Real estate is the star of TV shows, and it's one of the areas that young people are most attracted to. But it's not enough to have the soul of a flat hunter to enter this sector, which is always on the lookout for new talent. While the paperwork is less telegenic than the field work, real estate is also synonymous with law, accounting and tax.

Overcoming simplistic stereotypes, an apprenticeship as a commercial property clerk addresses these multiple facets. Aimed at young people, it's the most direct route to a wide range of responsible careers. Brokers, property managers, developers and management directors are just some examples.

Three questions for Marion Thyes, head of training at the Association professionnelle des gérants et courtiers en immeubles de Genève (APGCI).

- How is the real estate apprenticeship structured?
The course is general. It lasts three years. It combines in-company training, business school teaching and inter-company courses. What's more, from the second year onwards, apprentices take courses organised by the APGCI and taught by professionals. The CFC for commercial employees and the Immobase certificate from the Swiss Union of Real Estate Professionals (USPI) are the crowning achievements of their apprenticeship.

- What is the entry process?

Pass the French, maths and English assessments (EVA), then fill in the application form available on our website. Successful applicants are invited to an interview. The APGCI then puts future apprentices in touch with the local authorities that have places available.

- What happens next?

Generally speaking, a direct entry into the job market and gradual advancement thanks to the continuing training courses and federal certificates in our sector. It is also possible to go on to higher education via the Maturité. In Geneva, the Institut d'études immobilières offers a private master's degree at postgraduate level.

Training mission

In the glass building that houses SPG, one of Geneva's largest property management companies, founded in 1960 by Jean-Paul Barbier-Mueller, Alissa Tronchin, an apprentice real estate sales clerk, beams. After an initial general education course that didn't suit her, the young woman found her vocation: real estate. ‘I was looking for a job with lots of human contact. I wanted to move around, not stay cooped up in an office. As I explored my options, I fell in love with the profession of estate agent.

Determined, she submitted her application to the Association professionnelle des gérants et courtiers en immeubles de Genève (APGCI), the training body responsible, among other things, for pre-selecting future apprentices for its member agencies. When interviewed, her commercial instincts and keen interest in the property business struck a chord. When approached by several employers, Alissa Tronchin opted for the SPG, a recognised training company. ‘Training the professionals that our industry needs is a mission that's close to our hearts. Transit authorities are having difficulty recruiting qualified staff,’ says Alexandra Dominguez, a trainer for fourteen years.

A range of professions

The SPG trains six commercial apprentices spread over the three years of training. They rotate through the departments. They don't sell houses straight away,’ warns Alexandra Dominguez. They start out at the reception desk, where they learn about all our activities and acquire the interpersonal skills that are essential in our business. Their training continues in crescendo, in management and letting of residential and commercial properties, then in condominiums and exceptional properties.

In the final year of her apprenticeship, Alissa Tronchin has already been involved in letting out flats. ‘I did everything from advertising and visiting properties to selecting applications and drawing up lease contracts, right up to handing over the keys! Moving on to property development, she discovered how new products are designed and marketed. Finally, she lifts the veil on brokerage (property sales) and its aspects, such as competition and commission-based remuneration. A 360° education that opens every door.

Once she has obtained her CFC, she will leave to perfect her English, which is essential in Geneva.

News www.apgci.ch and www.uspi-formation.ch

Source: 24 heures newspaper (25.01.2024)

Text Jennifer Weil and Anne Jabaud - Office pour l'orientation, la formation professionnelle et continue (OFPC) Geneva

About Cerise Immobilier gérance et courtage, estate agency in Villars-sur-Ollon

Cerise Immobilier gérance et courtage is a real estate agency located in Villars-sur-Ollon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It offers services in sales, purchases, rentals, PPE management, property valuations and tax and legal advice. We cover the Chablais region of Vaud, in particular the communes of Ollon, Gryon, Bex, Aigle, Les Diablerêts, Chessel, Leysin, Lavey, Noville, Roche, Yvorne and Villeuneuve.

Would you like to sell your property (chalet flat, land or building)? You can get a free initial valuation by clicking on the following link: Online valuation