Self-test: Is the "Building Cleaner (EFZ)" course the right one for me?
Analysis of the activities of building cleaners with an EFZ certificate
Who is the "Building Cleaner EFZ" course intended for?
- Professionals from the building cleaning sector who would like to catch up on their federal apprenticeship qualification
What does the day-to-day work of a building cleaner look like? What are their tasks?
Commercial cleaners are professionals in cleaning homes, offices, restaurants, schools, stores, factories, buses and trains. They are familiar with the various cleaning methods and equipment and know how to use cleaning agents properly. During regular maintenance cleaning in homes or hospitals, they are in contact with the residents and take their needs into consideration. Cleaning jobs in stores or office buildings often take place outside of opening or office hours, which requires the cleaners to be flexible in terms of time. Machines are often used for removal cleaning or final building cleaning, which they can also maintain and service themselves. Building cleaners also clean facades or remove graffiti, remove stains from carpets or remove chewing gum from various materials. Before the job, they plan the schedule, put together the materials and write reports at the end. With some professional experience, the trained building cleaners take on tasks as team leader or group leader, plan the employees' assignments and instruct the apprentices.
Job descriptions in job advertisements for building cleaners EFZ:
| Main tasks and areas of application | Frequency in % |
|---|---|
| Cleaning assignments in maintenance cleaning | 75 |
| Special cleaning such as removal or end-of-construction cleaning | 15 |
| Exterior cleaning such as facades and window fronts | 10 |
Typical requirements in job advertisements:
- Completed vocational training as a maintenance specialist EFZ or as a building cleaner EFZ
- Several years of professional experience
- Leadership experience, coordinating and controlling a small team
- Courteous and service-oriented manners
- Willingness to work on call
- Good PC skills and command of the German language
- Conscientiousness, reliability and quality awareness
- Practical understanding and mechanical technical flair
- Good health
Question 1:
Do the activities of building cleaners EFZ meet my expectations?
You are probably already familiar with the area of work and can assess whether you would like to continue doing this work. The next question is about whether this route to an apprenticeship qualification is suitable for you.
If you do not like these activities based on the description, you should reconsider why you would like to complete the apprenticeship. If you are already working in this field and do not yet have a recognized qualification, this could be an important step that could give you access to further training. If you are looking for a lateral entry into this field and are not happy with the description of the areas of responsibility, you should perhaps reconsider which other areas might be suitable for you.
Course description "Building cleaner EFZ"
The most important key points of the "Building Cleaner EFZ" course are described here:
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Question 2:
Are you generally interested in this course?
If you are interested in this course but answered "Partly" or "No" to question 1, you should try to find out if there are other types of jobs that you could do with this training that you like better than the job profile described in question 1.
If you have already answered "yes" to question 1, then this path seems to fit your ideas in principle.
If you like the job description in question 1 but not the course, you can look at these two options:
- If you do not yet have a recognized qualification and have been working in the cleaning industry for some time, there are other ways to obtain a federal certificate of competence. You can obtain information about this from your cantonal vocational training office orhere.
- If you already have another apprenticeship qualification or a high school diploma and at least three years of professional experience in building cleaning, you could also enquire about your admission options for the federal professional examination "Building Cleaning Specialist". You may be able to skip a step and not have to complete your apprenticeship first.
Requirements for admission to the final apprenticeship examination (QV):
For admission to the final apprenticeship examination:
- 5 years of professional experience, including 3 years in building cleaning
For admission to the course:
- Sufficient knowledge of German is a prerequisite for admission to the course
Question 3:
Do I meet the requirements?
If you meet the requirements, you can take the next steps.
If you do not yet have any professional experience in the field of commercial cleaning, this path is not suitable for you. This so-called catch-up training for adults allows professionals with practical experience to have their skills recognized retrospectively.
If you don't speak or understand enough German, find out about German courses first. Then you can do the catch-up course later.
If you have another apprenticeship qualification, find out about your further training opportunities in this area.
Financing of further training
The course fees for the "Building Cleaner EFZ" course are to be paid partly by semester and partly in advance. The amount of the costs depends on whether your canton of residence covers part of them.
Question 4:
Are you able to pay between CHF 1,000 for registration fees and school documents and a maximum of CHF 15,000 for the entire vocational and general education course yourself?
If you have marked "Yes" because you can afford the costs yourself or know that they will be covered by your employer or canton of residence, you have already done an important part of the preparatory work.
If you are not sure how much you really have to pay yourself, ask a course provider. Preferably one in your canton of residence. If there isn't one there, look in the neighboring cantons and ask all the schools for the actual costs.
And have you asked your employer whether they will support you? This support would also be important to ensure that you can actually carry out the practical parts of the training in your company. If you really have to bear the full costs yourself, you could try to find someone in your private social circle who will support your specific further education project with a loan. Otherwise, there are banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
Time spent on classroom teaching and learning (homework)
The course lasts two years while you work. During this time, you will attend school for approx. 8 hours per week.
