Career aspirations? Something to do with media

Mr Marthaler, which media professions are in vogue today?

Digitalisation has changed the way media is used in many professional fields. Digital media is becoming increasingly important in everyday working life - and with it media skills. Today, all of our apprenticeships have to do with media.

And media professions in the narrower sense?

The technical professions in particular have a lot to do with digital media: Computer scientists, telematics technicians, mediamaticians and, as of this summer, interactive media designers.

What are Interactive Media Designers?

Interactive media designers are experts in modern communication. They develop and realise user-friendly, interactive digital communication tools and make them accessible on digital systems such as tablets, smartphones and PCs.

Which teenagers are suitable for media professions?

It takes motivation, willingness and curiosity. These qualities are important for learners to immerse themselves in a subject, be interested, take on challenges and learn new things. You can already tell whether young people have these qualities during the interview. They present themselves, have already programmed or created their own website.

So do young people have to create their own website to get an apprenticeship?

No, we don't expect that, because that's what they come to the vocational training programme to learn. But if someone applies as a computer scientist, for example, and says they only really know how to play games, the prerequisites are rather poor.

What grade point average do you need to land a job at Swisscom?

Grades are becoming less important. This does not mean that they are unimportant. Motivation is more important to us. Someone who says: «I want to, but I just don't feel like going to school» shows little motivation and lacks credibility. Computer science and mediamatics are demanding professions. We don't want to burn learners out and give them false hope. A D in maths at secondary school is not enough, the demands of these professions are too high.

What should applicants be interested in apart from maths?

Creative skills are also important. These are utilised in various subjects and can be developed and presented.

Once they have made the transition, what do young people learn at Swisscom?

The education regulations and training plans for each occupational profile specify which competences learners must acquire. However, we no longer have a fixed training plan that they simply work through. Learners determine their own path. They are coached by a learning mentor. They learn and work in projects that employees from all areas of Swisscom advertise on an electronic portal. If an apprentice is interested in a project, they apply internally to work on it and have to reckon with competition from other apprentices - just like in later working life.
Picture: fotolia.com

To the author:

On Medienstark you will find tips and interactive learning modules for the competent use of digital media in everyday family life.