Self-test: Is the "Electrical team leader with EIT.swiss certificate (formerly VSEI certificate)" course the right one for me?
Analysis of the functions/activities of electrical team leaders with EIT.swiss certificate (formerly VSEI certificate)
For whom is the "Electrical team leader (certified)" course suitable?
- Specialists in the EIT.swiss (formerly VSEI) electrical professions who wish to train as construction management specialists
What does the day-to-day work within these functions look like? Which activities are carried out and how often?
Electrical team leaders manage and coordinate installation projects for high-voltage and low-voltage systems. They create installation plans, draw diagrams, take measurements and write control reports. On the construction site, they manage and motivate the installation team and plan the work assignments. They take part in construction site meetings, ensure that the construction stages are completed and look for practical solutions when problems arise.
Job descriptions in job advertisements for electrical team leaders:
| Main tasks | Activity in % |
|---|---|
| Leading the assembly team on the construction site, monitoring and controlling the work | 40% |
| Work preparation and administrative tasks | 40% |
| Meetings, coordination and communication tasks | 20% |
The weighting of the individual areas of responsibility can vary greatly depending on the area of application.
Typical requirements in job advertisements:
- Federal certificate of competence in the field of electrical installations
- Further training in the installation sector
- Driving license (Cat. B)
- Team player, flexible and responsible personality with a precise way of working
- Assertiveness and entrepreneurial thinking
- Leadership experience and good negotiation skills
- Good manners in dealing with customers, employees and suppliers
Question 1:
Do the activities of electrical team leaders 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.
Course description "Electrical team leader (certified)"
The most important key points of the "Electrical team leader (certified)" 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:
- Industrial electrician (examination by the Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations ESTI in Fehraltorf/ZH)
- Electrical Site Manager KZEI
- Electrical foreman (certified)
- Electrical Safety Consultant (BP)
- Electrical Project Manager (BP)
- Electrical engineering HF
Prerequisites at the time of starting the course / final examination
- Federal certificate of proficiency as an electrician, electrical fitter, electrical draughtsman or electrical planner
- or a federal certificate of competence as an installation electrician and at least three years of professional experience in the field of installation in accordance with NIV under expert supervision in Switzerland
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 marked "Partly" or "No", you should clarify your options for fulfilling the requirements (further information in the final evaluation at the end of the self-test) or consider another course.
Financing of further training
The course fees for the "Electrical Team Leader" course are to be paid either at the beginning of the course or by the semester. However, it is also possible to agree individual installment payments in individual cases.
Question 4:
Are you able to finance between CHF 5,500 and CHF 7,000, depending on the course and type of school, for the course, teaching materials, final examinations plus expenses for travel and meals?
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.
Time spent on classroom teaching and learning (homework)
The part-time course lasts two semesters. The average amount of time spent on classroom teaching is 6 to 8 hours per week (there are different course models, such as evening courses or Saturday courses).
The learning effort (homework) amounts to about 4 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 the course descriptions of the preparatory courses for a federal vocational examination in electrical installation. If you are in a position to accept an even greater time commitment, you could go straight to the next higher level of education.
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?
The final subjects are examined in writing at the respective school and the training is completed with the "Integrated Practical Work IPA".
In principle, the following factors increase the chances of success:
- 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 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 have marked "Partly" or "No", you could consider taking a preparatory course for subjects in which you have weaknesses, fill in existing knowledge gaps with the help of colleagues or superiors or discuss with the school whether there is the possibility of internal test examinations. If you have intense test anxiety, you could look for a different type of course that works more with learning achievements, mid-term exams or term papers. External help from learning therapists, kinesiologists, autogenic training providers or mental training providers can also be considered.
You can find suitable providers here:
Conclusion:
Before you want to complete the "Electrical Team Leader" course, you should be convinced that you really enjoy a management and leadership role on the construction site. 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 suitable for you.
If you do not meet the admission requirements because you have learned another profession, look for similar further training courses in your sector. This could be in the area of construction management or construction planning, for example, or project management in another area or senior network fitter or further training in the area of electronics, IT, telematics.
If you still lack the relevant professional experience for admission, you can use the remaining time to gain practical experience with installations in your day-to-day work. 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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