The Post is One of the Largest Training Companies in Switzerland

The Swiss Post is one of the largest training companies in Switzerland. Currently, around 2,000 young people are undergoing training in over 16 professions. 80 percent of the trainees stay with the Post after graduation. In times of the Corona crisis, it is not a given that so many young people are taken on after their training. Youth unemployment in Switzerland is currently at a level rarely seen before.

(Bern) Dream job as a logistics specialist, automation technician, or IT specialist? If you want to learn one of these professions, the Swiss Post is the right place for you. With over 16 professions, it offers a wide variety of training opportunities for trainees. With around 2,000 trainees, the Post is one of the largest training companies in Switzerland. It offers young people attractive jobs and training positions – even in these economically challenging times.

She is young, ambitious, and part of the “Team Yellow”: Nadja Langenegger works diligently at her workplace in Bern. She writes, plans, makes phone calls, organizes, and coordinates. Langenegger is one of about 80 percent of all trainees at the Post who wanted to stay after their training and has received a permanent position in the company. For the real estate management clerk, this is a privilege: “If you get a job at the place where you also did your training, it is certainly a win-win situation for both sides. I personally knew the Post and was aware of what they value – in return, the Post knew who I am and how I work.” She also enjoyed her work during her training, which is why she was very pleased with the job offer. Especially during the Corona times, she was grateful for the direct opportunity to continue. Due to the Corona crisis, recruitment is still lower, and the work climate in some sectors is marked by uncertainty.

Lars Bischhausen’s situation is similar. He completed his training as an IT specialist at the Post in the summer and also found a follow-up solution directly in the yellow world. He is also glad that he received a seamless job despite the changed job market situation due to the Corona crisis.

Number of Trainees Remains Stable

Not all of Langenegger’s fellow trainees had it as easy with the job search: “For many colleagues who did their training in smaller companies, it was certainly more difficult to find a job – for example, due to reduced job offers because of Corona,” says the 19-year-old. Bischhausen also knows: “Some of my vocational school colleagues decided to pursue further education directly to avoid having to look for a job during the Corona period.” In fact, trainees currently have a tough time. The Corona crisis bears some responsibility. According to a current report from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, 20,341 young people are unemployed. This represents one of the strongest increases in youth unemployment in recent years, as SECO confirms to the Post upon request. It rose among 15 to 24-year-olds from 3.4 to 3.9 percent in August. However, at the Post, there are no signs that the demand for young professionals is decreasing due to Corona. The total number of trainees has not changed significantly in recent years. It has remained between 2,120 and 1,890 trainees for several years. Instead of a decrease in training positions, a counter-trend can even be observed in some professions: The Post needs more delivery personnel for packages as well as IT specialists.

Investment in the Future of Trainees is Necessary

For Valérie Schelker, Head of Human Resources and a member of the Executive Board of the Swiss Post, it is clear that investment should not only be made in the training of trainees but also in their future: “We are always pleased when we can continue to employ great and committed trainees after their training at the Post – the trainees know the Post from the ground up, and much knowledge remains with the Post. As an employer, we have a vital interest in inspiring and retaining them for the Post. Moreover, I am convinced that the perspectives and engagement of young people are essential for companies to develop in a future-oriented manner. For this reason, we promote, for example, the special internal network Young Voice and offer trainee and reverse mentoring programs.”

And the trainees of the next cohort are already taken care of. For the training start in August 2021, the Post is again offering over 760 training positions. The reason is obvious to Valérie Schelker: “Young people are our future – they are the Post of tomorrow, and they should and must help shape it with us. Last but not least, we offer around 2,000 trainees a significant perspective for school leavers and take our social responsibility as the third-largest training company in Switzerland seriously – even in economically challenging times.”

In addition to the approximately 2,000 trainees employed by the Post in the 16 professions offered, it also operates trainee branches where trainees manage the business, as well as training positions for university graduates.

Training at the Post:

• On average, the Post has 750 new trainees each year in all language regions
• The success rate of graduates is 97 percent
• Particularly popular professions include: Logistics specialist EFZ; Retail specialist EFZ, Businessman/woman EFZ
• The Post is one of the leading providers of ICT training positions
• The training includes attractive working conditions plus GA

Photo: © CH Post / Image caption: Nadja Langenegger completed her training in the summer and now works as a real estate management clerk

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