23-year-old Kyoko works as a commercial assistant in the back office of a large print shop in Schaffhausen. She enjoys the work involved in the production of print products. She is very popular with her team colleagues and her supervisor thanks to her independent way of working, her good organizational skills in planning the work on the individual printing machines and her assertiveness. Kyoko's service orientation and communication skills are well received by customers and business partners. Kyoko has her roots in Japan, as her mother is of Japanese descent. Although she grew up mainly in Switzerland, she learned the language at home. After her commercial apprenticeship, Kyoko also traveled to Japan and intensified her Japanese language skills with a private teacher. This trip further increased her enthusiasm for the Japanese culture and language. Kyoko would like to teach Japanese in order to pass on this enthusiasm to other people. To this end, she is undergoing continuing education, further training as a course instructor with an SVEB certificate and then taking the Federal Professional Examination to become an instructor. After obtaining her federal certificate as an instructor, Kyoko hopes to gain a good position in adult education and even become self-employed in the medium term. In this way, she could turn her roots and her passion for her country of origin into a profession.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training for trainers

As a trainer, Kyoko will receive CHF 1,133 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 534,000 more at her disposal by the time she retires than if she had not done any continuing education, further training.

As this theoretical calculation does not take into account any further salary increases, promotions or interest on savings, the salary can still increase significantly.

Calculation in detail

Continuing education, further training SVEB certificate course instructor

• 4 months, part-time, vacation course
• Tuition fees, documents, accommodation: CHF 5,540 minus CHF 2,115 federal contribution (when completing continuing education, further training FPE) = CHF 3,425

Continuing education, further training FPE trainer:

• 7 months, part-time
• Tuition fees, documents, certificate: CHF 10,610 minus CHF 4,620 federal contribution = CHF 5,990
• Total training costs: CHF 3,425 + CHF 5,990 = CHF 9,415

Wage difference and yield calculation:

• Difference in salary between the Federal VET Diploma clerk position and the instructor position: CHF 5,573 - CHF 4,440 = CHF 1,133 per month and CHF 13,596 per year (12 x CHF 1,133 = CHF 13,596)
• She recoups the total training costs of CHF 9,415 in just over 8 months with her higher salary as a trainer (CHF 9,415 / CHF 1,133 per month = 8.3 months)
• In the remaining 40 years until their retirement (25 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 543,840 (40 x CHF 13,596 = CHF 543,840)
• If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 534,000 remains at her disposal(CHF 543'840 - CHF 9'415 = CHF 534'425)

Sources:

• The training costs correspond to an average of the courses offered in German-speaking Switzerland.
• Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
• Calculations as a Federal VET Diploma clerkbefore the Federal Professional Examination:
  • Region: Eastern Switzerland
  • Industry sector: 18 Manufacture of printed matter; Reproduction
  • Occupational group: 41 General office and secretarial staff
  • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
  • Hours per week: 42 hours
  • Education: Completed vocational training
  • Age: 23 years
  • Years of service: not specified
  • Company size: 50 and more employees
  • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
  • Special payments: no
  • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
  • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 4'440
• Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination for Trainers:
  • Region: Eastern Switzerland
  • Sector: 85 Education and training
  • Professional group: 23 teachers
  • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
  • Hours per week: 42 hours
  • Education: Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education
  • Age: 25 years
  • Years of service: not specified
  • Company size: Less than 20 employees
  • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
  • Special payments: no
  • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
  • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 5'573

(All figures as at November 2022)

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