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Teen's guide

The teen's guide: getting an apprenticeship or a school place

Everything from your first search to signing a contract — and how to choose a full-time school if that suits you better.

Why an apprenticeship?

You earn your own money from day one
You learn a real job by doing it, not just reading about it
A recognised EFZ/EBA diploma opens doors all over Switzerland
You can still go on to a Berufsmatura, university of applied sciences or your own company
Companies often keep good apprentices after the final exam

See the steps

Why a full-time school?

You keep learning many subjects and stay flexible a bit longer
A Matura or specialised diploma leads to university and higher schools
More time to grow up before choosing a profession
Languages, exchanges and projects are a big part of school life
You can still switch to an apprenticeship later — many do

See the steps

Getting an apprenticeship, step by step

Most places for the following August are advertised between August and December of the year before. Start early: the popular professions fill up first.

1. Work out what interests you
Try the pathway quiz, browse professions here, and talk to the careers counsellor at your school (BIZ / OSP / orientation professionnelle). Free counselling appointments are open to everyone.
Tips & videos for this step
2. Do trial apprenticeships (Schnupperlehre / stage)
A few days in a company is the best test of whether a job fits. Most companies don't advertise tasters, so you usually have to ask — see “How to find a taster place” below. Do two or three in different professions before deciding. Many companies only take apprentices who have done a taster with them.
Trial-apprenticeship checklist (PDF)Tips & videos for this step
3. Find open positions
Search the official cantonal apprenticeship exchange (Lehrstellennachweis LENA / bourse des places d'apprentissage) on berufsberatung.ch or orientation.ch, then check company websites directly — some never advertise elsewhere.
Tips & videos for this step
4. Prepare your application file
You need a short letter of motivation, a CV with a photo, your last two school reports, any trial-apprenticeship reports, and results of a multicheck/basic-check test if the profession asks for one. Keep it to one PDF, named clearly.
Tips & videos for this step
5. Write the letter of motivation
Half a page: why this profession, why this company, and what you did that shows it (your trial week, a hobby, a project). Address a real person by name where you can, and check the spelling of the company.
Tips & videos for this step
6. The interview
Read the company website first, dress tidily, arrive ten minutes early and bring your file on paper. Expect questions about why you chose the profession, what you did on your trial, your school subjects and your hobbies. Prepare two questions of your own.
Trial-apprenticeship checklist (PDF)Tips & videos for this step Practise with the Interview Roulette
7. Aptitude tests and trial days
Many companies add a written test (Multicheck, Basic-Check, Stellwerk) or a practical day. Practise the sample tests online beforehand — they are timed and cover maths, German, logic and concentration.
Tips & videos for this step
8. After the interview
Send a short thank-you email the same day. If you hear nothing after two weeks, call politely and ask about the status. Rejections are normal — ask what you could improve and keep applying.
Tips & videos for this step
9. The contract
An offer becomes real with a signed apprenticeship contract (Lehrvertrag) approved by the cantonal vocational training office. Read the wage, holidays, working hours and school days before you and your parents sign, and never sign two contracts.

How to find a taster place

Most companies never advertise that they offer tasters — but any company that trains apprentices can be asked. Here's where to look.

1. The official taster directory
berufsberatung.ch/schnupperadressen (in French orientation.ch, in Italian orientamento.ch) lists training companies you can ask, by profession and place. They don't need to have an advert: just contact them.
2. Taster listings
Yousty.ch and gateway.one show taster places that companies have published. Big employers often have a request form on their apprenticeship page — book early, popular ones fill up months ahead.
3. Your school
Ask your class teacher or careers teacher. They often know local companies, and many schools run taster or project weeks. For a taster during term you need the school's permission, so ask early.
4. Careers fairs
At BAM in Bern (late summer) or the Berufsmesse Zürich (November) you can talk to apprentices and ask companies about tasters on the spot.
5. People you know
Family, neighbours, friends' parents, your sports club. Ask: “Does your company train apprentices? Could I do a taster with you?”

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]

Good to know

You must be at least 13.
A taster day lasts at most 8 hours, between 6:00 and 18:00, with a 30-minute break if you work more than 5 hours.
You won't be given dangerous work.
Tasters are usually unpaid. You are insured against accidents through the company.
Bring suitable clothes (ask what to wear), something to write with and your questions. Afterwards, ask for the evaluation sheet.

When to do what: apprenticeship timeline

Typical timing if you want to start an apprenticeship right after compulsory school, without a 10th school year. Grades: 7th–9th grade are the three Sek I years (HarmoS 9–11).

