„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der Qualität, Kreativität und des Erfolgs der Marketingmassnahmen“
What this German phrase in your Swiss Arbeitszeugnis (employment reference letter) really says about you – and which grade it hides.
Literal translation vs. real meaning
Literal translation (what DeepL tells you)
“[Omission]: Missing assessment of the quality, creativity and success of marketing measures”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting core marketing competencies is interpreted as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), signaling poor performance in those key areas (grade 3.5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Insufficient (grade 3.5)
German rating: Ungenügend (Note 3.5)
What it means in detail
When a reference fails to mention key duties associated with a role, Swiss HR assumes the employee performed poorly in them (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). Under art. 330a CO and BGE 129 III 177, a full reference ('Vollzeugnis') must evaluate performance comprehensively. Omitting quality and results in a marketing position is a clear negative signal.
How to fix it
The employee should demand the addition of the missing passage in writing, as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen') acts as a hidden devaluation.
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Der Arbeitnehmer sollte schriftlich die Ergänzung der fehlenden Zeugnispassage verlangen, da beredtes Schweigen eine versteckte Abwertung darstellt.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 3.5)
Under Art. 330a of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), a reference letter must be true but benevolent. Coded downgrades rarely come alone – the same letter often contains further codes or omissions.
Check your whole certificate freeTelling silence & social conduct
Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365 vom 9. Mai 2020, E. 2.4
The Administrative Court of the Canton of Zurich describes the practice of “telling silence” (beredtes Schweigen): if a quality that would normally be mentioned is left out, the reader concludes that it is missing. Leaving out one group of people when describing conduct (e.g. superiors) is generally read as a hint at negative behaviour.
Read the full decision (German)„Darunter gehört, wenn etwa bei der Verhaltensbeurteilung nur das Verhalten zu Mitarbeitern und Kunden erwähnt wird, nicht aber jenes zu Vorgesetzten.“
Unofficial translation: “This includes, for example, a conduct assessment that mentions behaviour towards co-workers and customers, but not towards superiors.”
Related phrases
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der Qualität der ArbeitInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der tatsächlichen Kundenzufriedenheit / des Erfolgs bei der ProblemlösungInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der tatsächlichen Qualität der Arbeit und der KundenzufriedenheitInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des tatsächlichen Erfolgs bei der Kundenakquise und den UmsatzzielenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
Decode your entire reference letter
Upload your Arbeitszeugnis and get your overall Swiss grade, the number of issues found and a short legal assessment – explained in English.
Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung der Qualität, Kreativität und des Erfolgs der Marketingmassnahmen“