Job-hunting resources
Articles, blogs and short videos for every step: finding open positions, writing your CV and motivation letter, applying, interviewing and following up.
Most Swiss careers material is in German or French. Each link and video below shows which language it is in.
Interview Roulette
Spin a Las Vegas style wheel and practise 100 real apprenticeship interview questions, with tips for every type of question.
Spin the wheelPrintable checklists
Take one of these with you to an open day or a trial apprenticeship. Print it, or save it as a PDF on your phone.
Before you start
Know what you are looking for: which professions or schools you want, where you can travel to, and when applications open in your canton.
Articles & blogs
- berufsberatung.ch — Lehrstelle suchen
The official overview of the whole search: when to start, what to prepare and which steps come in which order.
German - BIZ Kanton Bern — Lehrstelle finden
A cantonal careers-office page with checklists for the application file, aptitude tests and interviews.
German - orientation.ch — Chercher une place d'apprentissage
The French-language version of the official search guide, with cantonal deadlines and tips.
French
Videos
Auf Lehrstellensuche: Tipps und Eindrücke
berufsberatung.ch · German
Auf Lehrstellensuche: die Schnupperlehre
berufsberatung.ch · German
So klappt es mit der Schnupperlehre!
BIZ Kanton Bern · German
À la recherche d'une place d'apprentissage : le stage d'orientation
orientation.ch · French
Phone script and email template
For asking a company about a taster apprenticeship: what to say on the phone, polite ways to say thank you and goodbye, and an email you can adapt. These phrases are for talking to a company, so they use the polite form.
Phone script
- “Hello, my name is … I'm in 8th grade at … school.”
- “I'd like to become a … Could I speak to the person responsible for apprentices?”
- “I'd like to ask whether I could do a taster with you, for example in the … holidays.”
- If yes: write down the name, date, time, place and what to bring. If no: ask whether they know another company.
- Say thank you and goodbye — pick a phrase from the list below that fits how the call went.
Saying thank you and goodbye
End every call politely, whatever the answer. Choose the phrase that fits:
- They said yes“Thank you very much, I'm really looking forward to it. Goodbye, and have a nice day!”
- They said no“Thank you for your time anyway. Do you perhaps know another company I could ask? … Thank you, goodbye.”
- You should call back later“Thank you, then I'll call again on [day]. Have a nice day, goodbye.”
- They will call you back“Thank you very much. My number is [number]. I look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye.”
- You reach voicemail“… My number is [number]. Thank you very much for calling me back. Goodbye.”
- Short and polite“Thank you for your help.” · “Have a nice day / a nice afternoon.” · “Goodbye.”
Wait until the other person has said goodbye before you hang up, and keep a friendly voice right to the end.
Email template
Subject: Taster request – [profession] Dear Ms/Mr [name], My name is [name] and I am in [8th] grade at [school] in [town]. I am very interested in the profession of [profession] and would like to find out what the work is like in practice. Would it be possible to do a taster with you for [1–3] days, for example during [period]? I have attached my CV. Thank you very much and kind regards, [name] [phone number]
Searching for open positions
Where to look for open apprenticeship places and jobs, how to use the cantonal lists and company sites, and how to keep track of what you have found.
Articles & blogs
- berufsberatung.ch — Lehrstellennachweis (LENA)
The official cantonal list of open apprenticeship places, searchable by profession and region.
German - orientation.ch — Bourse des places d'apprentissage
The same official apprenticeship exchange in French.
French - yousty.ch — Lehrstellen und Schnupperlehren
Switzerland's biggest private apprenticeship portal: many companies advertise and accept applications here.
German
Videos
Lehrstellensuche und Lehrstellenbewerbung
BIZ Kanton Bern · German
Lehrstelle suchen und bewerben mit Yousty
Yousty · German
(1/18) Comment trouver une place d'apprentissage ? Vue d'ensemble
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(5/18) Comment rechercher une place d'apprentissage sur orientation.ch ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(8/18) Comment bien préparer un téléphone à une entreprise ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(10/18) Comment surmonter la peur de téléphoner à une entreprise ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
Gymnasium entrance exam
If your canton admits to the Gymnasium by exam, these are the official sample papers and free practice materials for maths and language. Start with a past paper under exam conditions a few months before the date.
Articles & blogs
- Kanton Zürich — Zentrale Aufnahmeprüfung Langgymnasium
The official exam page with the Prüfungsarchiv: real past papers (Musterprüfungen) with solutions for maths and German.
German - Kanton Zürich — Zentrale Aufnahmeprüfung Kurzgymnasium
The same official archive for the short Gymnasium: past exams, solutions and what counts towards admission.
German - État de Vaud — Exemples d'examens d'admission au gymnase
Official past papers with answer keys (corrigés) in French, maths, German and English.
French - Gymi-King — Lernvideos zur Gymiprüfung
Over 100 free, ad-free videos that walk through real past exam questions step by step — no registration needed.