End of 7th grade (some schools)
Some schools organise a first taster now, often during a project week. Official guidance is to start tasters in 8th grade, so don't worry if your school doesn't.
Summer holidays before 8th grade
If you are struggling to think of what direction to go, try one or two more professions and write down what you liked and disliked.
August–October, 8th grade
Careers counselling at the BIZ / OSP / orientation professionnelle. Narrow down to two or three professions and perhaps book more trial apprenticeship days.
October–December, 8th grade
Take the aptitude tests (Multicheck, Basic-Check, Stellwerk). Many companies want the results with your application.
From August of 8th grade
The cantonal apprenticeship exchange (LENA / bourse des places) starts publishing places for the following August. Banks, IT, pharma and public administration recruit up to a year ahead.
August–January, 9th grade
Main application window for most professions. Send your file as soon as a place is advertised — first come, first served, so applying early is wise.
January–April, 9th grade
Interviews, test days and practical trial days. Offers start arriving. Most popular positions will already be filled, but applications continue for some apprenticeships.
By end of May, 9th grade
Apprenticeship contract (Lehrvertrag) signed and sent to the cantonal vocational training office for approval. Late vacancies remain open.
June–July
Still nothing? It's definitely not "too late". Late places stay open all summer, for example, a the end of May 2026, Switzerland still had around 14,000 open apprenticeship positions for that August. Contact your careers counsellor or the cantonal case management / bridge-year service straight away.
Early August
Your apprenticeship starts.

Timing shifts by canton and profession: French-speaking cantons and construction trades often run one to two months later, while banks, IT and large employers close their positions much earlier.

Useful links for apprenticeship applications

Choosing and applying to a full-time school

If a school route suits you better, the timetable is different: registration usually closes in the winter, and entrance exams are in spring.

1. Understand the options
Gymnasium, FMS/ECG, commercial and IT middle schools (HMS/WMS/IMS), full-time vocational schools and bridge years all lead somewhere different. Read the guides on this site before you compare individual schools.
2. Research the actual schools
Every canton runs its own schools with its own names and rules. Start at your cantonal education department's school directory and the school search on berufsberatung.ch / orientation.ch, then read each school's own website and curriculum.
3. Go to the open days
Almost every school runs an information evening (Informationsabend / journée portes ouvertes) in autumn, plus taster lessons for certain subjects. Go to at least two open days, and take a list of things to check or look out for. You can take parent or go with a friend if that would make you feel better— they will notice different things than you.
Open-day checklist (PDF)
4. Check whether it actually fits you
Look at the profiles or specialisations on offer, the commute, how much homework students report, the languages taught, class sizes, the atmosphere in the corridors, and what the school's graduates typically do next. Ask current students, not just teachers.
5. Check the money and the deadlines
Public schools charge no tuition, but expect costs for books, materials, laptops, excursions and travel. Cantonal grants (Stipendien / bourses) exist — apply early. Note every registration deadline; they are strict and usually fall between November and March.
6. The admission process
Depending on the canton and your grades you either get in on your school report (prüfungsfreier Übertritt) or you sit an entrance exam in maths and the local language. Get past papers from the school, and start revising a few months ahead.
Tips & videos for this step
7. Apply well
Register through your current school or directly with the school, depending on the canton. Send complete documents, keep copies, and add a short motivation letter where the school asks for one — for FMS/ECG in particular, explain which field interests you and why.
8. Have a plan B
Apply to more than one school if your canton allows it, and consider an apprenticeship in parallel. A bridge year (10. Schuljahr / année de transition) is a respected option if you are not ready — it is not a lost year.

When to do what: full-time school timeline

Typical timing if you want to start a Secondary II full-time school (Gymnasium, FMS/ECG, HMS/WMS/IMS, full-time vocational school) in the next school year.

Autumn, 8th grade
First information evenings. Check how your canton admits students: by grades, by teacher recommendation, or by entrance exam.
Spring, 8th grade
In cantons that admit by grades, this school year's marks already count. Keep them up.
September–November, 9th grade
Open days at Gymnasium, FMS/ECG, HMS/WMS/IMS and full-time vocational schools. Go and see two or three.
November–January
Registration deadlines. Most cantons close between late January and early March, a few already in November.
February–March
Entrance exams (Aufnahmeprüfung / examen d'admission) in the cantons that use them.
March–May
Admission decisions arrive. Almost everywhere the first semester is a probation period (Probezeit).
April–June
Confirm your place, get the book and material list, and apply for a scholarship (Stipendien / bourse) — decisions take several weeks.
August
The school year starts.

Dates differ from canton to canton. Always check your cantonal education office, and read our guides to each school type before you decide.

Guides on this site

Schools High school FMS / ECG HMS / WMS / IMS Full-time vocational schools

Useful links for schools

Quick tips that make a difference

Use a serious email address — firstname.lastname@… , not a nickname.
Record a normal voicemail greeting; companies do call back.
Keep a spreadsheet of every application: company, date, contact, status.
Never copy a letter of motivation from the internet; recruiters recognise them instantly.
Ask a teacher or parent to proofread before you send anything.
Check your public social media — companies do look.
Applying to 20 places and hearing 15 nos is completely normal.

Not sure which route to aim for?

Take the pathway quiz to see which career possibilities match your interests and what paths can lead you there.

Take the pathway quiz