Two weeks in Paris for 14 trainees

On 14 October 2024 at 11.43 a.m., the Parisian adventure kicks off for 14 logistics trainees in their 2^nd and 3^rd year with Swiss Post. The two-week trip was made possible thanks to funding from Movetia and the organization and hosting of Formaposte Île-de-France.

After two years, during which time French trainees were able to learn about the profession of logistics technician in Switzerland, it was time for trainees at Swiss Post to pay a visit to their French counterpart. Before setting off, each trainee had to outline their motivations for taking part. They were then selected from amongst 28 candidates.

Discovering a brand new world of work

During their stay, the trainees were of course able to take in the city, its landmarks, bars and restaurants, and even fit in a bit of shopping. However, their main objective was to discover a new professional environment that is very different from the one in Switzerland. After a presentation by La Poste and Formaposte, the trainees took part in an afternoon of video conference lessons at the offices of Formaposte, together with the French trainees.

Over the course of the following three days, the trainees joined local mail carriers on their delivery rounds all over the city. The first noticeable difference with Switzerland is that the journey to get to the post office is long and involves several changes on the Metro. Once they got there, they went on to learn more about postal practices in France, in what was a fully immersive experience. They were surprised by the differences in working techniques between their countries, but also by the concierges, who take care of delivering the mail themselves.

At the weekend, they had the chance to take a cruise on the Seine, to admire the most beautiful monuments in the French capital, and to go to Disneyland Paris to visit the most famous mouse. Lastly, the sports fans in the group were able to see a Paris-St-Germain football match or a basketball match. It was a rich and varied itinerary.

Innovation, history and the Louvre

The second week of the stay involved a number of visits. The trainees discovered Le Spot, a space dedicated to innovation at La Poste in France, as well as the French postal museum, Musée de la Poste. The museum immerses visitors in the history of mail delivery, and it recounts how the uniform has changed over the years, and how the tools and vehicles used have evolved over time.

They also paid a visit to the industrial mail center in Wissous, located about fifteen kilometres from Paris. This center is the largest in all of Île-de-France and handles mail in transit at a national level. Finally, they were able to visit the legendary Louvre post office, an iconic place and a showcase of La Poste.

The trainees ended the second week in the best possible way with a visit to Opéra Garnier for an escape game, the theme being Arsène Lupin, the famed gentleman thief. Everyone was blown away by this magnificent site.

It was a truly unforgettable experience.

As for how it went, everyone agrees: the trip to Paris was a success. The trainees didn’t expect to have such an enriching experience, both professionally and personally. They were able to see a number of differences with Switzerland: working hours, workload, working techniques used, salary, and even the cost of living – everything is different. In October 2025, it will be the turn of 14 new logistics trainees to embark on this amazing adventure in the French capital.

© Fabio Negro