„beriet die Kundschaft auf seine ganz eigene, unverwechselbare Art“
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)
“...advised customers in his very own, unmistakable manner...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The employee was impolite to customers or behaved in an arrogant and idiosyncratic manner (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
Describing an employee's style as "unmistakable" or "very own" is a coded warning that their behavior was unacceptable. Swiss HR interprets this as rude or arrogant conduct towards clients. This rating corresponds to an insufficient grade 3.5.
How to fix it
Advise the employer in writing of your objection and request that the phrase be replaced with a standard positive clause such as "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 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
- durch seine gesellige Art im Team beliebtInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- wegen ihrer geselligen Art im Team geschätztInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Kollegenkreis beliebtInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- wegen ihrer geselligen Art bei den Kollegen sehr geschätztInsufficient (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 „beriet die Kundschaft auf seine ganz eigene, unverwechselbare Art“