Early Careers
Whether you're looking to jump start your career, find mentorship, or try your hand at a new skill, our Early Career programs are designed with holistic growth in mind.
Early Career programs at On have been created for individuals in the beginning stages of their career journeys – designed for a range of entry levels, and typically without prerequisites. We want to keep the playing field as inclusive as possible so that you can come in fresh to learn and grow – hopefully, teaching us something along the way too. We believe in mentorship, growth and fresh ideas – all of which you would get through the three programs below.
MAKER SPACE WORKSHOP, ZURICH
Internship
Our internships offer the chance to make a direct impact at On and contribute to On's growth journey.
Internships are available across our global hubs in Europe, the US, and Vietnam within a range of teams from marketing to R&D, Finance, or Talent to name a few. You'll generally be with On for six months and we promise you'll be fully embedded within the team.
Application period: January-February and June-July
Start dates: April and September (EMEA and Vietnam); June (USA)
Trainee Programs
The Product Creation Academy is our flagship rotational trainee program - similar opportunities in other areas will follow in the near future.
The Product Creation Academy offers the chance to kickstart a career in the sportswear industry. The 24-month journey is designed to develop true functional experts while giving the cohorts the opportunity to be hands-on within a variety of teams within Product Creation. Over two years, trainees rotate through four teams with one rotation spent with our team in Vietnam, where they will learn first-hand what it takes to bring our products to life. Mentorship plays a big role for our trainees too – they'll be paired with one of our senior product creation leaders, providing coaching and support one-to-one throughout the program.
Application period: January-February
Program start date: September
Apprenticeship
Apprentice programs are a core pillar of the Swiss education system. We offer commercial apprenticeship opportunities (KV) for Swiss students who have completed their 9 years of compulsory education.
As an apprentice, you'll rotate among six departments over three years. In each department, a coach will support your development. Alongside three days of practical work at On, apprentices attend KV Zurich Business School the rest of the week. We also offer a 'sports apprenticeship' taking 4 years in total, with two years at On and two years at the UNITED School of Sports.
Apprentices obtain a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at the same time as their Federal Vocational Baccalaureate. The latter will entitle you to enrol in Switzerland's universities of applied sciences without further examination once having completed their apprenticeship.
Application period: Spring-Summer
Program start date: Mid August
Spirits
We want to make a positive contribution, the right way. For ourselves. For runners. For the planet. We believe how you do things is just as important as what you do. That’s why we strive to live and work by five guiding Spirits. Discover the values that bring us together and set us apart.
Explorer
Discovering the new.
Athlete
Putting in the work.
Team
Starting and finishing together.
Positive
Delivering 'Wow'.
Survivor
Engineering a better future.
Explorer
We are driven by curiosity, choosing to ask questions at all levels, oppose norms and seek better ways forward.
This is the entrepreneurial mindset we all share. The spark behind our innovations. Great achievements come from thinking differently. From thriving in ambiguity and stepping up to tackle challenges as individuals, as well as teams. We take smart risks and make calculated, courageous moves to venture into the unknown.
Discovering the new.
Athlete
Mind. Body. Purpose – it’s all connected. We strive for excellence, but we know when to rest and recover. It’s bigger than winning. We live outside our comfort zones. Constantly learning.
Failure is a chance to grow – a new opportunity for something better.
This is the mindset that gives us momentum.
Putting in the work.
Team
Strong teams are built on trust, transparency and respect.
We build on each other’s strengths and we’re always willing to step up to help each other out. We challenge and encourage each other with respect, see value in our differences and show up authentically.
It’s one team and we cross the finish line together.
Starting and finishing together.
Positive
We bring positive energy to everything we do. And we believe in connection when things get tough. We bring attention to our work, listening before reacting. We inspire joy in those around us. Going the extra mile – for our fans and teammates. Give, don’t take.
A little surprise and delight. Because positivity is contagious.
Delivering 'Wow'.
Survivor
We’re working to make high-performance products with the lowest-possible footprint. More circularity, innovative materials, sharper methods – like increasing renewable energy for our spaces and working with our partners to reduce waste. We want to find better ways forward, and inspire others to do the same.
For us, there is no compromise: sustainability and performance go hand-in-hand.
Engineering a better future.
FAQs
