What If You Could Start Your Dream Job at 15?

Sponsored by

📰 In today’s newsletter:

🇨🇭 Apprenticeships in Switzerland: Why so many teens skip high school to launch professional careers early
💡 Support Note: This issue includes a sponsored ad that helps us keep the newsletter free. Your clicks make a real difference — thank you!

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

Learning to Work — The Swiss Way

We grew up in San Francisco, but our family is originally from Switzerland. Both our parents went through the Swiss education system and completed an apprenticeship. We’ve heard stories about their experiences for as long as we can remember — not just from our parents, but also from grandparents. And it’s still a widely chosen path today.

In this newsletter, we want to show you how this system works — and why more countries, including the US, are starting to look at it as a model for youth education and employment.

Real Jobs at 15? Yes, why wait?

In Switzerland, students typically finish compulsory school around age 15 or 16. After that — without going to high school — about two-thirds of them begin an apprenticeship.

A lot of young people don’t want to spend more years just sitting in a classroom. They’re ready to work with their hands, join a team, earn a salary, and learn real-world skills. Apprenticeship — also called VET (Vocational Education and Training) — makes that possible.

Here’s what it includes:

• Working in a company 3–4 days a week

• Going to school 1–2 days a week for theory

• Earning a salary while training

• Receiving a federal diploma (CFC) after 3–4 years

This diploma is highly respected in Switzerland and opens many doors. Some students start their own businesses (just like our dad and our grandpa did). Others continue studying. Most are ready to be hired the day they graduate.

Over 200 Professions to Choose From

From traditional trades to tech, design, health, and creative fields, here are just a few examples:

• Tech & Office: IT specialist, office clerk, graphic designer, logistics assistant

• Skilled Trades: carpenter, cabinetmaker, electrician, mechanic, watchmaker

• Care & Health: early childhood educator, dental or nursing assistant, hairdresser, beautician

• Food Industry: baker, butcher, pastry chef, cheesemaker, chocolatier, farmer

• Retail & Services: florist, bookseller, fashion assistant, photographer, librarian, sales advisor

Choosing This Route Isn’t the “Easy” Path

Apprentices take on real responsibilities early. They work in adult environments, handle complex (and sometimes dangerous) tools, and start their days early — all with just five weeks of vacation a year.

Some teens struggle to keep up — whether it’s the physical demands, the early hours, or the need to follow adult expectations. Sometimes, they also realize the job they chose isn’t a good fit after all. Some give up. On the employer side, the added paperwork and responsibility can make it harder to accompany young apprentices.

Still, for those who stick with it, it can be life-changing.

So What Do Swiss Teens Get in Return?

This period is more than just training — it’s a real transition from childhood and school to the adult, professional world. A lot of personal growth happens along the way!
And on a professional level, they gain:

• Deep professional experience

• A strong work ethic

• Patience, humility, and perseverance

• Dexterity and practical skills

• Confidence and independence

• And no student debt!

Research from the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training shows that apprenticeship graduates are less likely to face unemployment than high school grads — and more likely to move into management roles later. In many fields, their salaries even match those of academic graduates.

It Starts Around Age 13

Before beginning an apprenticeship, many students start exploring careers through short internships, usually around age 13 or 14. These “discovery” weeks are encouraged by both schools and families.

They help young people:

• Discover what kinds of jobs they enjoy (or don’t!)

• Get a feel for a real workday

• Start building connections with companies who might later offer them an apprenticeship

It’s totally normal in Switzerland for businesses to get emails from teens asking, “Can I come help and observe for a week?” And many say yes.

Zélia’s Turn

Now that I’m 13 😊, I can start exploring this too. Since I’m spending the summer in Switzerland, I’ve started a new experience in a bakery this week — and I’m so excited! Just going there in the middle of the night is part of the adventure. I’ll share more about it in a future newsletter, so stay tuned!

This podcast offers a great introduction if you’d like to dive deeper:
🎧 Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model

Solène, Zélia & Mom for SoliaVenture