After Sekundarschule, three serious paths lead onward: the Kurzgymnasium, the Fachmittelschule (FMS), and the Berufslehre (apprenticeship). Roughly two thirds of a Zurich Sek cohort start an apprenticeship — by far the most common route, but also the one most often discussed without structure.
That’s not because of the apprenticeship itself but because of the search. Where the ZAP has a clear date and a clear rulebook, the apprenticeship search is a marathon spread across two school years, with Schnupperlehren (taster placements), applications, aptitude tests, and very real rejections. This guide shows how the process actually plays out in Canton Zurich, when to do what, and which safety nets are in place if there’s still no signed contract by the summer of 3rd Sek.
This article focuses on the apprenticeship search out of Sekundarschule. For the academic alternative — the Kurzgymnasium after 2nd or 3rd Sek — see our separate guide on the ZAP 2.
Key milestones at a glance
Most three- and four-year apprenticeships start in August after 3rd Sek. Application deadlines, depending on the industry, fall between autumn of 3rd Sek (banks, insurance, pharma, KV at large employers) and spring of 3rd Sek (many trades and crafts). In other words: if you only start looking in the summer of 3rd Sek, you’re already too late.
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1st Sek | First career orientation in school, Berufswahltagebuch (career choice journal) |
| Early 2nd Sek | Berufserkundungstage (career exploration days), BIZ visit, first Schnuppertage |
| Spring of 2nd Sek | Multi-Check / Stellwerk-Check, prepare application portfolio |
| Summer / autumn of 2nd Sek | Targeted Schnupperlehren at companies of interest, first applications sent |
| Autumn of 2nd Sek to spring of 3rd Sek | Active application phase, Lehrvertrag signings |
| Summer of 3rd Sek | Apprenticeship begins — or Plan B (Brückenangebot, 10th school year, Motivationssemester) |
Industries with high demand allocate places early. A KV apprenticeship at a major bank is often filled by October of 2nd Sek; a contract in the construction trades is often signed only in April of 3rd Sek. A rule of thumb: the more academic and office-based the profession, the earlier the application deadline.
What an apprenticeship actually is
The Berufslehre is the heart of the dual education system. Three or four days a week the apprentice (Lernende) works at a host company — the Lehrbetrieb — and one or two days they attend the Berufsfachschule (vocational school). On top of that come überbetriebliche Kurse (industry-wide courses, üK).
There are two diploma levels. The three- or four-year apprenticeship leads to the Eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis (EFZ) — the standard diploma, covering around 250 regulated professions. The two-year apprenticeship leads to the Eidgenössisches Berufsattest (EBA), designed for more practically oriented students. Neither is a dead end: an EBA holder can in many fields step directly into the second year of an EFZ apprenticeship.
Apprentices earn a salary from day one. The bands vary widely by industry but typically run around CHF 600–900 in the first year and rise each year. Construction and industry tend to pay higher; social and hospitality professions tend to pay less. The apprenticeship contract (Lehrvertrag) is approved by the cantonal Mittelschul- und Berufsbildungsamt (MBA) of Canton Zurich.
Finding the right profession
The most important point up front: at 13 or 14, very few people know what they want to be. Career choice is a process of search and elimination, not a flash of inspiration.
Three tools help most.
The BIZ — the Berufsinformationszentrum. Canton Zurich has BIZ locations in Zurich-Oerlikon, Winterthur, Uster, Horgen, Hinwil, and Dübendorf, among others. The visit is free. On site, students find profession descriptions, films, apprenticeship listings, and — most importantly — career counsellors who work with the student in one or several conversations to identify suitable directions. Free career counselling is available in Canton Zurich for all young people up to age 20.
Career interest tests. Online tests (e.g. on berufsberatung.ch) provide a starting orientation. They don’t replace a conversation, but they’re useful for narrowing down 250 professions to a shortlist of 8–15.
The Schnupperlehre — by far the most important tool. A Schnupperlehre typically lasts two to five days. The student works alongside the team, gets to know the profession from the inside, and receives a short written report at the end. Three to six Schnupperlehren during 2nd Sek are realistic — ideally in different industries to compare. Practical etiquette: ask politely (email or phone), be punctual, prepare questions, write a handwritten thank-you afterwards. A good Schnupperlehre often becomes the first step toward a later application at the same company.
The application process
A complete application portfolio (Bewerbungsdossier) in Canton Zurich typically contains:
- A motivation letter (one page, company-specific)
- A CV with photo
- Sek 2 report cards (both semesters)
- Schnupperlehre reports from the host companies
- Multi-Check or Stellwerk-Check (where required)
- Optionally, recommendation letters from clubs or Schnupperlehren
How many applications are realistic? It depends heavily on the profession. For high-demand KV apprenticeships at banks or in pharma, 15–30 applications before an offer is not unusual. In construction trades, hospitality, or care, 3–8 well-targeted applications often suffice. Mass-mailing without focus is rarely productive — companies notice.
On form: a photo is standard in the German-speaking region but should be neutral and professional (no selfie, no holiday photo). Spelling and language need to be tight — a teacher or trusted adult should proofread. A serious email address (firstname.lastname rather than a nickname) and a professional voicemail message also belong in the picture.
Multi-Check, Stellwerk, and Basic-Check
Many Zurich apprenticeship companies require a standardised aptitude test. Three procedures are common.
Stellwerk-Check. Conducted in most Zurich Sekundarschulen in the 8th class (2nd Sek) and partly again in the 9th class (3rd Sek), by the school. Tested are mathematics, German, French, English, and natural sciences. The Stellwerk-Check is free, and the result feeds into the further career-choice process; it’s often included in the application portfolio.
