Self-test: Is the "Home economics specialist (EFZ)" course the right one for me? (since 2023: Specialist in hotel housekeeping / specialist in hotel housekeeping)
Analysis of the activities of home economics specialists with EFZ
Who is the "Specialist in housekeeping (EFZ)" course for (since 2023: Hotel housekeeping specialist) is intended for?
- Professionals from the home economics sector who wish to obtain a federally recognized apprenticeship qualification
What does the day-to-day work of housekeeping specialists look like? What are their tasks?
Housekeeping specialists perform the typical tasks of a housekeeper in large households, hospitals, care homes or hotel complexes. They are the good soul of the house, making sure that everything looks inviting and cozy, is tidy and clean and that potted plants and pets are just as comfortable as the guests, residents or patients. In addition to the daily cleaning of all rooms, corridors and sanitary facilities, they take care of the laundry and can also do small sewing and repair jobs themselves. In larger homes, they take care of the organization and distribution of meals, in smaller facilities they prepare the menus themselves and also cook. As trained professionals, they supervise apprentices and instruct auxiliary staff and external personnel. They also carry out the administrative tasks of managing cleaning materials, kitchen supplies and laundry requirements independently. In large facilities, they may also provide services for residents and clients, such as running errands or distributing mail internally.
Job descriptions in job advertisements for housekeeping specialists EFZ (since 2023: Hotel housekeeping specialist):
| Main tasks and areas of application | Frequency in % |
|---|---|
|
Tidying up, tidying up, general cleaning work, sporadic basic cleaning |
30 |
|
Procurement and management of laundry, laundry and dry cleaning operations. Alterations and adjustments to garments, sewing and mending work |
30 |
|
Independent cooking, organizing and coordinating supplies for the kitchen, distributing food carts and service |
10 |
|
Professional support for apprentices, induction of new employees |
10 |
|
Simple administrative tasks, ordering materials, errands, etc. |
20 |
What is required in job advertisements:
- Certificate of competence as a housekeeping specialist EFZ
- Good oral and written German language skills
- Friendly demeanor and pleasure in dealing with people
- Reliable, fast and precise way of working
- Good physical constitution
- Willingness to personally contribute to the entire day-to-day business, willingness to work on weekends as well
Question 1:
Do the activities of the home economics specialist EFZ correspond to my expectations?
You are probably already familiar with the area of work and can assess whether you would like to continue doing this work. The next question is about whether this route to an apprenticeship qualification is suitable for you.
If you do not like these activities based on the description, you should reconsider why you would like to complete the apprenticeship. If you are already working in this field and do not yet have a recognized qualification, this could be an important step that could give you access to further training. If you are looking for a lateral entry into this field and are not happy with the description of the areas of responsibility, you should perhaps reconsider which other areas might be suitable for you.
Course description "Specialist in housekeeping EFZ" (since 2023: Specialist in hotel housekeeping / specialist in hotel housekeeping)
The most important key points of the "Specialist in Home Economics EFZ" course are described here:
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Question 2:
Are you generally interested in this course?
If you are interested in this course to become a hotel housekeeping specialist, 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 and that you like better than the job profile described in question 1.
If you have already answered "yes" to question 1, then this path seems to fit your ideas in principle.
If you like the job description in question 1 but not the course, you can look at these two options:
- If you do not yet have a recognized qualification and have been working in the cleaning industry for some time, there are other ways to obtain a federal certificate of proficiency, such as a shortened apprenticeship or the procedure for validating educational achievements. You can obtain information about this from your cantonal vocational training office orhere.
- If you already have another apprenticeship qualification or a high school diploma and at least four years of professional experience in housekeeping, you could also enquire about your admission options for the federal professional examination "Head of Hotel Housekeeping (BP)". You may be able to skip a step and not have to complete your apprenticeship first.
If you already have an apprenticeship and/or a few years of professional experience, you could also look into the following higher apprenticeships as an alternative:
- Head of Hotel Housekeeping (BP)
- Farmer's wife / Farmer's household manager (BP)
- Catering manager (BP)
- Building cleaning specialist (BP)
- Head of household (BP)
- Janitor (BP)
- Maintenance specialist (BP)
Prerequisites for admission to the course:
- 5 years of practical experience in housekeeping (3 years at the start of training), family work is recognized
- Employment in the housekeeping department of a large company at a minimum of 40% during the training period
- Written and spoken German: language level B1 according to the European Language Portfolio
- Basic knowledge of IT applications (Word, Excel, e-mail and Internet)
- Basic knowledge of sewing with a sewing machine
Question 3:
Do I meet the requirements?
