Multi-faceted vocational training

Swiss Post promotes the next IT generation

Swiss Post needs outstanding specialists. As one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in Switzerland, it relies on well-grounded, contemporary vocational training. It is reinforcing its commitment, particularly in the field of IT, with additional apprenticeships and new forms of training.

In 2015, Swiss Post is offering 811 apprenticeships in 15 occupations. Four out of five apprentices stay with Swiss Post after completing their training. No question, in other words, that vocational training is of strategic importance for Swiss Post, that it is acting with foresight, and that with the introduction of the new federally recognized basic training courses, it even has a pioneering role. Examples include the apprenticeships as Call Center Agent and Mediamatics Technician. To ensure that it can continue to adapt quickly to new customer requirements and technological developments and in order to remain competitive in the market, Swiss Post has reinforced its commitment to IT training in particular. Because this is a field in which qualified professionals are increasingly hard to find in Switzerland.

Attractive career prospects

In its in-house IT alone, Swiss Post employs around 1,550 people, making it one of the biggest employers in Switzerland in this sector. To ensure that it can cover its own needs in the long term, Swiss Post is continually increasing the number of IT apprenticeships. In an effort to strengthen practical relevance, Swiss Post will also offer its IT trainees its own one-year course of basic training beginning in the summer of 2015.

Swiss Post offers different paths to the same destination: in addition to the four-year information technology apprenticeship for young people with elementary school certification, the company offers a shortened two-year way-up apprenticeship for those with a university entrance-level qualification, which provides a balanced mix of technical theory, basic training and business practice. After graduation, the versatile all-rounders are sought not only by Swiss Post, but also by other companies. And the doors to a University of Applied Sciences are open to them. For Swiss Post, the way-up apprenticeship supplements the four-year course as an important tool in attracting sufficient numbers of trainees to this challenging training. To attract more young people to IT training, Swiss Post supports the IT-dreamjobs.ch campaign.

IT Bachelor's degree with Distance University of Applied Sciences

At Swiss Post, those looking to combine work experience and academic study can now complete a Bachelor's degree with integrated practical training (PiBS) in information technology. Swiss Post offers the four-year degree course jointly with the Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences. From August 2015, ten places will be available in the company for this degree model, which is new in Switzerland, to school leavers with a university entrance-level qualification.

Melanie Stucki, way-up IT Technician

Why did you choose the way-up information technology apprenticeship at Swiss Post?

After school, I wanted to go directly into professional practice. The two-year way-up apprenticeship offers exactly that, while also leaving all other options open. Swiss Post offers jobs in all sectors of the IT industry; the development opportunities are very diverse.

You now teach IT trainees at Swiss Post: a dream job?

I used to want to become a teacher. At school, I became increasingly fascinated by mathematics and logical thinking. As a trainer in information technology, I can combine my enthusiasm with my job and pass it on to young people.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm currently studying for a Bachelor's degree in iCompetence Information Technology at the University of Applied Sciences. It combines IT, design and management. At the same time, I'm working part-time at Swiss Post as a trainer in basic IT training. I can imagine going on to do a Master's degree later.