Self-test: Is the course "Foreman for plant services" the right one for me?
Analysis of the activities of foremen / supervisors in plant services
For whom is the "Foreman/works service" course suitable?
- People in the plant service who have a management position or would like to achieve one
What does the day-to-day work of foremen look like? What tasks are carried out and how often?
Foremen and foremen for works services have in-depth specialist knowledge and can lead and guide groups professionally. They are responsible for the maintenance of roads, signalization and sewers, which they regularly clean and maintain. At collection points, they ensure that order is maintained and materials are sorted correctly. On the grounds of the depot, they are responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of buildings, courtyards and driveways and, within their area of responsibility, they maintain hedges and borders, clean fountains and streams and carry out maintenance work on hydrants.
Job descriptions in job advertisements for foremen:
| Main tasks | Activity in % |
|---|---|
| Team management, administrative work | 10 |
| General work in green areas, tending lawns, hedges, school grounds and green spaces | 45 |
| Street cleaning, signalization, maintenance, winter service | 30 |
| Maintenance and management of municipal facilities, water maintenance | 15 |
The distribution of the individual areas of responsibility can vary greatly depending on the position.
What is required in job advertisements:
- Craftsmanship
- Enjoy working with machines and equipment
- Stamina and resilience as well as good manners
- Independent, reliable way of working and team spirit
- Readiness for winter service (on-call and weekend duty)
- Category B driver's license
- High flexibility
- Good written and spoken German
Question 1:
Do the activities of the foreman/works service meet my expectations?
Yes, if you like the actual job, you're basically in the right place. Then it's a question of whether the course suits you.
If you don't like working in plant services, you should perhaps look at other further training courses. Perhaps there are opportunities in an area that interests you more.
If you have marked "Partly", the question is what you don't like about this work. And whether you really want to do the further training to become a foreman. Or are there perhaps other further training courses that would allow you to do more of the work that you like better?
In the answer to question 2 you will find suggestions for other training courses that you could also look at.
Course description "Foreman/works service (certified)"
The most important key points of the "Foreman/worksman (cert.)" 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 course seems to fit your expectations.
If you didn't quite like either the job description in question 1 or this course in question 2, then you should consider which parts of the job and the course you like. And then you could see if there are other training courses that contain more of what you like better. Here are some examples:
- Traffic route construction equipment operator
- Building cleaner EFZ
- Specialist for waste disposal systems (BP)
- Janitor (BP)
- Maintenance specialist (BP)
Prerequisites at the start of the course
- Federal certificate of proficiency as an operational maintenance specialist or equivalent certificate and 3 years of professional experience in plant services
- Or without a federal certificate of proficiency at least 6 years of professional experience in plant services
Question 3:
Do I meet the requirements?
If you meet the requirements, you can start your training at the earliest possible date.
If you do not meet the requirements because you do not yet have three years of professional experience or are not currently working in the plant service, you should first look for a job in the plant service. Only then can you undertake this further training to become a foreman.
If you do not have a federal apprenticeship certificate and have been working in the plant service for less than six years, it depends on exactly how long you have been working there. In order to reach the six years by the end of your further training, you would have to have been in the plant service for just over four years. And if you've been there for less time, you'll have to wait a little longer to complete your further training.
Financing of further training
The course fees for the "Foreman/worksman service" course must be paid either at the beginning of the course or by the semester. However, in individual cases it is also possible to agree individual installment payments.
Question 4:
Are you able to pay around CHF 7,500 for this training?
If you have marked "Yes" and would even be able to pay the full amount upfront, many schools will give you an additional discount.
If you have marked "Partial" or "No": Ask the schools about the possibility of individual installment payments. Or try to get a contribution from your employer towards the costs of further education or find someone in your private circle who could lend you money. There are also banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
Attendance (school attendance) and learning effort (homework)
The part-time course lasts three semesters. Lessons are held every two weeks: in the first week, the whole of Monday and Saturday morning is school, in the second week Thursday evening.
During the three semesters, there are five intermediate examinations and around eight excursions. And in between, you need time for homework and studying. How much this takes depends on your previous education, but on average it could be up to 8 hours per week.
Question 5:
Can I cope with the effort involved in attending school and doing homework?
If you can manage the effort without any problems, then the time seems right for you to do this type of training.
If you think you don't have enough time, think again about how you can organize yourself differently. Is there perhaps a hobby that you would have to give up for this time? Or could your employer give you time off for it? Or could you imagine reducing your workload for this time?
Conclusion
Will I graduate?
During the course of the training there are certificate examinations on the subject areas:
- Road maintenance and drainage
- Nature conservation and the water cycle
- Public facilities / collection points / machines / appliances / environment
- Administration and operational management
- Personnel management
Those who pass the five certificate examinations receive the school's final certificate.
Although learning is an individual thing and everyone reacts differently to exam situations, there are some points that make it easier to pass exams:
- Interest in further education and the subject matter
- Active participation in lessons
- Preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Regular practice to solve exam questions
Question 6:
Do I have the confidence to pass the five certificate exams?
If you are confident that you can pass this qualification, the most you can do is consider whether you would like to achieve even better results using suitable learning and working methods or whether you would like to achieve the same results with less effort.
If you are unsure, you could think about which of the five exams you are unsure about. And then talk to your employer, colleagues or school to see if there is any way you can get support. Perhaps there are additional courses or someone who can explain certain topics to you. If you are unsure about all five subject areas, you could attend an information event at the school and talk to teachers and head teachers about what exactly is required in the exams.
Receive course or training documents from suitable schools immediately
Under Vorarbeiter / Vorarbeiterin Werkdienst (Zert.) you will find an overview of schools that offer the "Foreman/worksman (cert.)" 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 "Foreman/works service" course, you should be convinced that you really enjoy team management and administrative tasks in the works service. The course description should also appeal to you. If you have answered these first two questions with a clear "yes", you can continue to look into this course. If you are unsure about these questions, you should consider which other further training courses are also an option for you.
If you do not meet the admission requirements because you have learned another profession and no longer work in plant services, look for similar further training courses in your sector. This could be in road construction, for example, or in horticulture or home maintenance or in another area of maintenance, service and upkeep.
If you still lack the relevant professional experience for admission, you can use the remaining time to gain practical experience in your day-to-day work, e.g. by managing work teams. This can make it easier for you to continue your training afterwards.
Financing further training is not always easy. Several thousand francs have to be paid over 1-2 years. In individual cases, many schools offer the option of semester or even individual monthly installment payments so that the entire amount does not have to be paid 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. Banks and credit institutions sometimes 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 would 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
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