German
Videos
Gymiprüfung bestehen? So geht's.
GoGymi · German
Preparing your CV
What belongs in a Swiss CV as a young applicant: school, grades, taster weeks, hobbies, languages and a clean, simple layout.
Articles & blogs
- Berufswahl-Portal Zürich — Das gehört in deinen Lebenslauf
Section by section: personal details, school, taster weeks, languages, hobbies — and the photo.
German - Gewerbeverband Basel-Stadt — Bewerbungsratgeber für Lehrstellensuchende (PDF)
A free booklet with annotated example CVs, letters and interview pages, written for teenagers.
German - Kanton Basel-Stadt — Tipps und Anleitung für deine Lehrstellenbewerbung (PDF)
Official cantonal guide to the whole dossier, including what AI tools may and may not do for you.
German
Videos
Wie erstelle ich einen Lebenslauf?
Yousty · German
(6/18) Comment faire un bon CV pour trouver une place d'apprentissage ? Un exemple.
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
Writing a motivation letter
How to explain why this profession and this company, in your own words, on one page.
Articles & blogs
- Berufswahl-Portal Zürich — Das gehört in dein Bewerbungsschreiben
How to structure the half-page letter and how to show why this profession and this company.
German - berufsberatung.ch — Bewerben Schritt für Schritt
Official step-by-step guidance on the letter and the rest of the dossier.
German
Videos
Wie schreibe ich ein Motivationsschreiben?
Yousty · German
Wie schreibe ich ein Bewerbungsschreiben?
Yousty · German
(7/18) Comment écrire une lettre de motivation ? Un exemple.
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
Sending your application
What to send, how to name your files, how to write the email, and how to follow the company's own application process.
Articles & blogs
- berufsberatung.ch — Bewerbung für die Lehrstelle
What a complete dossier contains and how to send it by email or through a company portal.
German - orientation.ch — Candidature pour l'apprentissage
The French overview of the application: dossier, sending it, and what happens next.
French - Multicheck — Eignungsanalyse und Beispieltests
Many companies ask for an aptitude test with the application; here you can see what it looks like.
German
Videos
Wie bewerbe ich mich online über yousty.ch?
Yousty · German
(11/18) Comment bien préparer son dossier de candidature ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(12/18) Comment fusionner son dossier de candidature en un seul PDF ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(14/18) Comment postuler par mail ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(13/18) Comment postuler par courrier ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
Preparing for the interview
Research the company, know your own dossier, plan your journey, and prepare answers and questions before the day.
Articles & blogs
- berufsberatung.ch — Gut vorbereitet ins Vorstellungsgespräch
Official preparation checklist: research the company, expect these questions, prepare your own.
German - orientation.ch — Convaincre l'entreprise lors de l'entretien
How to prepare answers and questions, in French.
French
Videos
Auf Lehrstellensuche: die Vorbereitung auf das Vorstellungsgespräch
berufsberatung.ch · German
À la recherche d'une place d'apprentissage : la préparation à l'entretien
orientation.ch · French
(16/18) Comment réussir son entretien d'embauche ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
Presenting yourself on the day
Arriving, greeting, clothes, body language and how to talk about yourself without sounding rehearsed.
Articles & blogs
- Berufswahl-Portal Zürich — Richtiges Verhalten beim Vorstellungsgespräch
Arriving, greeting, clothes, body language and how to leave a good impression.
German
Videos
Auf Lehrstellensuche: das Vorstellungsgespräch
berufsberatung.ch · German
Vorstellungsgespräch Lehrstelle
BIZ Kanton Bern · German
À la recherche d'une place d'apprentissage : l'entretien d'embauche
orientation.ch · French
General interview tips
Typical questions, what to do when your mind goes blank, and good questions to ask the company.
Articles & blogs
- Gewerbeverband Basel-Stadt — Vorstellungsgespräch (PDF, Seiten 10–13)
Typical questions, the first impression, and what companies notice — with space to write your answers.
German
Videos
Tipps zum Vorstellungsgespräch
Yousty · German
(17/18) Comment surmonter la peur des blancs en entretien ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(18/18) Quelles questions peux-tu poser en entretien ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
Following up
When and how to say thank you, how to ask about the decision, and how to stay polite and professional.
Articles & blogs
- berufsberatung.ch — Nach dem Vorstellungsgespräch
The last part of this page explains what to do after the interview and when to ask about the decision.
German
Videos
(9/18) Que dire pendant un téléphone à une entreprise ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
(15/18) Comment déposer son dossier directement en entreprise ?
Orientation professionnelle Fribourg · French
Rejections and plan B
What to do when the answer is no: asking for feedback, improving the next application, and keeping a second option open.
Articles & blogs
- berufsberatung.ch — Absagen: was nun?
What a rejection really means, how to ask for feedback, and which options stay open.
German - blog.yousty.ch — Bewerbungsvideo statt Standardbrief
An idea for standing out on the next try, with practical filming tips.
German