Trainee program to combat shortage of skilled workers
Three years ago, various SMEs in the Zurich area joined forces to combat the shortage of skilled workers themselves with a trainee program. Now the first graduates are completing the program and can look back on a successful start to their careers.
Trainee programs for computer scientists are a dime a dozen, and yet politicians, professional and company associations are sounding the alarm about a shortage of skilled workers in the ICT sector. Companies complain about the lack of skilled workers with the necessary experience and a solid education. What are the real causes of the shortage of skilled workers?
Software engineers from our own ranks
In the greater Zurich area, M&F Engineering AG therefore built up a company network that takes the problem into its own hands and today "produces" the desired software engineers. After a three-year training period, the first graduates are now graduating. "Our trainee program has grown considerably in the meantime. We currently employ twelve trainees and many innovative partner companies have joined us," says Reto Bättig, initiator of the trainee program and CEO of M&F Engineering AG in Fahrweid.
It is the first cross-company program in Switzerland that accepts young engineers directly from university and accompanies them during the first three years of their career. During these three years, the trainees work at four to six different technology companies in the network. There, the young engineers are fully integrated into the respective software team. The trainees are enthusiastic about the program. "Nowhere else can you learn so much in such a short time and build up a huge network at the same time," says Sebastian Wendland, who completed the program in June 2017.
Trainee program already established at universities
The network, which already includes twelve companies, makes the program extremely attractive. This makes it possible to attract the best graduates. Thanks to targeted training, coaching and work in a wide variety of companies and projects, the trainees learn an enormous amount in a very short time. "The concept is unique and an ideal career start for the graduates," agrees Prof. Dr. Olaf Stern, Head of the Computer Science program at the ZHAW. The trainees can develop into excellent software engineers through a lot of practical experience and parallel further training.
SMEs are joining in to cover short-term staff shortages and recruit experienced software developers for the long term. So is the shortage of skilled workers just a myth after all? Bättig says, "We and our partner companies are firmly convinced that you can find enough skilled workers if you're also willing to invest in them."
Note: On September 6, 2017, M&F Engineering AG, together with SwissICT and SI, will be holding an exciting event on the topic of "Skilled workers - what is really lacking?" by. You can find more info at: https://www.m-f.ch/events
