The apprenticeship route to life-long success

The path which led me to become the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of a Fortune 500 Company began modestly, and sheds light on how the apprenticeship system has evolved. I am honored to be an Ambassador of the European Vocational Skills Week for the 3rd year, where we focus on the positive effects of vocational training on employability.

In 1983, at the age of 17, I began my apprenticeship at Ferag AG, here in Zurich. Armin Reichlin was my mentor, and we remain good friends. I had the opportunity to drive my career path, but it was the influence of a strong leader that helped to develop my personality in a crucial phase of my life. My early career as an apprentice helped form my character, work ethic, and soft skills. It set me on the path of lifelong learning which is still relevant in my career today.

Now in 2019, where digitalization and future-proofing are key concerns in the world of work, I still remember my first day, and I continue to reinforce the value of apprenticeships. Many are unaware of the progressiveness of the system, and the benefits to individual, regional, and global prospects.   

Younger generations are changing the idea of what a successful career looks like. Research conducted by the Adecco Group of 5,000 Gen-Zers shows that more than half (55%) of the young people that took part in our CtheFuture research, said that they believe apprenticeships and experiential learning are the best ways to develop future leaders. Apply this to the 40% of Europe’s employers that can’t find people with the right skills to fill their vacancies, and we have a place where apprenticeships could capitalize on current trends.

My career so far has included 18 different roles, and I move into my nineteenth next year. From delivering newspapers, to roofing, to the head of communications for the Adecco Group, this fact has remained constant: a career doesn’t mean one job; it means different jobs, at different stages of your life. Current generations – especially millennials – are aware of this, so I spread awareness about the world’s most successful workforce solutions.

At 2.4%, the Swiss have the lowest level of youth unemployment in the world. This is largely due to their apprenticeship system, which is a composite of solutions, including a paradigm shift in how they are understood.

Like many university graduates know, the bridge from education to full-time employment can be challenging, and it’s here that more support is needed. The Swiss Vocational Education and Training system (VET) excels in this area, since unlike many other apprenticeship models, the individual can advance all the way up to PhD level if they choose. The learning does not stop. The options are not limited. The non-linear evolution of life is taken into account.

Apprenticeships and academic paths have often been dichotomized, but in the most progressive systems, they are not. Apprentices can be the leaders of tomorrow, and only 6% of Gen Z’ers from our CtheFuture research believe that university degrees alone will provide them with the soft skills they need to lead. The first step is making VET the first choice for young people and helping them to understand that the system adapts to their future choices. This change starts with parents at home, where access to the most up-to-date information is essential.

The skills gap needs to be closed, and the institutions, companies, and governments that offer the best solutions will take lead in the future. By 2025, 60% of young people entering the workforce will perform jobs that do not exist today, and by 2030 as many as 375 million employees will need to upskill to align with multi-industry requirements – so progressive workforce solutions are vital.

As an EU ambassador for VET week, I am delighted when I see the stigma being removed from apprenticeships. 70% of young people in Switzerland follow the apprenticeship route, and youngsters everywhere should have the same opportunities.

The message from VET week is a simple one: our governments and educational institutions must work together to incentivize apprenticeship schemes among companies. Our youth deserve the opportunity to achieve excellence, and by working together we will succeed in making the world work for everyone.