Handicraft professions with a future.
The carpenter.
The carpenter
A career with a future
The profession of a carpenter has long since ceased to be a “dusty” craft. Digital technology has also made its way into our profession for a long time and has an accordingly high value in carpentry apprenticeships. At vonrickenbach.swiss ag, an apprentice learns both the basics of computer-aided drawing and design with CAD software, programming technology and the machining of complex shapes and special materials with our large, state-of-the-art CNC machines , but also the old craft with conventional tools. Today, many things can be produced with ultra-modern technology, but for many carpentry jobs it still requires the well-proven work by hand. vonrickenbach.swiss ag is a proud apprenticing company and is happy to pass on its passion for working with solid wood to the next generation.
The carpentry profession from a close perspective
Carpenters make furniture, carry out interior finishing work, manufacture construction elements and install them, build skis and many other things made of the natural material wood. They cut, saw, plane, drill, mill, sand, stain, or varnish either with tools by hand or on large stationary machines and computer-controlled CNC machining centres. They also take customer requests, design, and create or work from customer plans. They draw up sketches and detailed plans by hand or with the help of CAD programs. Carpenters plan material orders, individual work steps and calculate cost estimates. There are even carpenters who oversee and coordinate an entire renovation project.
Apprenticeship
The apprenticeship to become an EFZ carpenter lasts four years, usually in a carpenter’s workshop or in a trainee’s workplace. The apprentices attend vocational school one day a week. If they perform very well at school, they can attend professional baccalaureate school during their basic training.
Requirements
The requirements for an aspiring carpenter are definitely the pleasure of working with the natural material wood. But also, manual skills, technical understanding, good three-dimensional imagination, drawing skills, logical thinking, and a precise way of working. In addition, physical agility, a sense of aesthetics and good robust health.
Advanced education
Technical and vocational schools as well as the Association of Swiss Master Carpenters and Furniture Makers (VSSM) offer various courses. If you want to continue your education, you can take a higher professional examination to become a master carpenter or attend higher professional schools and obtain diplomas as Dipl. Techniker/in HF Holztechnik, Bachelor of Science in wood technology or interior design and many others. Well-known schools for this are, for example, the Bern University of Applied Sciences with the Department of Architecture, Wood and Construction, the Bürgenstock University of Applied Sciences or the University of Applied Sciences for Technology and Design in Zug.
The apprentices at vonrickenbach.swiss ag
vonrickenbach.swiss ag has been a proud apprenticing company for many years. We are very dedicated to passing on our knowledge and our great passion for the processing of solid wood to the next generation and to prepare the apprentices in the best possible way for their professional life after their apprenticeship. We currently employ one apprentice in the 1st year of his apprenticeship.
Siro Rüttimann
in training as a carpenter EFZ
Siro Rüttimann (SR) is our 1st year apprentice carpenter and has been working in our company for 7 weeks now. He provides a brief insight into his daily work routine below.
Thomas von Rickenbach (TVR): Siro, when and why did you decide to become a carpenter?
SR: My father also trained as a carpenter, so I was always interested in this profession. In secondary school I went on a trial apprenticeship and after that it was obvious to me that I wanted to become a carpenter.
TVR: What made you decide to start your apprenticeship with us?
SR: Actually, it was a coincidence: I was looking for an apprenticeship in my second year of secondary school and found out through a friend that you still had a carpenter apprenticeship available. I was then allowed to do a trial apprenticeship and applied straight away and luckily got the opportunity to work here.
TVR: What fascinates you most about being a carpenter?
SR: What fascinates me most is working with wood. I have always been interested in and inspired by the different types of wood. In addition, I can put my ideas into practice creatively.
TVR: What kind of work can you already accomplish on your own and what kind of work do you like best so far and why?
SR: I have been here for seven weeks now and for a good three weeks I receive my orders in the morning and in most cases I can accomplish them independently already. So far, I like all the work, but I really like working on the big machines.
TVR: Do you already have plans after your apprenticeship?
SR: At this point, I am still uncertain whether to further my education as a carpenter or to do a second apprenticeship as a timberman. Fortunately, I still have some time before I must decide.
We wish Siro all the best with his apprenticeship and are pleased that he is part of the vonrickenbach.swiss ag team.
Simon Bachmann
Successful in professional life
In recent years, apprentices have come and gone after successful training to gain experience in other companies. One of them is Simon Bachmann (SB). Simon graduated as a carpenter EFZ from our company about six years ago and has been working for a small carpentry company ever since. We wanted to know from Simon how he experienced the carpentry apprenticeship with us back then and what his future looks like now.
TVR: Simon, a good six years ago you left our company after successfully passing your final apprenticeship examination. Why did you choose the profession of carpenter back then?
SB: I knew since kindergarten that I wanted to become a carpenter. My father is also a trained carpenter, we often did crafts together. There was even a workbench in our kitchen. So, becoming a carpenter was a “boyhood dream” for me that came true.
TVR: How did you experience the apprenticeship at the time and how did it prepare you for your current professional life?
SB: I had a very good time during my apprenticeship. I would describe vonrickenbach.swiss ag as a model apprenticeship company. We as apprentices were allowed to do a lot of tasks independently and our work was very much appreciated. After the apprenticeship, I was well prepared for my future career.
TVR: Have you ever regretted this career choice?
SB: No, never, I would do it again in an instant!
TVR: What have you done in the last few years as a trained carpenter?
SB: I’ve been working in the job for a good six years, and in the meantime, I’ve been constantly improving my skills. Last year I completed the production specialist in VSSM at the ibW Höhere Fachschule Südostschweiz. I am currently in further training to become a project manager in carpentry, which I will complete in October 2022.
TVR: Is there anything you would like to pass on to our apprentices?
SB: I recommend that they continually improve their skills and continue their education after completing their apprenticeship.
Thank you, Simon, for the interesting insight, we wish you continued success and good luck.
Passionate about teaching
vonrickenbach.swiss ag is a family-owned company with around 30 qualified employees. Procuring and processing solid wood is our great passion and has been for generations. We are proud to be an apprentice company for future carpenters. It is important to us to pass on our passion for solid wood and our great knowledge in the processing of this noble material to young people, so that our profession will endure for generations to come.
Thomas von Rickenbach
