Practical information

• Visa: a French visa will allow you to live in both Switzerland and France.
• France is usually cheaper than Switzerland, although public transport in France (outside of Saint-Genis-Pouilly) is rather lacking.
• Look for housing before you arrive, and leave yourself enough time in the hotel/hostel before move in.
• Make sure to scout out the location beforehand: check for what public transport routes are around (how easy is it to get into CERN or to the nearest supermarket); be aware of busy roads, and avoid being near the airport/under common flight paths, or near large social areas (bars/clubs/event spaces such as a town square) if you struggle with loud noises; check the price of the nearest supermarkets if possible as prices can be unexpectedly high (especially in Geneva and some of Saint-Genis).
• Watch out for scams: the general rule is that you shouldn’t commit to a place that you (or someone you trust) haven’t seen in person.
• There may be “hidden” costs that you must consider, such as:
  • Deposit (this can range from 1 – 3 months of rent to be paid in advance to moving in),
  • House insurance (Insurance is mandatory in both France and Switzerland and could be between 200 – 300 CHF for the year, or even higher depending on the property),
  • Charges such as gas/heating and water are normally included and stated at a fixed cost per month (always check to make sure that this is the case) although some charges, such as electricity or wifi will be extra on top of the rent.
• CERN marketplace has plenty of listings for housing, but you can also make a listing yourself stating that you are looking for somewhere to rent, alongside your requirements/ideals.
• Sites such as immobillier, immoscout, flatfox and any other housing sites contain many listings and are also a great place to look for accommodation.
• In order to rent somewhere you will need your documents lined up (proof of job, etc..) (many places may ask for 3 months prior rent, however most letters will allow a CERN contract instead).
• Most housing will have some “ground rules” and depending on your home country these can be unexpected or even jarring. Some of the most common:
  • No smoking (both indoors and outside),
  • No shoes on inside the house (most places will expect you to walk around the house in socks and leave your shoes on a shoe rack),
  • Quiet hours (normally 10pm – 7am)
  • (For shared spaces/accommodation) Clean up after yourself, Don’t let rubbish/garbage pile up (take it out), Be aware and respectful of your housemates allergies/meal requirements

Useful “Housing tutorial” by CAGI: https://vimeo.com/385192806

• CERN is a multinational organization, so the communication applications used by many people may differ to what you might be used to. The middle ground for most people tends to be WhatsApp, so having it pre-installed is a good idea.
•  You will be joining around the same time as plenty of other people, so by looking online you should be able to find other people that will be starting with you or that are already here.
•  When flying over be careful to disable your mobile data before taking off, as on arrival in the country your phone contract may not support free roaming in Switzerland and you may be charged a significant amount for even the smallest of data usage.

The reception for the hostel and hotel is only open from 8am – 12am, 3pm to 7pm, and only on weekdays. If you are arriving at a different time or on the weekend/public holiday, you can go to gate B with your passport and booking conformation to pick up your temporary room key (this should be swapped at reception when possible for the proper key). You can also pick up a “kitchen kit” for €5/month that should contain all the utensils needed for cooking (plates, cutlery, chopping board, etc..)

CERN sets up many networking events throughout your first month with people from all over the various sites, these events are a fantastic way to meet new people and are HIGHLY recommended if this is your first time working here. At these events everyone is new and trying to make new friends so try not to be shy, if you are worried some great small talk starters include: “what’s your job?”, “what are you exited for about Geneva?”, “where are you from?”

Try (if you can) to have lunch once a week or so with your colleagues, this will help you to get to know and build rapport with people you will be working with.

On Fridays many people will go for drinks at restaurant 1 on the Meyrin site, even if you don’t drink this can also be a great way to get to know new people and learn about the local area.

• Most shops and businesses in the area will shut early or entirely on Sundays, this can also include restaurants and fast food
• Not everyone outside of CERN will speak English, so some basic French phrases may come in handy
• Don’t worry if you aren’t confident with your French or English, most people will be more than happy to speak with you if you try, and your skills will improve over time as long as you keep trying
• Despite the hilly nature of the location it is very cyclable, and most roads will have designated cycle paths either on the road, or alongside it
• The CERN marketplace is great not only for housing, but also for any second hand things, such as furniture, vehicles, electronics, etc..