I Had 2 Weeks to Prove Myself in IT | My Swiss Final Project

I passed my final IT examination in Switzerland, but one part of the experience taught me a lesson I've carried throughout my career. In Episode 6 of TheOne Journey, I'm taking you back to my IPA (Individuelle Praktische Arbeit), the final practical project I completed during my IT apprenticeship in Switzerland. My assignment was to set up a Windows Server, configure ZENworks as a software distribution system, and implement software bundles that could automatically deploy applications based on different roles and departments. The requirements were defined by my Lehrmeister (apprenticeship trainer) and approved by the examination commission. I had two working weeks to implement the project. Approximately one month later, I had to present and defend my work in front of my Lehrmeister and two examination experts. The implementation was successful. The demonstration went well. And I passed the examination. But the defence exposed something important. Although I'd focused heavily on delivering a working technical solution, I hadn't spent enough time on the broader concept, evaluating alternative approaches and understanding how the project could have been optimised. During the questioning, I realised there were aspects of my technical decisions that I could have considered more thoroughly. And that experience changed how I approached IT projects. What you'll learn in this episode -What the Swiss IPA examination involves and how my project was assessed The difference between implementing a working solution and choosing the best approach How that experience shaped my understanding of IT engineering and project management The biggest lesson A working solution isn't necessarily the best solution. In IT, it's easy to become focused on implementation, especially when you're working under a deadline. But understanding the requirements, researching alternatives, evaluating technical decisions and developing a clear concept are just as important. Sometimes, the most valuable work happens before you even start configuring the technology. My IPA was an important milestone towards earning my EFZ (Eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis), the Swiss Federal Vocational Education and Training Diploma. But looking back, the most valuable thing I gained wasn't simply the qualification. It was the experience of making technical decisions, defending them, recognising where I could improve and learning from the process. That lesson has remained relevant throughout my career in IT infrastructure, systems engineering, cloud computing and cybersecurity. Whether you're an IT apprentice preparing for your IPA, an IT student, a junior engineer or an experienced professional working on technical projects, I hope there's something useful you can take from my experience. Let discuss Have you ever completed a project successfully, only to realise afterwards that there was a better way to approach it? Or are you currently preparing for your IPA in Switzerland? Share your experience in the comments. I'd be interested to hear what you've learned. About TheOne Journey I'm documenting my journey from moving to Switzerland from Nigeria, to building a career in IT, continuing my education, developing professionally and exploring business, technology and life along the way. Not everything goes perfectly, and that's part of what makes the journey worth documenting. This is TheOne. Welcome to the journey. Subscribe to follow the next chapter. #TheOne #TheOneJourney #ITCareer #IPA #IPERKA #Switzerland #SwissApprenticeship #EFZ #ProjectManagement #SystemEngineering #ITInfrastructure #careerdevelopment 0:00 Start 0:46 Chapter 1: WHERE I WAS AT THE TIME 2:02 Chapter 2: ASSIGNMENT 3:15 Chapter 3: WHO DEFINED THE REQUIREMENTS? 4:15 Chapter 4: THE IMPLEMENTATION 5:50 Chapter 5: TWO WEEKS TO DELIVER 7:00 Chapter 6: THE PRESENTATION 8:14 Chapter 7: THE ASSESSMENT 9:28 Chapter 8: WHAT I ACTUALLY LEARNED 10:54 Chapter 9: LOOKING BACK 12:00 Outro