Store manager
Everyday life as a store manager
Brendalee Salazar Piretti is store manager at Lutry La Conversion in Canton Vaud. Whether it’s product displays, managing her team or dealing with unexpected situations, her days are always busy.
Working world
“All doors are open to you after an apprenticeship”
How do young people get their dream apprenticeship? And how important are grades if you want to land the perfect apprenticeship? Karin Nietlisbach, the Migros Group Head of National Vocational Training, assesses the situation.
Karin Nietlisbach, many people are currently in the throes of searching for an apprenticeship. How realistic is it for young people to think that they can still land their dream placement?
In terms of timing, extremely. Apprenticeships are usually advertised from August onwards in German-speaking Switzerland, and often later in French-speaking areas. The important thing is for young people to know their personal and academic strengths and weaknesses and realistically assess their chances of finding a particular apprenticeship.
What role do school grades play?
In some training courses, like computer science, good marks are essential. This certainly also applies if you’re aiming for a federal vocational baccalaureate. However, good social and personal skills are at least as important.
What else determines whether you get an apprenticeship?
Ultimately, there are many pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that together form a decisive overall picture. This includes, for example, a well-prepared and complete application, positive feedback from taster sessions and how you present yourself at interview. Young people who are clearly interested in a profession and are curious are also viewed favourably.
We’ve recently been reading a lot about Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012). Among other things, it is said that they expect too much of the world of work. Is there any truth in that?
It’s true that they want more of a say and can vocalise this too. Nevertheless, we also notice that young people need to be given good support on their journey.
Does this make it harder for companies to find motivated apprentices?
Not in principle. The vocational reforms in the retail and commercial sectors, for example, are aimed at this precise issue: the aim is for apprentices to be able to take on more responsibility from the outset. However, it’s still challenging to get apprentices enthusiastic about apprenticeships. The figures show that more and more young people are attending secondary or baccalaureate schools.
Why is that?
I don’t think that many people realise the exciting opportunities and diverse prospects that vocational training offers.
Namely?
The biggest advantage of an apprenticeship is the practical experience. Apprentices acquire their skills in a working environment and can apply their academic knowledge directly. Because our education system is very permeable, all doors are open to you afterwards. As a result, even if you don’t find your dream apprenticeship straight away, anything is possible afterwards. Even doing a degree.
Looking for an apprenticeship?
You can’t always find one straight away. But don’t worry! If you don’t have an apprenticeship place yet, these three tips will help you.
1. Don’t give up
It may be frustrating, but unfortunately rejection is part and parcel of looking for a job. Don’t let this discourage you. It’s normal that things don’t work out on your first attempt. But you still have plenty of time to find an apprenticeship. So keep at it!
You can also find lots of practical tips on choosing a career at famigros2. Check your application
Your application should be complete. This means that it must include a letter of motivation tailored to the relevant company, a CV with photo, certificates from school and from taster sessions as well as other pieces of evidence, such as tests or extracurricular activities, e.g. in clubs.
Here you’ll find valuable tips on all aspects of applying to the Migros Group3. Be open-minded
Don’t fixate on one profession or one company. Perhaps there is another company that offers an apprenticeship in an allied area or a similar profession that wasn’t on your radar before this point. Try to keep an open mind and apply to many places.
The Migros Group has more than 60 training-based professions! You’ll find an overview of the professions here
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