HR specialist training: Experience of course director Nicole Petrig for HR specialists with a federal certificate at the EBZ - Management position or management function in the area of human resources

Portrait-Foto Nicole Petrig
Nicole Petrig

Course director
HR professionals with
Federal FA at the EBZ
Adult education
center Solothurn-
Grenchen

lic. jur., SVEB 1

What is your name and what is your personal background?

My name is Nicole Petrig. After studying law, I worked in various fields and finally found my calling in adult education. I teach at various schools and am an expert for the federal professional examination. I like the personal interaction with the students and their motivation to acquire job-specific specialist knowledge. I acquired my didactic and methodological tools with the SVEB 1. I have also been supporting my husband's company in the HR area since my further training as a personnel assistant.
At the adult education center EBZ Solothurn-Grenchen, I am the course director of the further education courses "Human Resources Specialist edupool.ch" and "HR Specialists with a federal certificate, specializing in operational HR management".

Who is the "HR Specialist with Federal Certificate" course particularly suitable for?

The HR Specialist with Federal Certificate course is suitable for professionals who are already working in the HR sector and want to deepen their experience by preparing for the federal professional examination.

What are the admission requirements for the "HR Specialist" course?

The admission requirements for the HR Specialist course are as follows:

  • Good written and spoken German (level B2) is essential to be able to follow the lessons.
  • Professional experience of at least 4 years after completing a vocational training certificate or high school diploma, including more than 2 years of qualified HR experience with a workload of 100%. For employment levels below 100%, the required professional experience is extended accordingly (pro rata temporis). The required professional experience must be available at the time of the federal professional examination.
  • In addition, you must be able to present proof of successful completion of the certificate examination as a HR administrator or HR assistant for the federal HR specialist examination.

What opportunities do graduates have after completing the course in preparation for the HR specialists professional examination?

Successful completion of the HR specialist course with a federal certificate gives you the opportunity to take on a management or executive role within the company. It is also a solid further training course for people who want to develop their career and are looking for a new employer.

What do students learn on the "HR Specialist" course?

We prepare participants specifically for the professional examinations and for their role as HR specialists. After the course, they will be able to support managers in the management of human capital along the entire employee cycle in the central HR processes of recruitment, job design, assessment, development, remuneration and separation. Among other things, they will learn how to provide expert advice to new employees, manage the recruitment process and resolve conflict situations between different stakeholder groups using suitable methods.

How is the course structured for prospective HR specialists?

After a brief general introduction to the "HR specialist" course, the lessons are divided into learning fields. These learning fields contain various subjects, which are taught in a building and partly complementary manner. This is followed by the in-depth part. In this part, the material is looked at in a practical way and the individual examinations are specifically prepared.

What is expected in terms of preparation and follow-up work in addition to the HR specialist course?

You must also be willing to deal with what you have learned in the "HR specialist" course in your private life. Depending on your level of knowledge, we recommend that you plan around 8 hours per week for follow-up work or to prepare for the next teaching unit.

What opportunities do graduates have after completing the "HR Specialist" training course?

HR specialists specializing in operational HR management work in private companies or public organizations. Depending on the size of the company, they work as generalists or specialists. Their specific field of work differs accordingly. In small and medium-sized companies, HR specialists are often responsible for all HR matters, while in larger organizations they take on sub-functions. Further training to become an HR specialist with a federal certificate also enables them to take on a management function in a company and/or a management position.

What support do participants receive?

Our teaching materials and scripts are detailed and comprehensive. The instructors are proven specialists with extensive practical experience. The exchange via our extranet or during group work is also valuable and supports the participants during their "HR Specialist" training. We also attach great importance to exam preparation, which is specifically trained.

Do learning assessments take place during the "HR Specialist" training program?

Yes, there is a revision section for each module in the "HR Specialist" course. At the end of the first semester, knowledge is tested in an internal written examination. At the end of the second semester, participants complete an integrated case study and in the third semester a presentation and a technical discussion. These internal examinations serve as an assessment and preparation for the federal professional examination.

How much does the "HR Specialist" course cost?

The "HR Specialist" course costs CHF 9,000, which is paid in two installments. In addition, approximately CHF 1,000 is charged for teaching materials and CHF 1,200 for the external professional examination. As this is a continuing education course with a federal certificate, participants receive 50% of the course fees and teaching materials costs reimbursed by the federal government (federal subsidies) if they have taken part in the federal professional examinations.

What makes Solothurn as a training location particularly interesting for students?

Solothurn is small but nice. Nevertheless, the catchment area should not be underestimated, because Solothurn is easily accessible - no matter where I work or live.

How are the transport connections to your school?

Solothurn is well connected by public transport - the EBZ can be reached on foot from the main railway station in just under 5 minutes. There is also plenty of parking nearby for participants arriving by car.

Why should those interested in the "HR Specialist" course choose the EBZ Adult Education Center Solothurn-Grenchen?

Our work is extremely goal-oriented and practical. The participants in the "HR Specialist" course also feel this and benefit from it. It is very important to us to prepare our participants in the best possible way for the federal professional examination so that they can successfully complete it. Our success rates are well above the Swiss average for almost all courses.

How do you experience the participants?

At the "HR specialist" level, you can tell that the participants are taking a further step in their professional career. They are prepared to take a step back in their private lives for a short time and focus strongly on teaching. They are eager to learn, concentrated and efficient. A good "class groove" is important in the "HR specialist" apprenticeship and is practiced. This not only creates private working and learning groups, but also great friendships.

How do examinations for the "HR Specialist" training course work?

First of all, the written examinations are simulated in the "HR specialist" training course. In the first exam, basic knowledge is tested. It lasts 3 hours. The exam consists mainly of multiple choice, single choice, sequence and matching questions. However, a small number of open questions are also asked.
The second written examination in the "HR Specialist" training program is an integrated case study. It lasts 210 minutes. In this part of the exam, participants work on a networked case study based on the central processes of operational human resource management.
Later, in the "HR specialist" course, training for the oral examinations takes place in small groups: In the presentation, participants have 50 minutes to prepare a presentation, which is followed by a specialist discussion on the topic. In the mini cases, participants demonstrate that they can adequately analyze complex situations and draw conclusions about professional, role-appropriate actions.
In the examination section Reflection on the interview situation, participants in the "HR Specialist" training course assess an interview by identifying the strengths and weaknesses observed in the consultation and deriving suitable measures for improvement.
In the internal oral examinations, only the presentation and the technical discussion are graded.
Each part of the "HR Specialist" examination is discussed. It is important to us to prepare our participants specifically for the federal professional examinations. In the internal examinations, we therefore ensure that the examination environment is "realistic", as the participants will find it in the federal professional examinations.

Overview "HR Specialist"