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People,
Apprentices

My apprenticeship? Self-designed!

Paula Roth is in the third year of her commercial apprenticeship with a vocational baccalaureate and has already worked in six departments and at three different locations during this time. In this interview, she talks about how she can actively shape the course of her training and why Implenia is such a great place to choose for an apprenticeship.

In summer 2022, Paula is still in a completely different world. She has decided to continue at school full time to complete her Matura certificate. But after just a few weeks, she realizes that the subject matter is too dry for her. She would much rather help out in the world of work and gain practical experience.

A quick job

After this realization, everything happened very quickly: "It took just five weeks from the day I decided to do an apprenticeship to being accepted for an apprenticeship at Implenia in Aarau." Looking back, it's clear to her that this spontaneous decision will have a significant impact on her career.

Once Paula has signed the apprenticeship contract, she is presented with the opportunity to complete an internship at Implenia before her apprenticeship. On the monthly Welcome Day, she visits Implenia's Connect headquarters in Opfikon near Zurich for the first time. She knows immediately that this is exactly where she wants to work. “The open-plan offices at Connect are a real buzz”, she says.

The interest of the learners counts

A commercial apprenticeship at Implenia consists of six different stations, from which you can choose more or less freely. Every spring, the apprentices get together and negotiate among themselves who should work in which department. Paula appreciates this flexibility: "That's not a given. In other training companies, you are assigned to departments and have no say."

In the summer of 2023, she will spend a year at Connect. After two semesters in HR and tunneling, she works in accounting in Aarau for six months before moving to the Oberentfelden depot for the fourth semester. Now, in her fifth semester, she is supporting the Marketing & Communications team in Opfikon and will return to Aarau for the final semester in Payroll Accounting.

Using opportunities to discover new things

We sense this in conversation: Paula is very ambitious and curious. She uses new experiences to constantly broaden her horizons during her apprenticeship: “You only do a commercial apprenticeship once and have the opportunity to immerse yourself in different departments and teams over three years at Implenia.”

"I am encouraged to set up and implement my own projects. That's important, because I prefer to take responsibility myself."

Paula Roth, apprentice

She currently works at Marketing & Communications from Monday to Wednesday and appreciates the trust placed in her: “I am encouraged to set up and implement my own projects. That's important, because I prefer to take responsibility myself.” The apprentice spends the rest of the week at school, where she learns practical material. Paula likes the change between work and school. She particularly enjoys being able to apply her theoretical knowledge in practice at work.

The highlight of her apprenticeship so far was a four-week internship abroad in Ireland in the fall of 2025, offered by the vocational school. During the week, she worked at Premier Publishing & Events Ltd, an Irish events company that coordinates B2B conferences and exhibitions across the UK and Ireland. At the weekends, she went on excursions with her classmates and enjoyed the vibrant nightlife in Dublin. Four weeks full of impressions, new experiences and unforgettable moments, which she was able to experience thanks to Implenia's support.

Commercial apprenticeship plus vocational baccalaureate: the ideal route

After two and a half years of training, Paula is clear: "Doing a commercial apprenticeship with an accompanying vocational baccalaureate was the right decision for me. It enables me to make a smooth transition into the world of work and allows me to grow both personally and professionally. The targeted support at Implenia spurs me on every day to give my best. I can only recommend this training model."

Plenty of room for creativity: an apprenticeship at Implenia
Plenty of room for creativity: an apprenticeship at Implenia
Plenty of room for creativity: an apprenticeship at Implenia
Plenty of room for creativity: an apprenticeship at Implenia

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