) 225 4345
Fax: (650) 225 2006
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