"There were two things that helped me get on the career ladder"

Anita Kendzia: It's not been that long since you studied at the ETH. What is your favourite memory of that time?

Pascal Schwendimann: My favourite memory is definitely receiving my degree certificate after successfully having completed my courses. Apart from that, it's all the little things I did with my fellow students. We sometimes spent our lunch break playing billiards in the CAB common room. There’s even a beer vending machine next to the billiards table. Or after lectures, we would go to the bQm café and bar. I’m afraid I don't have any unusual stories; luckily I got through my course without any spectacular mishaps. (laughs)

Are you still in touch with your fellow students?

In our assessment year, we were a fixed group. Four or five of us still meet regularly once a month to have a games' night, go partying or to cook a meal together. I think it’s really great and it’s also useful going forward to keep in touch with people who work in the same sector and who may one day be able to help you should anything go wrong.

You mentioned the moment when you got your degree certificate. What was going through your head at that time?

I had very mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was delighted to have achieved it. But on the other hand, I also knew that change was imminent and that things would no longer be the same. I had spent almost five years at ETH. That's a long time - and it all came to an end in that moment. And that was how it was when I completed my courses as well. Suddenly, life got serious and I had to earn a living.

And did you really sense that change?

Yes, definitely. At university, I was able to plan my days as I wanted to. I was very flexible. I attended some lectures and didn't bother with others. I got up in the mornings when I wanted to. Admittedly, my current employer is very flexible, but the rules are different and I have to stick to them. I no longer have the flexibility I had at university – but I don't miss it at all.

I always thought that a student’s schedule at ETH was jam-packed…

Yes, in the first couple of years it is. But then you get to choose what you want to do. For example, I had a lecture every Wednesday evening. But that was also the time of the StudyCenter when I taught as an assistant. Because I couldn't be in both places at the same time, one of my fellow students shared his notes with me so that I could pass that module. It was great to find people at ETH who were willing to help you out. We were a fantastic group. I knew some people from high school and others I got friendly with early on during the course. So I found my time at ETH to be very sociable, which totally goes against the cliché of everyone at our university being a nerd.

You've now entered professional life. You started out as a business analyst and have been in a new position as an IT consultant since June. How did you find the process of job hunting?

When I finished my course, the Covid pandemic was at its peak. So I was looking for a job under very peculiar circumstances. When writing my dissertation, I also spent a month working as a subsitute teacher for Maths at Kantonsschule Rämibühl. That made job hunting much easier. But I’m not sure if I'd do the same again. It didn't help the application process, because I knew that I wouldn't be available straight away.

Was teaching something you were actually interested in pursuing as a career or was it mainly about the money?

Both. After graduating, I just wanted to make some money first. I took on the first couple of subsitute teacher jobs when I was still studying. I didn’t want to miss out on gaining work experience at the schools. I wanted to see what it was like working there as a teacher. It was just an idea. However, quite recently I talked to a friend about it and at the moment, I think that I’m still too young for that profession. The material you teach in Maths or Physics doesn't change that much. I get the feeling that it would quickly become rather repetitive.

So instead you got a job as a business analyst. What does a business analyst do?

People in my social circles often ask me this. Software development is a collaboration between people with command of the business sector (usually a company which acts as the client) and developers who have the technical know-how and program the software. I work at the interface between them. I used to be in contact with clients as well as the development side. My current job as IT consultant is similar; just that now we are responsible for development, it isn't handled externally.

Why did you decide to pursue this profession?

I didn't embark on my Maths course with a specific career choice in mind. It was much more a case of it becoming clear towards the end of my time at university. You often hear people say that you can work anywhere as a mathematician. But then when you actually start looking to see where we are in demand, you find very few options. I ultimately came up with two choices: actuary or business analyst. Initially, I couldn't imagine either of them being a good fit for me. But then the idea of being an actuary sounded a bit too dry for me, so I opted for becoming a business analyst. So far, I’m very happy with my choice. I like the variety, I have a lot of contact with customers and can be involved in various stages of projects.

