Insights
My name is Salomé Gagnaux, and I'm finishing my four-year apprenticeship as a corporate IT specialist at Swisscom. I started my apprenticeship in 2019 in Fribourg.
My first project was the development of a web application offering instant messaging. I then went on to work for Banque Cantonale Vaudoise, taking part in their IT support. After that, I programmed an application for calculating offers for a Swisscom product. I was also responsible for all the IT support for apprentices in French-speaking Switzerland. I also had the opportunity to help organise the SwissSkills in Berne, as part of a team making videos for the TikTok and Instagram platforms. As part of my latest project, I was involved in a network development team offering a product that enables client companies to manage their network infrastructure.
Thanks to Swisscom, I had the opportunity to tackle almost all the main areas of this job. This has enabled me to discover my preferences and turn them into my strengths. I've got a great career ahead of me, full of development!
I chose IT as my apprenticeship because I've always been very interested in technology, and more particularly in communication. I discovered this field thanks to my mum, who was very interested in the development of new technologies in her professional life. Her fight for the computerisation of her sector also inspired me a lot. My parents always encouraged me to discover all kinds of professions by doing work experience days, and that's how I decided to make it my profession. What I really liked about IT was its importance in so many areas and its constant evolution. IT is also a sector that allows you to put your creativity to good use because it constantly offers new possibilities.
Swisscom offers a dynamic and technologically advanced working environment. Working in a company where innovation is valued and where you can discover cutting-edge projects and technologies is very motivating and rewarding for apprentices. I was particularly motivated by Swisscom's training model, which gives apprentices the opportunity to choose their course of study according to their interests. It was the best way for me to develop my skills throughout my apprenticeship. Swisscom also works closely with apprentices throughout their training, providing essential support and guidance. Training at Swisscom also gives you the chance to take part in exceptional events, which offers a wealth of opportunities.
I admit that it's a very stereotyped profession and one that's mainly categorised as male. However, many women are active in the field and I never felt left out or categorised during my training. I've always been well looked after and I've never felt left out. It's a profession that offers a vast choice of options and many opportunities, and one that allows everyone to achieve their full potential. I would strongly advise girls who are interested in IT to take the plunge and start an apprenticeship in this field, because no profession is a man's or a woman's job.
Thanks to Swisscom's apprenticeship model, I've been able to work on a huge number of projects, each one different from the next. I was able to test out the field of programming as well as the audiovisual field, as part of an event. My training also enabled me to travel throughout Switzerland and even beyond its borders for work. I've also met a lot of people and made friendships that go beyond the professional sphere. In addition to my professional training, I've learnt a lot about myself and developed my personal skills. Swisscom finally offered me a job after my apprenticeship.
I have a lot of good memories at Swisscom, but the one that stands out the most was the trip to Riga in Latvia. On my last project, I was working in a team of developers from Switzerland, Holland and Latvia. The Swiss employees, including myself, were lucky enough to travel to Riga for a regular professional event and to meet our colleagues there. I was able to meet new people and discover a city on the other side of Europe. I'm really pleased to have had this opportunity during my apprenticeship.
In this profession, I'd say you have to be curious and daring. Many companies offer pre-apprenticeship placements. I'd also advise you to try and take an interest in the home. The Internet offers a wealth of resources for learning and discovering what you can do with very little.
Computing is such a vast and evolving field that you need to be independent and have an open mind. It's a profession that's also full of surprises, and sometimes you just have to keep your wits about you and not get discouraged.
Apprentice computer scientist
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