Career choice - nothing is forever

Do I take the grey or the black jeans? Are we going to the cinema or a concert? Do we meet up in Laax or Davos? Young people's lives are full of decisions. But now comes one that will set the course for the rest of their lives: What will I do after secondary school? What career do I want to pursue one day? What do I actually want to do with my life?
«My dream would be to be a marine biologist. But I'll never manage that,» says the fourteen-year-old secondary B pupil. When it comes to choosing a career, young people have an enormous range of options to choose from. It's the time to reach for the stars. But it is also the time when the reality of the labour market strikes for the first time. Some realise when they read the requirements of the apprenticeship providers that their school performance is not good enough. Others only say goodbye to their dream after dozens of rejections. From setting off into a new world to a hard landing, everything is possible in the year in which most people decide on their first vocational training programme.
Careers counsellor Monika Baertsch summarises her observations: «For many, choosing a career is very exciting, something completely different from school. Some discover completely different, previously hidden skills and look forward to trying out and getting to know everything. For others, on the other hand, choosing a career is very stressful, especially if they are still very unsure about what really interests them.» The careers counsellor, who works in Uster and the surrounding area, goes on to say that choosing a career is particularly stressful for those young people who take it very seriously. «They put themselves under pressure that their decision has to be right, even perfect.»

Nothing is forever

But what is the right decision? Does it even exist? The most important information is practically given to young people in their first careers lesson at secondary school, and they hear it again and again: no vocational training is a forever decision. After every basic vocational training programme, there are opportunities to deepen one's skills or switch to another field. No qualification without a connection is the motto. But for most fifteen-year-olds, three or four years is an extremely long time. Spending it on vocational training that doesn't match what they want to do is a nightmare. Their parents and teachers can tell them for a long time that it won't matter a few years later. Young people want a good life now - especially at the time when they are gradually gaining control over their lives.
Interest comes first and skills second. Career counsellors agree on this. Young people can always narrow down their choices later. It is advisable to approach the big decision with a broad horizon. Over time, the choice becomes smaller, either because you know yourself and your interests better or because you don't fulfil certain requirements. If you say goodbye to your dream job, remember: the decision in favour of basic vocational training is just the beginning, and the next opportunity will come - if you make the effort. If you go to a concert today, you will keep the anticipation of the cinema film alive.

Karajan Cem Acku

16, IT systems engineer, 1st year of apprenticeship, Wetzikon

I never wanted to do anything other than an IT apprenticeship. My brother, who is five years older than me, also trained as a computer scientist and inspired me. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I really wanted to do it. That's why I got informed early on. I wrote an application and sent it to 40 companies. Unfortunately, I didn't receive a single acceptance, and often not even a reply. Several companies wrote to say they would only take good A-level students. I realised that I didn't have the best prospects as a secondary B student. Nevertheless, reading this in black and white was not pleasant.
Out of desperation, I applied for a logistics apprenticeship and - because my mum wanted me to - as a chef. But I wasn't motivated to do either. My brother also thought I should look for something else if I hadn't found an apprenticeship after so many applications. But I didn't give up. Eventually I came across the company EcoLogic. The people in charge invited me in and let me have a taster - and finally offered me an apprenticeship as a computer scientist in systems engineering.
Now I work with servers, I'm in support, I've also been on the helpdesk, or I go to customers. There we install computers and network them. However, I imagined the work would be easier. But because it interests me, I also enjoy learning. I want to understand how things work. I really like my apprenticeship.

Stefan Gloor

17, EFZ electronics technician with vocational baccalaureate, Zurich

I was already building electronic devices long before I started my apprenticeship, so it was clear to me that I wanted to become an electronics technician. ETH is said to be one of the best universities in the world. That's where I wanted to do my apprenticeship. I attended information and taster events and did a trial apprenticeship. In the end, I applied, had to pass an aptitude test and was offered an apprenticeship at the Department of Physics. It certainly helped that my instructors already knew me because I asked questions and showed interest on the taster day.
I think it's an advantage that ETH is not a manufacturing company. In other companies, you sometimes work in production and therefore have less time for individual work. We can realise our own projects - I recently developed, built and programmed a simple video game. We also often have scientists who need a specific device for an experiment. They tell us what it needs to be able to do, we find the technical solution and build it.
I'm doing an apprenticeship with a vocational baccalaureate. After the apprenticeship, I can either go straight to a university of applied sciences or study at university or ETH after a year of passerelle. I want to become a hardware and software developer. I'm fascinated by how electronic devices work. Developing new devices and having them manufactured is what I want to do for a living.

Read more:

• What influence do school grades have on career choices?
• Alternatives to apprenticeships and grammar school
• Ask the careers counsellor!
• I want to go to grammar school
• The apprenticeship - a model for success
• Teaching is just the beginning
• The career after the apprenticeship
• Changing professions
• 7 tips for choosing a career
• Questions about choosing a career that help