If you meet the requirements, you can take the next steps.
If you do not yet have any professional experience in the field of housekeeping, this path is not suitable for you. This so-called catch-up training for adults allows professionals with practical experience to have their skills officially recognized. If you have completed an apprenticeship or have at least 3 years of professional experience in another field, find out about your further training options in this field.
If you don't speak or understand enough German, find out about German courses first. Then you can catch up later. If you lack basic computer or sewing machine skills, it is best to ask the school whether you can learn these skills in separate courses during your training.
Financing the training
The amount of the course fees for the course "Fachmann/-frau Hauswirtschaft EFZ" (since 2023: Fachfrau Hotellerie-Hauswirtschaft / Fachmann Hotellerie-Hauswirtschaft) is highly dependent on whether your canton of residence covers part of it. The amount you have to pay yourself is usually paid in advance each semester.
Question 4:
Are you able to pay between CHF 750 for registration fees and school materials and a maximum of CHF 9,700 for the entire vocational and general education course yourself?
If you have marked "Yes" because you can afford the costs yourself or know that they will be covered by your employer or canton of residence, you have already done an important part of the preparatory work.
If you are not sure how much you really have to pay yourself, ask a course provider. Preferably one in your canton of residence. If there isn't one there, look in the neighboring cantons and ask all the schools for the actual costs.
And have you asked your employer whether they will support you? This support would also be important to ensure that you can actually carry out the practical parts of the training in your company. If you really have to bear the full costs yourself, you could try to find someone in your private social circle who will support your specific further education project with a loan. Otherwise, there are banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
Time spent on classroom teaching and learning (homework)
The course lasts 2 years and can be completed while working. Vocational studies are taught for a whole day each week. The general subjects are taught two evenings a week.
In addition to lessons, homework and studying for exams take another 3-4 hours per week.
Question 5:
Can I cope with the time and effort required for school and homework?
If you think you can do this well, you have good prerequisites for this apprenticeship to become a hotel housekeeping specialist.
If you are short of time, think about who could help you. Or maybe it's possible for them to work less for that time. Or ask your employer if you can write off some of this time as working time.
Conclusion
Which final exams do I have to pass?
The course content required to obtain the certificate of proficiency is taught in modules:
- Each module is completed with a certificate of competence
- The Office for Vocational Education and Training confirms each successfully completed module with a certificate
- On request, we can clarify what experience and skills are already available before the start of training (= skills assessment)
Modules and proof of competence:
- Nutrition and catering : Practical and written exam
- Living and cleaning technology : Practical and written exam
- Guest relations and service : written exam
- Laundry care : Practical and written exam
- Administration : written exam
- Health and social services : Solving a case study
- General education : compulsory module for people without a vocational qualification
Question 6:
Am I confident that I can pass the module examinations to obtain the certificate of proficiency?
If you are confident that you can pass these exams, we wish you every success in realizing your career plans.
If you are unsure, take another look at the six topics in the training modules. There are probably topics that suit you better, so you won't have trouble with all of them.
And then ask at your store or school if there are ways that you can get help or support with the more difficult modules. Or maybe you know someone who has done this degree, then you could ask him or her what it's like and what it takes.
Receive course or training documents from suitable schools immediately
Under Fachfrau Hotellerie-Hauswirtschaft / Fachmann Hotellerie-Hauswirtschaft (EFZ) you will find an overview of schools that offer the course "Fachmann/-frau Hauswirtschaft EFZ". 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 "Home economics specialist EFZ" course, you should be convinced that you really like a career in the home economics sector of large households. Or that this is a good opportunity for you to obtain a federally recognized apprenticeship qualification. The course description should also appeal to you. If this is the case for you, you can look into this course further. 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 do not have a school-leaving certificate, you should look into how you can make up for this with the help of a careers advice center. And if your German language skills are not yet at the required level, see how you can improve your German first. There are many different types of German courses, among which you are sure to find something that suits you.
Financing further education is not always easy. If you do not receive a cantonal grant, you must be able to pay several thousand francs. Many schools offer the option of individual monthly installments in individual cases, so that large amounts do not have to be paid all 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. Some banks and credit institutions 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 do 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 any doubts about whether you will pass the module examinations, you can be sure that every school has an interest in ensuring that as many of your students as possible successfully complete their training. 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
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin