Career choice is a team sport

Certificates hang on a wall in the classroom. «Jonas Zollinger has successfully completed his apprenticeship search,» it says. A photo shows him as a boy in the 1st secondary school, next to him as a teenager in his final year. «We hang up the certificates of all those who have found their follow-up solution and want to do so,» says Nora Beglinger, a teacher in the 3rd secondary class in Wädenswil on Lake Zurich.

School is the focal point when it comes to choosing a career. This is where young people are confronted with the world of work for the first time towards the end of primary school. This is where the search for their own interests and strengths begins. This is where most job seekers write the first version of their application, and some write the second or third.

Career guidance is on the timetable in the 2nd year of secondary school. «Officially, it's only one lesson a week, but I give the class a lot more time for it,» says Nora Beglinger. «In German lessons, I spend up to half the time on writing job applications.» Vocational orientation also includes finding out whether the Gymi or year 10 is the right choice.

Marla, Jonas' classmate, really wanted to go to secondary school. She passed the exam, even though she was almost placed in secondary level B after year 6 (only the middle level within secondary school in the canton of Zurich). Her colleague Luna already had an apprenticeship, took the Gymi exam on her own initiative, passed - and became insecure. «Fortunately, Mrs Beglinger and our other class teacher, Mr Hohl, helped me with my decision. And my parents, of course,» says Luna. She is now doing her apprenticeship as a healthcare assistant with a vocational baccalaureate. «I want to study medicine later.»

At school, young people are given the tools they need to find an apprenticeship.

Nora Beglinger, teacher

Most teachers are close to their pupils. They know their strengths and weaknesses and know what they are easily motivated for and what they are less motivated for. «My job as a teacher is to help them so that the young people find what suits them,» says Nora Beglinger.

Despite their exposure to the world of work, the pupils still have to master the subject matter. For the teacher, one thing is clear: «School gives young people the tools they need to find an apprenticeship.»

Situational support

Brigitte Keusch, a secondary school teacher in Baar ZG, describes her role in career choice as follows: «I point out strengths and motivate young people to close gaps in their education. I encourage them to look at other professions. I help them compare their performance with the professions they are considering and point out further training opportunities. I push some students and try to take the pressure off others, depending on what I think is appropriate.» Essentially, what the two secondary school teachers do individually with their pupils is nothing more than career counselling.

A visit to the careers information centre (BIZ) is a clear sign that it's time to get serious about choosing a career. Nora Beglinger's class went to the BIZ Horgen. Luzia Zimmermann works there and offers short consultation hours once a week in the school building. «A counselling session only lasts 15 minutes. If someone has a concern that can't be resolved in this short time, I invite them to the careers advice centre at the BIZ.»

After a trial apprenticeship in my dream job as a carpenter, I realised that I didn't like the work after all. Then I no longer knew what suited me.

Jonas, 15

Nora Beglinger does some preliminary work before a pupil comes to see Luzia Zimmermann. The careers counselling specialist is called upon when things get stuck, when apprenticeship seekers are unable to make progress even with the help of their teacher. The teacher and careers counsellor regularly go through the class list to ensure that everyone receives the support they need.

Jonas went to the school counselling session and then to the BIZ. «After the taster apprenticeship in my dream job of carpentry, I realised that the work didn't suit me after all. Then I no longer knew what suited me. Mrs Zimmermann showed me cards with work situations and I had to say what appealed to me. It turned out that I would like to work with people.»

Others come to her for career counselling because they are struggling to decide between two options, says Luzia Zimmermann. Guiding young people to the point where they can make an informed decision is one of the core areas of career counselling. Generally speaking, school support is enough for most people. Sometimes they need additional in-depth counselling and the specialist knowledge that careers advisors bring to the table.

Riccardo was one of those whose certificate didn't hang on the wall for a long time. He could have made it easy for himself and enrolled for year 10. But he was determined to start an apprenticeship. Besides school, Riccardo is a competitive athlete. As a kayak athlete, he trains five to six times a week and regularly attends training camps and competitions. His goal: to take part in the Olympic Games. «I therefore need a training company that enables me to pursue this goal.» He also impressed his teacher Nora Beglinger with his perseverance: «But in situations like this, you also need a lot of dialogue with your parents to keep things moving forward.»

A lot happens at home

For most young people, mum and dad are the third fixed point in their career choices. «I go to them when I have to make a big decision,» says Luna, who chose a commercial apprenticeship instead of grammar school. Jonas' parents also played an important role in his career choice process. «The biggest challenge for me was not to say too much, even though I sensed what might be good for him. I wanted him to find out for himself,» says Ladina Zollinger, Jonas' mum.

Jonas' older brother dropped out of his apprenticeship as a carpenter and started a new one as a childcare specialist in an after-school care centre. The mum was all the more attentive to her younger brother's career choice: «If young people go through their apprenticeship with a chip on their shoulder, they won't be motivated later on either.» With the right apprenticeship in a company, many things are easier. «After that, all doors are open to them.»

Careers counsellor Luzia Zimmermann is convinced that parents in particular shape the attitude with which young people approach their career choice. However, they have to solve the task themselves. «They are the most important person in the whole process. They have to call companies to get a taster, they have to prove themselves in job interviews, they have to decide what to do after compulsory schooling.»

Calling strangers is not easy for many people. Sticking with it when a taster apprenticeship or an invitation to a job interview doesn't work out is at least as difficult. Parents are a source of mental support, but at the same time they have to keep pushing because the clock is ticking.

This can lead to arguments at the family dinner table. «Conflicts show that the parents are interested, and that's important,» says Nora Beglinger. Sometimes teachers find a connection with a pupil, while the emotions at home don't allow for a sensible conversation. Sometimes the more neutral careers counsellor is better placed than the parents to find the words that a career starter needs at the moment.

Stefanie spoke to careers counsellor Luzia Zimmermann twice via video call due to the coronavirus pandemic. Her problem: she was interested in many professions, especially social and manual ones. It took the specialist's questions for her to decide on a career in painting. «I didn't think I would like it,» recalls the pupil, but that's exactly what happened during the taster apprenticeship. Then she still had to decide which training company was right for her.

Stick with it until the end

Riccardo wanted to become an automation technician and tried out the profession several times. «My grades weren't the best,» he admits. The rejections were frustrating and affected his morale. The wall with the certificates in the classroom filled up, but he still didn't have an apprenticeship contract. «That upset me, but it also spurred me on.» The same applied to the support from his parents. «They definitely helped me the most, even though it often annoyed me when they reminded me of my application calls.»

A colleague who had been offered an apprenticeship as a car mechanic gave him the idea of trying to become an automotive mechatronics technician. There were also rejections at first. After a good trial apprenticeship and a positive aptitude test, Riccardo finally received an apprenticeship contract. «At last the stress and discussions are over, I finally have some peace and quiet!»

His teacher was also delighted, as was everyone else in her graduating class. «I'm proud of everyone who has found a solution that will hopefully make them happy. I'm really pleased that a company has recognised what great young people they are.»