Self-test: Is the "Electrical project manager with federal certificate" course the right one for me?
Analysis of the functions / activities of electrical project managers with a federal certificate
What does the day-to-day work of electrical project managers look like?
Electrical project managers are responsible for the entire process of electrical installations in buildings, commercial enterprises, agriculture or industrial plants. They design installation concepts, draw the plans and create the schedules and project plans. During installation, they supervise and monitor the work, deadlines and costs. They are also able to inspect existing electrical installations and provide safety-related advice.
Job descriptions in job advertisements for electrical project managers:
| Main tasks | Frequency in % |
|---|---|
| Make preliminary clarifications, develop concepts, prepare quotations, plan and coordinate orders | 15 |
| Organize, manage and control project execution Monitor costs, deadlines and correct execution and manage project administration | 40 |
| Personnel and technical management of project and installation teams, site visits and employee scheduling | 25 |
| Acquisition of new customers and orders, maintenance of customer relationships, contacts with architects, clients and suppliers | 20 |
The weighting of the individual areas of responsibility can vary greatly depending on the job profile.
Typical requirements in job advertisements:
- Basic electrical engineering training and further training as a project manager
- Professional experience in the field
- Personal initiative, great personal commitment
- Management experience
- Good interaction with customers
Question 1:
Do the activities of electrical project managers meet my expectations?
Yes, if you like the actual job, you can assume that you are on the right track thematically. The next question is what type of training is right for you to acquire the relevant skills.
If you have marked "Partly" or "No", you should consider another job within a company or check whether you would fit into another function level based on your previous education.
For whom is the "Electrical project manager with federal certificate" course suitable?
Target group:
- Professionals in the electrical installation sector
- Electrical safety consultants with a federal certificate
Personal requirements:
The following qualities are required for a successful job as an electrical project manager:
- Good manners
- Service awareness
- Healthy assertiveness
- Ability to work in a team
- Organizational talent
Course description:
Further important key points of the "Electrical Project Manager (BP)" 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 whether 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 like the job description under question 1 and you have marked "No" here, you should try to analyze which contents of the course would appeal to you and which would not. And with what you find out, you can look at the following further training opportunities in related fields to see if you can find something that better suits your interests:
- Electrical Team Leader VSEI
- Electrical Safety Consultant (BP)
- Project Manager Security Systems (BP)
- Project Manager Solar Installation (BP)
- Project and workshop manager for switchgear construction (BP)
- Telematics Project Manager (BP)
- Electrical engineering HF
Requirements at the time of the federal professional examination
- Federal certificate of competence as an electrician or electrical fitter, electrical draughtsman or electrical planner or telematics technician
- and vocational trainer course
- and at least two years of practical professional experience under expert supervision in the planning, construction or inspection of installations in accordance with the NIV
- and proof of the required module qualifications
Question 3:
Do I meet the requirements?
If you meet the requirements, you can start your training at the earliest possible date.
If you have not yet completed a vocational trainer course (master teacher course), ask your canton's vocational training office about the next dates. There are probably opportunities to take a course before you sit the federal examination.
If you do not yet have two years of practical experience under expert supervision, it is best to enquire at a school about the specific examination dates. You only need to have the two years at the time of the final examination. This will probably be enough if you have a job now where you can gain this experience. If not, you should perhaps first make sure that you can be deployed in this way in your job or otherwise think about changing employer.
If you do not meet the requirements because you have not learned one of the required professions, ask at a school or directly at theAssociationwhether there is an opportunity with your profession.
Financing of further training
The course fees for the "Electrical Project Manager" course are to 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.
Since January 1, 2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination.Further information is available here.
Question 4:
Are you in a position to pre-finance between CHF 6,000 and CHF 9,000 for the course fee, depending on the provider and other general conditions, until you are reimbursed the federal contribution after taking the final examination?
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 your employer to make a contribution to your further education costs or find someone in your private social circle who will support your specific further education project with a loan. There are also banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
If you meet the conditions for applying the hardship clause, you can apply to the federal government for part of the refund to be paid out in advance.Further information can be found here.
Time spent on classroom teaching and learning (homework)
The course lasts 2 to 4 semesters, depending on the chosen variant or previous education. The time required for classroom teaching is up to 12 hours per week (there are different course models, such as evening courses or Saturday courses).
The learning effort (homework) amounts to around 8-12 hours per week in addition to school lessons.
Question 5:
Can I cope with the time and effort required for the face-to-face lessons and homework?
If the workload is even very manageable for you, you could check whether there are intensive courses for this training. This would allow you to complete the same training in less time if you are able to accept a slightly higher time commitment.
If you are short on time, look for courses that extend over a longer period of time and require fewer lessons and less time for homework each week. And if that's still not enough, you should check whether you can free up more time in another way. Perhaps someone close to you can take on certain tasks for you for the limited period of your training?
Conclusion
Will I graduate?
General success factors that significantly increase the chances of passing the final exam:
- Interest in the topic and high motivation to achieve the goal
- Active participation in lessons
- Preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Regular practice to get into the routine of solving tasks
- Regular application of what you have learned in everyday working life
- Contact and exchange with other participants, lecturers and successful former graduates of the course
Question 6:
Do I have the confidence to pass the final 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 very unsure, you could look at which subjects you may have struggled with at vocational school or in the preparatory course for the electrical safety consultant exam. If these are subjects that will be repeated in this final examination, you should find out about possible preparatory courses, fill in any gaps in your knowledge with the help of tutors or discuss with the school whether there is the possibility of internal test examinations. If you have intense exam anxiety, you could look for a different type of course that focuses more on learning achievements, mid-term exams or semester work. External help from learning therapists, kinesiologists, autogenic training providers or mental training providers can also be considered.
You can find suitable providers here:
Receive course or training documents from suitable schools immediately
Under {#CourseLink#} you will find an overview of schools that offer the "Electrical Project Manager (BP)" 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 "Electrical project manager with federal certificate" course, you should be convinced that you really want to work as a project manager in the electrical installation industry. 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 do not have a Swiss apprenticeship qualification, please contact theAssociationor the vocational training office in your canton of residence to find out whether your foreign training can be recognized or which additional examinations you might have to take.
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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