You’ve now been working for just shy of two years. Has anything happened over this time that has shaped the future for you?

Because I started out during the Covid pandemic, communication was hard at the outset. I have learnt how important communication and team spirit are for me. I usually work alongside someone else. When clients say that they are very satisfied and that communication is good, I feel a sense of pride. Then I know that I’m getting it right. It’s feedback like that which motivates me. Whenever you get default questions in a job interview about what’s important to you, I always say “A good team”. Everyone has off days. But when you work in a good team, you can have a laugh and get motivated. For example, I had one job interview which was a complete disaster. There was no personal bonding there at all. Even at work, we are ultimately still humans and not robots - at least not yet. (laughs)

And what about the substance of your work? What are your goals? Do you have any role models?

I don't have any real role models. I simply want to be able to tread my own path. I don't want to get bogged down, but instead to do what is right at the time. And when I decide to do something, I want to see it through.

And was that the case at university too?

More or less. Sometimes I didn't do things because I had to prioritise my studies. But, on the other hand, if I had decided that I was getting up at 5am to study, then I did it. All my friends would shake their heads at me for doing so. But I knew that getting up extra early in order to finish earlier motivated me, and so I chose to do exactly that.

And now that you are working – how do you achieve a good work-life balance?

Sometimes it’s a challenge. I’m an active member of two gymnastic clubs. And this year, I've set myself the goal of running the ultramarathon in Zermatt together with someone I know from the gymnastic club. It’s important to me to have personal goals like this too. But sometimes I also just like to spend an evening watching TV.

And you joined the board of the Baden Chapter last autumn, too. Why did you decide to do that? What is important to you in this respect?

Last year, a fellow student and I attended the event for recent graduates. We chose the Baden Chapter because we both went to school in the area. We really enjoyed the first meeting and have regularly attended events ever since. Then a,  the last annual general meeting, there was a call for anyone interested in helping out the board. It appealed to me because I see the chapter’s board as a very dynamic group. They are receptive to new ideas. Also, being on the board of the chapter is a way of keeping my memories of my time at university alive.
So, that’s how it started. Then a position on the board came up and I was no longer a helper, but a board member. I really like it. For example, at a recent workshop, we were able to join in a conversation about transforming the ETH Alumni Association, and we gain insight into lots of very different subjects. Personal input is welcomed too. I like the way the board communicates well. We are all “e glatti Truppe” (a cool bunch). 

You’re still very young. Within the chapter, do you see yourself as a link for younger alumni?

I’m not really sure whether it needs these links. Both retired alumni and young graduates came along to a regular recent alumni social meet-up, and everyone was able to chat freely; it wasn’t like the older members sat together at the top of the table with the younger people down at the bottom. And, generally speaking, the chapter’s board is relatively young.

That's true. The Baden Chapter is highly commendable in terms of how it is recruiting younger alumni for its board. Have you already been given specific jobs to do?

It's still the early days. The events for this year have already been well prepared. One idea I had was for people to wear name badges at events featuring a QR code, which would take you to their LinkedIn profile. That would make it easier for people to network. And I’ve got lots of ideas for next year.

To finish, let’s go back to your first job after graduating. Do you have any tips for people looking to get onto the career ladder?

There were two things that helped me: firstly my LinkedIn profile. There are a lot of head-hunters in the IT sector in particular. I also attended an ETH podium discussion on the “Do’s and don’ts for job interviews”. What I learnt there proved very useful during the job interview because I was well informed about the company.

Do you think it was a good thing that you were working during your time at university?

I would generally advise others to do the same. I believe that working as an assistant alongside studying was seen as a sign that I want to work, and that I am able to handle stress well. I personally really gained from it: not only do you learn things apart from that, what you are taught at university, but you also gain a little bit of financial independence. These were the most important things I took from this experience.