I applied online. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at Saidler & Co. (Zug)
Interview
Home assignment (around 10-15h to complete). Prototype and document end-2-end AI system for a certain purpose. Basically they wanted a free consultant while interviewing. Passing that one I was invited to a technical round with a C-level, standard ML questions, more managerial. Never heard back from them afterwards. All commitment and work to not even get a rejection response. Extremely unprofessional, thus writing it here
I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at Saidler & Co. (Zug) in Jul 2025
Interview
INTERVIEW PROCESS:
• Initial conversations were engaging and professional
• Technical discussions about AI/ML strategy and implementation
• Required substantial technical deliverable (system architecture document)
• Offer extended after completion of assignment
• Offer withdrawn after requesting contract clarifications
ASSIGNMENT:
Candidates should be aware that the interview process includes a detailed
technical assignment. The assignment required significant time investment
(approximately 80-100 hours) including system architecture, technical
specifications, and implementation details. No compensation was provided
for this work. Consider requesting IP protection or compensation if you're
asked to provide substantial deliverables.
CONTRACT TERMS:
The employment agreements contained provisions that differed significantly
from typical Swiss market standards. Key areas to review carefully with
legal counsel:
• NDA penalty clauses (substantially higher than market norms)
• NDA duration (longer than typical post-employment agreements)
• Non-compete scope and duration (broader than standard)
• Intellectual property assignment (comprehensive scope)
• Outside activities restrictions
When I requested modifications to align with Swiss employment law standards,
the company chose to withdraw the offer rather than discuss revisions.
ADVICE FOR CANDIDATES:
• Have an employment lawyer review contracts before signing
• Request IP protection for substantial interview assignments
• Understand all contract terms fully before proceeding
• Be prepared that contract terms may not be negotiable
• Clarify any outside activities (consulting, board positions) early in
the process
The role itself seemed interesting and the initial conversations were
professional. However, candidates should carefully review all employment
terms and be prepared for limited negotiation flexibility.
QUESTIONS ASKED:
• LLM fine-tuning and RAG implementation experience
• AI adoption strategies for portfolio companies
• Technical architecture and system design
• AI governance and ethical considerations