Take the next step: Discover the diverse career paths at ASSA ABLOY!

These are just some of the many opportunities for starting a career with ASSA ABLOY. Fabienne Weichselbraun, who has been in charge of HR for the KESO brand in Richterswil since 2020, provides insight into the company's recruitment activities and explains why it is so important for employers and employees alike to show initiative.

"When it comes to finding the best talent, the classic job advertisement is no longer enough," says Fabienne Weichselbraun, in light of the skilled worker situation. According to a 2023 study commissioned by the Swiss Employers' Association (SAV), jobs advertised online remain vacant for around 43 days throughout Switzerland. [1] It can, however, take even longer for suitable candidates to be found in the MEM industry (machinery, electrical and metal industry) and technical professions that require a Swiss Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ).

ASSA ABLOY has long since adapted to this trend: "As a leading technology company, we are constantly looking for qualified and motivated apprentices and graduates and are therefore actively promoting our acquisition of skilled workers," explains the HR specialist. She says that it is particularly important in this context to be seen at an early stage as an interesting brand and exciting company that has a strong welcoming culture and offers plenty of room for personal development.

Partnering with the vocational training center in the local area or region, ASSA ABLOY therefore organizes special afternoon visits to give interested students a better understanding of the four training professions. "Starting professional life is something rather abstract for many young people. The opportunity to get to know our production facilities and the associated processes up close for half a day helps to break down such barriers and replace them with the desire for something new," reports Fabienne Weichselbraun. In addition, the company is in contact with the upper grades of secondary schools in the region and is also represented on the Yousty apprenticeship portal because visibility – especially visibility in the digital environment – is becoming increasingly important.

In addition to special trainee programs offered in research and development, ASSA ABLOY also nurtures relationships with universities and universities of applied sciences and offers the opportunity for internships while studying for an academic degree. Following the obligatory part of the internship, the internships frequently give rise to opportunities for students to continue working part-time alongside their studies. "In this way, we maintain contact with promising skilled workers so that we can fill vacancies in, for example, the traditionally highly sought-after engineering sector," explains Fabienne Weichselbraun.

Recognizing and developing the potential of employees who are already part of the ASSA ABLOY family is also an important part of the company's strategy regarding skilled workers. "By specifically promoting further development measures, we are also building up valuable knowledge within the company at the same time as our training initiatives and thus counteracting not only the shortage of skilled workers, but also the shortage of managers," says Fabienne Weichselbraun. Annual performance reviews clarify employees' expectations and opportunities regarding their own careers. Employees also have the option of applying for internally advertised positions at any time. "We check and evaluate the feasibility of each of these applications internally, even for career-changers," reports the Head of HR, who expressly encourages employees to be proactive and to seek out a conversation: "Personal development should always go hand in hand with personal initiative. We are always open to that!"

[1] Around 3.1 million online job advertisements were evaluated between 2018 and 2021 as part of the study carried out by the Economic Research Center (Konjunkturforschungsstelle, KOF) and the Economic Advisory Service (Volkswirtschaftliche Beratung, BSS). The final report can be downloaded free of charge at the following address.