What an interim reference is
A Zwischenzeugnis is a reference issued during an ongoing employment. Legally it rests on the same provision as the final reference: Art. 330a OR allows you to request a reference at any time. The content follows the same structure — role, performance, conduct — but it is written in the present tense ("she performs", "he is") because the employment continues. A closing formula with regret at your departure is naturally absent; instead, the letter usually states why it was issued and expresses the wish to continue working together.
Good reasons to ask for one
You do not legally need to justify the request, but these situations are typical and easy to explain:
- Your direct manager is leaving or changing roles.
- A reorganisation, merger or change of ownership is coming.
- You are moving to a different role or department internally.
- You are going on longer leave, such as parental leave or a sabbatical.
- You have completed a major project or received a strong appraisal.
- You are considering a move and want a current reference for applications.
Why it matters for your final reference
A good interim reference is valuable protection. Your employer can still write a different final reference if your performance or conduct changed afterwards — but a clearly worse final letter without a plausible explanation is open to challenge. In practice, HR departments often use the interim reference as the basis for the final one, so getting it right early pays off later.
This is particularly relevant for expats in international companies, where managers rotate frequently and the person writing your final reference may never have worked with you.
How to ask
A short, friendly email to HR or your manager is enough. Mention the reason if there is one, and ask for a realistic timeframe. The law does not set a fixed deadline, but a couple of weeks is a common expectation for an interim reference. For example:
"Dear [Name], because of the upcoming change in our team's management, I would like to request an interim reference (Zwischenzeugnis) covering my work since [date]. I would be grateful to receive it by [date]. Thank you very much."
If you are worried that asking signals that you are job hunting, use one of the neutral reasons above. A change of manager is the most common and least sensitive one.
Check it like a final reference
Read your interim reference with the same care as a final one. Look for the satisfaction formula, intensifiers such as «stets», the completeness of the conduct section and whether your key tasks are described. Corrections are just as possible at this stage — and often easier, because you are still in daily contact with the people who wrote it.
Interim reference versus final reference
The main differences at a glance:
- Timing: interim during the employment, final when it ends.
- Tense: present for the interim, past for the final reference.
- Closing: the interim usually explains why it was issued; the final reference typically includes thanks and wishes for the future.
- Legal basis: both rest on Art. 330a OR.