Multicheck. A private, paid aptitude test (around CHF 100) that students book themselves at a test centre. Several industry-specific variants exist (Multicheck Junior for KV, Technical, Health/Social, etc.). Many banks, insurers, and large KV employers require a Multicheck in the application portfolio.
Basic-Check. A competing product to Multicheck, also paid (around CHF 100), more common in some industries — especially the trades.
Which test fits depends on the target profession. Check job ads early to see what’s required, and schedule the test for spring of 2nd Sek. Preparation material is available from the test providers themselves and in the question sets that many Sekundarschulen provide.
BMS during or after the apprenticeship
The Berufsmaturitätsschule (BMS) adds an academic component to the apprenticeship and opens direct admission to a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). For students who later want to enter a university or ETH, the one-year Passerelle can be added on top of the BMS.
There are two models:
BM1 — alongside the apprenticeship. During the apprenticeship, the student attends an additional school day per week at a Berufsmaturitätsschule. BM1 requires either an entrance exam or a strong Sek grade average; the application typically runs in parallel with the apprenticeship search. Pro: no time lost, Matura together with the EFZ. Con: high workload over three or four years.
BM2 — after the EFZ. A one- to two-year programme after completing the apprenticeship — either full-time (typically one year) or alongside work (typically 1.5–2 years). Pro: apprenticeship and school are decoupled, the workload is manageable, pass rates are higher. Con: an extra year of training time.
In Canton Zurich, the most important BMS providers are the KV Zürich Business School, the Technische Berufsschule Zürich (TBZ), the Bildungszentrum Zürichsee (BZZ), and the private Institut Minerva. The BMS is free at public institutions.
If there’s still no apprenticeship by spring of 3rd Sek
It’s not unusual, and it’s not the end of the road, if no contract is in place by April or May of 3rd Sek. Canton Zurich has a tightly woven safety net of Brückenangebote.
Berufsvorbereitungsjahr (BVJ) / Berufsvorbereitungsschule (BVS). A one-year programme combining school and work-related instruction, organised by the canton. Variants exist with a practice focus (BVJ Praxis), a language focus (BVJ Integration for non-German-native students), and earlier school variants with workshop or design focus. Application runs through the Sekundarschule and the MBA. Places are free for Zurich residents.
Motivationssemester (SEMO). A six-month to one-year programme funded by the unemployment insurance, for young people without a follow-up solution. Combines work placements, application coaching, and school components. Application runs via the regional employment centre (RAV).
10th school year. Privately offered programmes (and a small number of public ones) that provide an additional year in a class structure, often with a clear focus on apprenticeship search, language reinforcement, or FMS preparation. Private programmes cost roughly CHF 10,000 to CHF 25,000 per year.
A second application round in summer. A share of apprenticeships is filled at short notice when other contracts fall through or companies plan late. Anyone still without a contract in June or July should check yousty.ch and the canton’s Lehrstellennachweis (LENA) daily — leftover places appear there sometimes well into August.
Frequently asked
Does my child have to live at the host company? As a rule, no. Most apprentices in Canton Zurich commute by public transport. For a few professions with distant host companies (forester, farmer, hospitality in mountain regions), living near the workplace is the norm — that’s set out in the Lehrvertrag.
What if the apprenticeship is broken off? Apprenticeship contract terminations are more common than people think: the Federal Statistical Office reports a Switzerland-wide termination rate of around 25 percent, or roughly one in four contracts. Important to know: a termination isn’t the same as dropping out. Around four out of five young people with a terminated contract sign a new apprenticeship contract afterwards — at a different company in the same profession, in a related profession, or at a reduced level (EFZ → EBA). The cantonal Lehraufsicht and the career counselling service support the transition.
Is BMS worth it for my child? If their Sek grades are solid and they want to keep a higher-education option open, almost always yes. BM2 after the EFZ is the more manageable variant for most students. BM1 is worth considering when the student is clearly strong academically and resilient, and when the host company actively supports the additional school time — that needs to be addressed in the Lehrvertrag.
When should the first Schnuppern happen? The first Berufserkundungstage are usually organised by the school in 2nd Sek. Voluntary, shorter Schnuppertage (1–2 days) are also possible in 1st Sek, often during school holidays. Earlier than 1st Sek is rarely productive — students are still too unfocused.
How do we handle rejections? Rejections are the rule, not the exception. Important: don’t take them personally, briefly ask if the company can give feedback on the application, and sharpen the portfolio based on the response. A good application coaching session at the BIZ or through the school helps.
Bottom line
The apprenticeship search in Canton Zurich is well plannable, if it starts early enough. A student who begins career exploration, Schnupperlehren, and the aptitude test in 2nd Sek typically has a contract in hand by autumn of 3rd Sek. And those who don’t will find a reliable safety net in the Brückenangebote.
The Schulpfad Pathway Map shows every route through Zurich’s school system at a glance — from apprenticeship through BMS to Passerelle, with dates, BMS providers, and a comparison tool for the schools that may fit your child.
Sources: berufsberatung.ch (SDBB), berufsberatung.zh.ch (Office for Youth and Career Counselling, Canton Zurich), zh.ch/de/bildung (Mittelschul- und Berufsbildungsamt), sbfi.admin.ch (BMS regulation), bfs.admin.ch (apprenticeship contract terminations), yousty.ch, Schulpfad’s own research. As of: April 2026.