Applying for an apprenticeship: timetable, dossier and contract

The apprenticeship usually starts in August. Most companies decide between September and January of the previous year; popular professions are filled earlier. Anyone who starts looking in spring often finds only leftover places.

• 7th school year: career-choice preparation, first trial days, clarifying interests.
• 8th school year, autumn: trial apprenticeships in two to three professions, creating the application dossier.
• 8th school year, winter: sending applications, aptitude tests, interviews.
• 9th school year: following up, checking alternatives, signing the apprenticeship contract (often by spring).

The school's career guidance service and the cantonal apprenticeship exchanges show which companies train in your region.

A trial apprenticeship usually lasts two to five days. It is a test for both sides – and for the company often the actual basis for its decision.

• Application: briefly, by phone or email, with your school year, preferred dates and one line on why this particular profession.
• Conduct: on time, suitable clothing, phone away, ask questions, ask for feedback on the last day.
• Following up: a short thank-you message after the trial apprenticeship is customary in Switzerland and is noted positively.

Anyone who convinces during a trial apprenticeship is often invited to apply directly – without this stage the hurdle is considerably higher.

An apprenticeship dossier consists of a cover letter, CV, copies of school reports and – depending on the company – a completed form. It is deliberately leaner than an application with work experience.

• CV: one page. School, trial apprenticeships, part-time jobs (newspapers, tutoring, family business), language courses, interests related to the profession.
• Cover letter: one page, handwritten if requested. Three paragraphs: why this profession, why this company, what you bring.
• School reports: the last two reports, complete, without retouching.

Missing experience is not a shortcoming but the normal case. What counts is reliability, motivation and a dossier that manages without typing errors.

Many companies use Multicheck, Basic-Check or their own aptitude tests. They do not test intelligence but suitability for the profession: concentration, logical thinking, language comprehension, sometimes occupation-specific tasks.

Preparing is worthwhile: work through the providers' practice tasks, revise arithmetic and German, turn up well rested. A single test is rarely decisive – poor results can be put into perspective in the interview.

In the interview the typical questions are: why this profession? What do you know about the company? Where do you see difficulties? Who supports you? Parents may also be present – in Switzerland this is customary for apprenticeships and not a disadvantage.

The apprenticeship contract is a special employment contract (Art. 344 ff. CO) and requires the approval of the cantonal vocational education office. It must be in writing and contain the following points:

• Profession and duration (usually three or four years), probation period (one to three months).
• Pay by apprenticeship year – cantonal recommendations are customary, there is no statutory minimum wage.
• Vocational school (one to two days per week) and inter-company courses.
• Holidays (at least five weeks up to the age of 20) and working hours.
• Contribution to teaching materials, if agreed.

Before signing: read the contract together with your parents, clarify open points, keep a copy.

Rejections are part of it – statistically, apprentices receive several rejections before they get an offer. What matters is keeping the rhythm: two to three new applications every two weeks, not twenty at once.

If it does not work out by spring, there are orderly alternatives:

• Gap year with an internship, a language stay or a pre-apprenticeship – worthwhile if it relates to the desired profession.
• Two-year certificate training (EBA) as an entry point with the option of the three-year EFZ training.
• Bridging offer from the canton to prepare for the apprenticeship.
• Vocational baccalaureate or a further school, if the academic requirements fit.

A gap year without a plan looks weaker in the next dossier than a deliberate interim solution with a goal.