„bemühte sich, den ihm übertragenen Aufgaben gerecht zu werden“
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)
“...strove to meet the tasks assigned to him...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The employee was completely overwhelmed and failed to accomplish the tasks, resulting in grade 2.0.
Hidden rating
Weak / Poor (grade 2.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 2.0)
What it means in detail
Phrases centered on "trying" or "striving" ("bemühte sich") signal failure and total lack of results. Governed by the principle of goodwill under art. 330a CO, employers use this classic code to state that an employee lacked necessary skills. It is one of the clearest negative ratings in Swiss employment references.
How to fix it
The employee should lodge a formal written objection asking for a positive phrasing like "erledigte die Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit".
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Es wird empfohlen, beim Arbeitgeber schriftlich Einsprache zu erheben und die Ersetzung der Formulierung durch eine klar positive Leistungsklausel (z.B. „erledigte die Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit“) zu verlangen.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 2.0)
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 freeGoodwill vs. duty of truth
BGE 136 III 510, E. 4.1
The Federal Supreme Court describes the two poles of a Swiss reference letter: it should support your career and therefore be worded benevolently, but it must also give future employers a faithful picture – so it has to be true and complete.
Read the full decision (German)„Ein solches qualifiziertes Zeugnis bzw. Vollzeugnis soll einerseits das berufliche Fortkommen des Arbeitnehmers fördern und deshalb wohlwollend formuliert werden. Andererseits soll es künftigen Arbeitgebern ein möglichst getreues Abbild von Tätigkeit, Leistung und Verhalten des Arbeitnehmers geben, weshalb es grundsätzlich wahr und vollständig zu sein hat.“
Unofficial translation: “Such a qualified reference letter should, on the one hand, support the employee’s career and therefore be worded benevolently. On the other hand, it should give future employers as faithful a picture as possible of the employee’s activity, performance and conduct, which is why it must in principle be true and complete.”
Related phrases
- stets bemüht, den ihm übertragenen Aufgaben gerecht zu werdenWeak / Poor (grade 3.0)3.0
- bemühte sich, den Anforderungen gerecht zu werdenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- er bemühte sich, den Anforderungen gerecht zu werdenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- bemühte sich stets, den Anforderungen gerecht zu werdenInsufficient (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 „bemühte sich, den ihm übertragenen Aufgaben gerecht zu werden“