Photo © ISFB

Finding a first job after university is a demanding process that goes far beyond simply sending out application files. It first requires understanding an industry and coming to terms with its expectations. It then means identifying its different professions and beginning to picture oneself in them with credibility. It is in this spirit that the ISFB Summer School was created: a bridge between the academic and professional worlds, with an intensive in-person programme designed for holders, or future holders, of a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate.

A decisive transition from study to working life

Entering the labour market after university is an important step, and often a more demanding one than expected. The challenge is not only to land a job, but to make a successful transition: to leave a relatively structured academic environment and enter a professional one with its own codes, expectations and realities. In Switzerland, CSFO data show that among university graduates in economics, one in four says they encountered difficulties finding a job aligned with their aspirations. The median job-search period is three months and the median number of applications reaches ten. One year after graduation, 71% are working in private services (CSFO, 2025).

Against this backdrop, the issue is not simply to “find something”, but rather to turn an academic education into a clearly readable career path. The ISFB Summer School addresses precisely that need by offering ten days of training, case studies, a bank visit, a hackathon, and preparation for HR interviews with mock sessions and professional coaching.

A programme that provides concrete insight into banking careers

As Christophe Nicod, Head of Continuing Education at ISFB, points out, the programme stands out because it does not merely provide general information about banking. It helps participants move from a vision that is often vague, and sometimes even romanticised, to a concrete understanding of the sector, the many professions it encompasses, its requirements and what it can offer young talent. This dedicated and unique value proposition in the sector fits perfectly with the role and mission ISFB sets itself as a professional association: to support training, skills development, employability and careers in the banking and financial sector in French-speaking Switzerland.

The programme’s strength lies in its hands-on approach. The Summer School does not merely deliver content on banking and finance. It also makes it possible to connect that content to real-world situations, industry practitioners and concrete market expectations. In a recent testimonial, one enthusiastic participant highlighted the rare opportunity to build direct contacts with the banking world, as well as the highly valuable support this gave to developing her professional project through a more tangible understanding of the sector and its occupations.

Putting insight into action immediately

In that sense, the ISFB Summer School is not about an implicit promise of job openings, but about the quality of the framework it provides to challenge one’s perception of the market and shape a genuinely personal and differentiating career project. The presence of various experts working in member banks, as well as banking HR specialists, further enriches the opportunity on offer. It gives the programme a firm grounding in practice and offers young talent a rare chance to sharpen their outlook, their posture and their understanding of the sector’s hiring dynamics.

Understanding the sector, building confidence, positioning yourself better

From the standpoint of career psychology, this transition stage is particularly important. Stéphane Bonzon, a career guidance psychologist on the ISFB Career Development team, regularly recalls in his talks that relevant support in a context of uncertainty and constant reinvention does not consist in providing a ready-made solution, but in helping individuals clarify and mobilise the resources they can rely on in order to become the authors of their own careers and build their own professional and personal path. That logic is especially relevant for recent graduates who need to turn an academic background into a credible career project.

From this perspective, the Summer School does not replace personal initiative or the effort required when applying for jobs. Nor does it enable candidates to bypass the selection process conducted by employers. What it can do, however, is help participants better define their interests, gain a deeper understanding of the sector they are aiming for, improve the way they present themselves and enter the labour market with greater clarity, while also building a first relevant professional network during the two-week training period.

As Evelyne Rechenmann, head of ISFB’s Career Development division, notes, entering the labour market is not driven solely by academic skills. It also depends on the ability to position oneself, understand employers’ expectations and benefit from relevant support at the right time. And that moment is now: the Summer School is here for that.

Programme duration: from 3 August to 14 August 2026, in Geneva

Information: www.isfb.ch/summerschool