„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Leistungsbeurteilung (nur 'Interesse' und 'Bemühen' erwähnt)“
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 performance evaluation (only 'interest' and 'effort' mentioned)”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Failing to provide an explicit performance rating and mentioning only effort constitutes eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), marking performance as insufficient (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
A complete reference ('Vollzeugnis') must cover performance and behavior directly (art. 330a CO; BGE 129 III 177). When an employer only cites interest or effort without evaluating actual output, Swiss HR infers that performance was lacking (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). This allows employers to signal unsatisfactory results while maintaining a benevolent tone.
How to fix it
The employee should submit a written request to add a complete performance evaluation, preventing the negative impact of eloquent silence.
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 Leistungsbeurteilung (nur Bemühen wird erwähnt, nicht das Resultat)Insufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Leistungsbeurteilung (nur Bemühen wird bewertet)Insufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Leistungsbewertung (nur Fleiss und Interesse erwaehnt, kein Erfolg)Insufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende LeistungsbeurteilungInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
Decode your entire reference letter
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Leistungsbeurteilung (nur 'Interesse' und 'Bemühen' erwähnt)“