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The two SLF IT EFZ apprentices graduated with a grade of 5.7, making them the top performers in the canton. How did they do it? Thanks to the great food in the cafeteria… and the many helpful professionals at SLF.

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  • Top of the Canton: Fynn Schmutz and Yannis Huber completed their apprenticeships as IT specialists (EFZ) with a grade of 5.7.
  • A House Full of Experts: The apprentices at SLF benefit from the many specialists at SLF who train them.
  • Apprenticeships at SLF: The next IT apprenticeship starting in 2027, as well as apprenticeships in electronics and polymechanics, will be advertised in August.
A group of six young adults stands in a line on a stage, dressed in formal attire. They are holding certificates or awards and appear to be smiling. A colorful, abstract background is displayed behind them, suggesting a celebratory or event atmosphere.
Fynn Schmutz and Yannis Huber (second and third from the right) at the apprenticeship graduation ceremony, where they were honored for their achievements as the canton's top graduates. (Photo: VFEI)

Yannis and Fynn, you both finished your apprenticeships as computer scientists (EFZ) at the top of your canton. How did you manage that?

Yannis Huber: We stuck with it for over four years! From the very beginning, we were allowed to take on a lot of responsibility and work flexibly.

Fynn Schmutz: AI developed rapidly during our apprenticeship. How we approached it varied greatly within our vocational school class. I think we found a good balance: We used AI to help us, but always tried to understand the topics on our own.

Starting in your third year of apprenticeship, you were able to choose a specialization. Which one did you choose?

Fynn: I’m particularly interested in Microsoft technologies and endpoint management. In one project, we implemented a solution that allows administrator rights to be assigned in a controlled manner to enhance endpoint security. I was able to contribute from the very beginning and take charge of implementing the solution on my own.

Yannis: I focused on Linux and networking. In that area, I mainly work behind the scenes on the infrastructure. I helped ensure that our network runs smoothly, the servers stay up to date, and the systems are operated as securely as possible. As part of a school project, I took a closer look at temperature monitoring in our server rooms. Excessively high temperatures can damage equipment or cause server outages. Since the existing solution was outdated, I modernized it.

Fynn: IT offers so many different specializations. A huge plus for our trainers is that they let us do what we enjoy. When you’re interested in something, you’re more motivated and automatically achieve better results.

A young person stands in front of server racks in a data center, using a laptop. The racks are filled with cables and equipment, indicating an active network environment. The setting appears to be modern and well-organized.
Don't unplug the wrong connector: Yannis Huber in the SLF server room. (Photo: SLF)

How did the IT team support you during your four years of training?

Yannis: The whole team guided us, so we were able to benefit from many different areas of expertise and experiences. That helped us gain a lot of practical knowledge.

Fynn: A particular highlight was the Friday challenges organized by our team leader, Manuel. During these sessions, we solved programming tasks—an area we otherwise rarely encountered in our day-to-day work. That’s exactly why these challenges were so instructive. They fostered our ability to think holistically and strengthened our capacity to solve complex problems.

What made the SLF particularly valuable to you as a training organization?

Fynn: At the SLF, you can find knowledgeable contacts for practically every topic who are happy to share their expertise and take the time to answer questions. We received exciting training in various areas of computer science, which was especially valuable. For example, employees from the Warning and Information Systems team taught us the basics of programming and introduced us to working with databases. And one thing is for sure: without the excellent cafeteria, the apprenticeship would have been only half as good. (laughs)

Yannis: Yes, the good food contributed a lot to our successful completion of the program.

A woman points at a computer screen while explaining something to a young man seated next to her. They are in an office setting with laptops, a water bottle, and notes visible on the desk.
Well explained: Fynn Schmutz learned from his instructor, Armanda Pitschi, as well as from the rest of the IT team and other experts at the SLF. (Photo: SLF)

What are your plans after your apprenticeship?

Fynn: We’re both starting part-time at the Higher Technical College to study business informatics. I also have a job as a junior cloud engineer at into technologies AG in Chur.

Yannis: I’m starting as a junior network specialist at RhB in Landquart. Continuing our education keeps more options open for us in the long run. The advances in AI are enormous. Many tasks can now be completed more easily and quickly, allowing us to work more efficiently. With a degree in business informatics, we can combine different fields and thus have more opportunities for our professional future.

The next computer science apprenticeship starting in 2027, as well as the other apprenticeships at SLF, will be posted herein August .

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