Are jobs in the auto industry prepared for the future? The AGVS expert knows the answer.
AGVS Media
published
vocational trainingDoes an apprenticeship in the automotive industry still have a future for my child?
The car industry is changing, but still comes up with many innovations – as Auto Zurich showed last week. The auto industry makes it clear how promising it is and that it offers some dream jobs for young people. The AGVS expert knows the details.
Question from Martin to the AGVS expert team:
Last week I took the opportunity to visit Auto Zürich with my son and admire the range of cars and drives there – impressive! My son is enthusiastic and doesn’t allow himself to be deterred by the headwind that cars have recently been exposed to – the keyword being the end of combustion engines in 2035 – he wants to start an apprenticeship in the automotive industry. What options are open to him here?
Answer:
Of course we are pleased that your son is interested in an apprenticeship in the automotive industry. As you noticed during the tour of Auto Zurich, our profession has good prospects and is constantly evolving, like new cars and their various drive technologies.
As an industry and professional association, the AGVS ensures that the “Automech” keeps pace with this rapid technological development, whether in terms of electromobility or the ever-changing assistance systems.
There are currently three basic technical training courses for apprentices in the automotive industry: automotive assistant EBA (two years), automotive specialist EFZ (three years) and automotive mechatronics EFZ (four years). The two EFZ training courses are available for the fields of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. With these three training options, too, the skills that vocational schools and training companies have to teach are regularly checked and adapted to the needs of the industry so that the trainees are always up to date with the latest technology. The necessary know-how is also always questioned when it comes to the numerous opportunities for further training and higher vocational training: Thanks to market-oriented training, car jobs are fit for the future – regardless of whether it will be electric or autonomous.
Thanks to market-oriented training, car jobs are fit for the future – regardless of whether it will be electric or autonomous
Since the Education Ordinance 2018 came into force, the basic training as an automotive mechatronics technician has given you the skills to diagnose, maintain and repair electric, hybrid and alternative drive concepts. Knowledge in the field of driver assistance systems is also trained. And so that future specialists don’t have to worry about the increasing number of electric drives, the “High-voltage 1” and “High-voltage 2” courses are also part of the basic training for automotive specialists. The youngsters are made aware of the safe use of high-voltage technology as early as possible.
The youngsters are made aware of the safe use of high-voltage technology as early as possible.
But the industry is not only preparing for more electric cars in the workshop, without losing sight of the fact that there are still almost three million petrol and 1.3 million diesel cars on Swiss roads, but of course the training in the field of customer advice. Here too, as a competent mobility service provider, it is important to know about the different drives or the possibility of using a vehicle on a subscription basis instead of buying it. Therefore, these skills are also included in the new basic training courses for retail trade specialists EFZ after-sales and automobile sales and, from 2023, also in the new basic commercial training course.
A career in the automotive trade offers great perspectives with attractive development and promotion opportunities. In addition, the technical change alone ensures that you will certainly not stand still in our industry.
Technical change alone ensures that the automotive industry will certainly not stand still.
So your son can look forward to an exciting apprenticeship. I recommend him and all other interested parties to complete an aptitude test for technical professions offered by the AGVS sections. In this way, he can determine before starting an apprenticeship which basic training is best tailored to him. The association’s website Autoberufe.ch also offers a good overview of the comprehensive range of training courses. Here you can find all the information, there are also videos about the training, this should give your son a good insight so that he can decide on the right basic education.
Simply email your question(s) to autoratgeber@20minuten.ch. We publish the most interesting and up-to-date questions and, of course, the answers every week under the first name of the questioner here in the 20-minute lifestyle channel.