Retail specialist EFZ - apprenticeship for adults: experience report by Michael Stalder, responsible for the apprenticeship program and lecturer - I am happy to pass on my experience from 30 years in the retail trade to professionals without a qualification to help them confirm their retail trade skills
Please introduce yourself briefly.
I am Michael Stalder. I am responsible for the retail trade courses at the KV Aarau commercial college. I myself worked actively in the retail trade for 30 years in various positions. Towards the end, I worked as a sales manager in the children's clothing department, where I was also responsible for purchasing. In my mid-forties, the time had come for me to tackle something new. I then studied to become a vocational teacher and attended an adult education course. In addition to my specialist management role, I now work as a vocational school teacher and as a lecturer on the retail courses at HKV Aarau.
Which target group is the EFZ retail specialist apprenticeship aimed at?
The EFZ retail specialist apprenticeship in accordance with Art. 32 is aimed at people who have been working in the retail trade for some time but have never completed a qualification in this field. It is an apprenticeship for adults and requires a minimum age of 21. This is because the entire school education only lasts two years instead of three. This means that you have to study hard in order to complete the additional workload for the EFZ retail specialist apprenticeship alongside your normal working day.
Are there any other admission requirements for the apprenticeship for adult retail specialist EFZ?
People who have at least five years of professional experience (including three years in the retail trade) and are at least 21 years old are admitted to the adult apprenticeship for retail trade specialists EFZ. Anyone who meets these requirements can register for this vocational qualification for adults with the canton's vocational training office via the website. The reason for this is that the cantonal vocational inspector for retail trade must grant approval for this retail trade specialist EFZ catch-up training in order to be admitted to the final examination. The costs for the EFZ retail specialist training course are then also covered by the canton of Aargau. The prospective student can then register with the school. Of course, you are also welcome to come to the KV Aarau commercial school for a consultation and first take a closer look at the training before you obtain the canton's approval for the vocational qualification for adults.
What is the content of the two-year apprenticeship for adults in retail?
The content of the two-year apprenticeship for adults as a retail specialist is the same as for the normal apprenticeship for retail specialists. On the one hand, these are retail trade skills that are closely linked to practical experience. Other subjects in the apprenticeship for adult retail specialist EFZ are economics, society and German. There is a clear focus on German, as the apprenticeship for adults is usually attended by more people with a migration background than the normal apprenticeship. Therefore, more German is taught than at vocational school. We offer English or French as foreign languages - but the emphasis is on English. Computer science is also covered in the first two semesters, but this is not an examination subject.
What about the costs for the adult apprenticeship as a retail specialist with a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) Art. 32?
The costs for the adult apprenticeship as a retail specialist with a federal certificate of competence (EFZ) Art. 32 are paid by the canton and the municipality. Participants must pay a small contribution of CHF 300 themselves. This is paid to the canton for the permit. This then includes the confirmation of admission from the cantonal office for the qualification procedure - i.e. the final examination as a retail specialist EFZ or retail specialist EFZ. Further costs are incurred in the form of documents and books amounting to a further 350 to 450 francs. The exam only costs something if it is not passed the first time.
How does the qualification process for an adult apprenticeship in retail work?
The qualification procedure for the adult apprenticeship in retail is exactly the same as that for the regular apprenticeship as an EFZ retail specialist. This is even carried out together with the normal retail apprentices at the vocational school at the end of May and beginning of June. There is one exception, however, and that is the subject of society. This subject is only examined in the adult apprenticeship as a retail specialist EFZ. They do an in-depth assignment for this, but this cannot be offered for adult apprenticeships as it would exceed the time frame. For this reason, a final examination in the subject of society is provided and carried out specifically for the catch-up training for adults.
What exactly is this degree and what further development opportunities does it offer?
The qualification is the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) as a retail trade specialist. This confirms your knowledge and skills as a retail specialist. By confirming your existing experience in the retail trade sector through an adult apprenticeship, you will probably receive a small pay rise. What is particularly important, however, are the opportunities for further training that such a vocational qualification as an EFZ retail specialist opens up. These would be, for example, a professional examination to become a retail trade specialist with a federal certificate and a higher professional examination to become a retail trade manager with a federal diploma.
Why do you recommend the KV Aarau commercial college for apprenticeships for adults to become a retail specialist?
I recommend the KV Aarau commercial college for the apprenticeship for adults to become a retail specialist because our lecturers come from a practical background and can pass on a lot of practical knowledge to the participants. They know exactly what goes on in the retail trade every day. They might be a store manager from Migros or a sales manager from Coop. The school also offers a good infrastructure and good transport links.
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