What influence do school grades have on career choices?

Part of choosing a career is comparing your skills with the demands of working life. School grades play an important role in this, but are by no means the only deciding factor.

Finding out what you want is hard enough. And then comes the next challenge: Do I fulfil the requirements? Am I good enough for my dream job? A study of 514 young people* comes to a pleasing conclusion: 58 per cent fully agree with the statement «I chose the training programme that interested me the most», while a further 33 per cent say it applies to them somewhat. Only 9 per cent felt that their interests were not represented or not at all represented in their current vocational training programme. The vast majority of young people have found an apprenticeship that interests them and whose requirements they fulfil - otherwise they would not have got the job.

Of course, this does not make the search any easier for young people who have yet to find their vocational training. Job descriptions, such as those offered on www.berufsberatung.ch, specify which skills and abilities are required: from skilful hands to a friendly manner for an apprenticeship as a housekeeping practitioner; or good fine motor skills, spatial awareness and more for an apprenticeship in architectural modelling. The criteria used for selection and the role played by school grades are usually not mentioned. This is probably intentional, as we don't want to take away anyone's motivation.

A grade point average for an apprenticeship?

The next question is how to demonstrate your own skills and present them well. This is where a taster apprenticeship in your chosen profession comes in handy. A positive taster apprenticeship report is almost mandatory for the application. If you are looking for an apprenticeship in the field of childcare and can refer to your experience as a scout leader or babysitter, you will also be in a better position than someone who can only mention their desire to be a carer. School grades can be supplemented with the results of aptitude tests such as «Multicheck», «Basic-Check» or «Kompass». They are tailored more precisely to the requirements of the various occupational groups and sometimes also reveal qualities that are hardly reflected in school reports.

In principle, every apprenticeship offers the opportunity for further training

When asked about a list that shows which secondary school level offers which apprenticeship, careers counsellor Bruno Ruoss replies: «There is no such list. But I'm sure every careers counsellor has their own experience in mind.» And young people who have dealt with the search for an apprenticeship also develop a feel for the requirements, even if they don't like to admit it. A visit to a school in Zurich's Oerlikon district shows that while many in the secondary A class are looking for a commercial, drawing or IT apprenticeship, the secondary B class is also looking for skilled trades and retail.

There is nothing to stop you from applying for an apprenticeship if, for example, you don't quite fulfil the requirements in terms of school performance. You also don't spoil anything by doing an apprenticeship, even if you were accepted into a grammar school. The important thing is to look reality in the eye in good time, i.e. to consider other professions than just your dream job after a large number of rejections.

* Juvenir Study 2.0: The first big decision. How Swiss young people choose a (vocational) training programme. 2013 study conducted by Prognos AG on behalf of the Jacobs Foundation. Download the study at www.juvenir.ch

Secondary school leaving certificate and educational pathway

Basically, nothing is impossible and every apprenticeship offers the opportunity for further training.

  • Sekundarstufe A: 4-jährige Berufslehren mit Eidgenössischem Fähigkeitszeugnis (EFZ)
  • Sekundarstufe B (Realschule): 3-jährige Berufslehren EFZ
  • Sekundarstufe C (Oberschule): 2-jährige Berufslehren mit Berufsattest (EBA)

Rating of the intellectual requirements of apprenticeships: Stalder, B. E. (2011). The intellectual requirement level of basic vocational training programmes in Switzerland. Ratings for the years 1999-2005. Basel: Institute of Sociology at the University of Basel/TREE. p. 8(Document Stalder_2011_Intellektuelles_ Anforderungsniveau.pdf)

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