Arklens Experience Programme
Learn by doing. Build something real.
Take part in real projects connected to real businesses. Build practical experience for your CV, develop working knowledge and make professional connections along the way.
- Open to different backgrounds
- Matched to available projects
- Scope agreed before you start
- Your skills
- A real business need
- Your contribution
- Experience you keep
Why it exists
Make your time count.
Whether you’re studying, looking for your next role, changing direction or between opportunities, time spent on real projects builds something you keep: experience, knowledge and connections.
Stay active. Keep learning. Keep building.
Experience that moves you forward
Build practical experience, working knowledge, stronger skills and professional connections you can take into your next opportunity.
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Real experience
Take part in genuine projects with real goals and real constraints, not made-up exercises.
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Something for your CV
Gain project experience you can describe to future employers in concrete terms.
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Working knowledge
See how projects, businesses, customers and technology fit together outside the classroom.
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Professional connections
Meet people and businesses naturally through the projects you take part in.
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New and stronger skills
Practise what you already know and pick up new skills by applying them.
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Momentum
Stay active and productive while you study, look for work or decide your next step.
Your CV
Experience you can talk about
Employers often ask what you have actually done. A real project gives you a concrete answer: the problem, your part in it and what you learned.
What you studied
“I studied marketing.”
What you helped build
“I worked on a website project for a small business. I researched what customers were looking for, drafted the content and revised it after feedback.”
Instead of only listing what you studied, you can talk about something you helped build, improve or solve.
What you take away depends on the project
- A clear picture of your role and contribution
- Skills and tools you have used in practice
- Where confidentiality allows, work you can show
Some client work is confidential, so not every project can be shown publicly. References aren’t automatic. The programme isn’t a formal qualification or certification.
Projects
Real projects. Real business needs.
Projects come from genuine needs, not fictional classroom briefs. Many have nothing to do with code: they involve content, research, design, languages or the way a business runs.
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Websites & digital tools
- Websites
- Digital tools
- Customer experience
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AI, automation & data
- AI
- Automation
- Data
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Business & research
- Business processes
- Research
- Project support
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Content, design & languages
- Content
- Marketing
- Design
- Localisation & languages
Available projects change over time, so not every area has an opening at every moment.
Connections
Build connections through real work
Networking happens naturally when people work on something useful together. Projects can create opportunities to meet businesses and professionals you might not otherwise encounter.
- Swiss SMEs and business owners
- Professionals from different industries
- The Arklens team
- Other programme participants
Depending on the project, you may work with businesses from different industries and regions of Switzerland.
How much direct contact you have depends on the project. A project may open doors, but there are no guarantees.
Who it’s for
Experience starts somewhere.
You don’t need a perfect CV or years of experience. What matters is what you can bring, what you want to learn and whether there is a project that fits.
You might be studying, between roles, changing career, returning to work or simply looking to build experience in a new area.
- Students
- Recent graduates
- People looking for their next role
- Career changers
- People returning to work
- Self-taught learners
- People building digital or AI skills
- People in work who want experience in a new area
- Experienced professionals who want to stay active or learn something new
Process
How it works
A simple process, with clear expectations before anything starts.
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Step 1: Apply
Tell us about yourself, your skills, your interests and what you would like to learn.
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Step 2: We review the fit
We look at current projects and where your skills or learning goals could fit.
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Step 3: Get matched
If there is a suitable opportunity, we discuss the project, what is expected and the time involved before anything starts.
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Step 4: Put your skills into practice
Take part in the project, with guidance and review along the way.
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Step 5: Take it forward
Leave with experience, knowledge and connections you can build on.
Applying doesn’t guarantee a project. Opportunities depend on the projects available and on fit.
Good to know
Clear expectations from the start
We want everyone to know what the programme is, and what it isn’t.
- Applying doesn’t guarantee a project. Projects depend on availability and fit.
- Taking part doesn’t guarantee employment, with Arklens or anyone else.
- Scope and expected time commitment are agreed before any work starts.
- Some projects involve confidential information and require confidentiality.
- Access to client systems and data is limited to what the project needs.
- Not every project can be shown publicly or added to a portfolio.
- References and recommendations aren’t automatic.
- Future paid work may sometimes be possible, but it is never promised.
FAQ
Questions about the programme
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01
What is Arklens?
Arklens is a Swiss digital partner for SMEs, helping businesses strengthen their online presence and adopt practical digital tools, automation and AI.
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02
What is the Arklens Experience Programme?
The Arklens Experience Programme helps students, graduates, career changers and early-career professionals gain practical experience by contributing to real projects for Swiss SMEs while building skills, knowledge and professional connections.
Take the next step
A project may open doors. Even when it doesn’t, you leave with something real.
Experience, knowledge and connections you can take forward, whatever comes next.