On November 14, 2024, the National Future Day took place, during which more than 200 kids from 5th to 7th grade got an exciting insight into the business world at Johnson & Johnson in Switzerland.
At seven locations, they participated in interactive activities that gave them an understanding of the company's culture and career opportunities. In addition to the core curriculum, we also placed great emphasis on inspiring girls for careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and offered them the opportunity to discover the world of computer science as part of a special IT program on the Basel campus, in Zuchwil and Zug.
The Future Day was organized by the WiSTEM2D (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing, and Design) team, volunteers at different locations, and many dedicated apprentices. We conducted an interview with two of our 3rd year apprentices, Julia Rezic and Amelia Ramseier from the Zug campus, who were actively involved in the planning and implementation of the event.
How would you describe Future Day in three words?
Julia: Successful, interesting, varied
Amelia: Collaboration, creativity, education
Julia, what was your task in planning the event?
During this year's planning, I organized the photo booth and was a group leader on the day itself. I also looked for suitable giveaways and could update some presentations so that everything was up to date and according to the new brand. It was exciting to take on so many different tasks.
Amelia, what did you learn during this year’s planning phase?
I learned that good teamwork is very important for the success of an event. Project management also played an important role. As apprentices, we had a lot of responsibility, had to learn to work under time pressure and pay attention to detail. Through this experience, I learned a lot about time management, communication, and the importance of clear roles in the team.
Julia, where did you encounter the biggest challenges?
Sometimes it was difficult to stay calm in stressful situations. However, it was automatically easier for me thanks to the support of other apprentices and colleagues.
Amelia, what was your highlight?
My personal highlight was definitely planning and executing the video interviews for Instagram. It was exciting to capture first-hand the voices and impressions of the kids and feel the excitement they had for Future Day.
Julia, how was the cooperation with the other apprentices for you?
The brainstorming sessions with the other apprentices, especially the 1st year apprentices who had never worked on a Future Day before, were particularly exciting. Many creative ideas came together, which allowed us to make the event very varied. It was also nice to pass on our knowledge to the new apprentices so that they can also put it into practice next year.
Amelia, is there anything you would do differently next year?
One aspect that we could improve next year is that we are planning additional aids that can also support English-speaking children. This would allow us to provide them with a better experience and ensure that all children receive the individual help they need.
Do you both have any advice for children who, like you, are interested in an apprenticeship at Johnson & Johnson?
We can certainly recommend an apprenticeship at Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson offers apprenticeships in 11 different professions at different locations in Switzerland. You will find all the information on the apprenticeships and the introductory days here. You can also get exciting information on our Instagram channel: jnj_switzerland. We look forward to welcoming our future talents to Johnson & Johnson in the near future.