What the law says
Art. 330a OR distinguishes between the two documents. Under paragraph 1, a full reference covers the nature and duration of the employment as well as the quality of your work and your conduct. Under paragraph 2, at your express request, the document is limited to the nature and duration of the employment. The choice lies with you, not with the employer (BGE 129 III 177).
In other words, an employer cannot simply hand you a confirmation of employment instead of a full reference because it is quicker or because they would rather not assess your performance.
What each document contains
The difference in content is substantial:
- Confirmation of employment: your name, the employer, your job title or function, and the start and end date. No assessment of performance or behaviour.
- Full reference: everything above, plus a description of your responsibilities, an assessment of your performance and conduct, usually the reason for leaving and a closing formula.
How Swiss recruiters read a confirmation
Because a full reference is the norm, a recruiter who sees a confirmation of employment for a longer position will often wonder why. The most common assumption is that the full reference would have been unfavourable. For very short jobs, internships or temporary assignments, a confirmation is more readily accepted, since there may not have been enough time for a meaningful assessment.
The practical consequence: a confirmation can avoid a bad written assessment, but it also gives up the chance to document good work — and it may raise its own questions.
When a confirmation of employment can make sense
Situations where asking for the short version may be reasonable include:
- The employment was very short, for example ending during the probation period.
- The relationship broke down and you have good reason to expect an unfavourable assessment that you cannot realistically correct.
- You need a simple proof of employment for a specific purpose, such as an application for an apartment or a permit.
When you should insist on a full reference
If you were employed for a longer period and your work was good, a full reference is almost always the better choice. It documents your skills in a format Swiss employers expect, and a strong letter is a real asset in future applications. If the first draft is weaker than it should be, asking for a correction is usually more productive than retreating to a confirmation.
It can also make sense to request a confirmation of employment for practical purposes and a full reference for your application file. Whether you can later switch from one to the other depends on the circumstances, so it is best to clarify early what you need.
Check which document you received
If your document contains only dates and a job title, it is a confirmation of employment — even if it is called «Zeugnis». If you did not expressly ask for the short version, you can request a full reference. If you received a full reference, it is worth checking whether the assessment is as positive as it sounds.