In addition, you would have to calculate another 8 hours per week for homework and studying for exams.
Question 5:
Can I cope with the time and effort required for school and homework?
If you think you can do this well, you have good prerequisites for this training.
If you are short of time, think about who could help you. Or maybe it's possible for them to work less for that time. Or ask your employer if you can write off some of this time as working time.
Conclusion
Which final exams do I have to pass?
The final apprenticeship examination, known as the QV qualification procedure, consists of four parts:
Practical examination:
- a specific cleaning assignment lasting a total of 16 hours and consisting of several different parts. The learning documentation and the documents may be used for this purpose
Written examinations in vocational studies:
- About products for cleaning and care (45 minutes)
- about machines and devices (60 minutes)
- on occupational safety, health protection, environmental protection and hygiene (30 minutes)
Oral examinations on professional skills
- The exam lasts 45 minutes and covers three areas: job analysis/work planning, materials/cleaning methods and cleaning systems
Theoretical examination general education:
- Written and oral examinations in the subjects of society, language and communication
Question 6:
Do I have the confidence to pass the final apprenticeship examination (the QV)?
If you are confident that you can pass this exam, we wish you every success in realizing your career plans.
If you are unsure, ask at your store or school if there is any support available. Or maybe you know someone who has done this degree, then you could ask him or her what it's like and what it takes.
Receive course or training documents from suitable schools immediately
Under Gebäudereiniger / Gebäudereinigerin (EFZ) you will find an overview of schools that offer the "Logistician EFZ" course. You can request detailed documents with just one click and usually receive them directly by e-mail. You can also use the area search to find providers in your immediate vicinity.
Conclusion:
Before you want to complete the "Building Cleaner EFZ" course, you should be convinced that you really like a career in the cleaning industry. Or that this is a good opportunity for you to gain a federally recognized apprenticeship qualification. You should also like the course description. If this is the case for you, you can look into this course further. If you are unsure about these questions, you should consider which other further training courses are also suitable for you.
If you do not meet the admission requirements because you do not have a school-leaving certificate, you should look into how you can make up for this with the help of a careers advice center. And if your German language skills are not yet at the required level, see how you can improve your German first. There are many different types of German courses, among which you are sure to find something that suits you.
Financing further education is not always easy. If you do not receive a cantonal grant, you must be able to pay several thousand francs. Many schools offer the option of individual monthly installments in individual cases, so that large amounts do not have to be paid all at once. In addition, it is helpful for part-time courses that participants continue to work during the course and thus earn money for the entire duration of the course. If this is not enough to finance the training alone, it is sometimes possible to obtain a loan from a private source. Some banks and credit institutions also offer educational loans. A good argument for financing further education is the relatively quick amortization of costs through wage increases. Do the following calculation: How much would a wage increase of 10% per year amount to? How many years do you need to recoup the costs of the course? How much more will you earn over your entire working life as a result of this pay rise? In most cases, this is a six-figure sum, which confirms that training or further education is the best personal investment there is.
The time required for training or further education should not be underestimated. Going out, vacations and spontaneous wellness weekends often fall by the wayside. However, this time usually passes relatively quickly. The prospect of better job opportunities and more pay should be motivation enough to get through this time. It often helps to organize yourself into study groups. It also makes sense to stick with it right from the start and schedule fixed study times. Good learning effects can be achieved by creating summaries and mind maps. Flashcard systems help with memorization. There are many tools and ideas to make learning easier. You can obtain the guide "The personal learning strategy" free of charge if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
If you have doubts about whether you will pass the final exam, you can expect that every school has an interest in ensuring that as many of your students as possible pass the final exams. Talk to your head teacher or course leader and ask about support options. But with good motivation, perseverance and hard work, it is generally possible to pass these exams. If you suffer from exam anxiety, good preparation, various practical tips, therapeutic treatments or, in severe cases, even medication can help. You can obtain the guide "Overcoming exam anxiety" if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch. Here you will also findsuitable providerson the subject of test anxiety.
The benefits of further training are usually measured in terms of a higher salary, more challenging tasks or promotions. This presupposes that you make an effort to change your professional position accordingly and, if necessary, are able to assert your demands. If you have already experienced that this is not always so easy for you, you could also check whether personal job coaching could be of benefit to you in addition to further training.
Now it's up to you to decide. If in doubt, seek personal advice from a school or external advice center. If you enquire about course or training documents via www.ausbildung-weiterbildung.ch, you will receive a free educational or school consultation worth CHF 150.00 on request.
You can find a list of providers here: {#courseLink#}
We wish you all the best in your professional and private lives and a bright and exciting future!
The team of Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin