„die nötige Tatkraft“
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)
“...the necessary drive...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The employee severely lacked drive, initiative, and assertiveness.
Hidden rating
Weak / Poor (grade 2.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 2.0)
What it means in detail
In a Swiss 'Arbeitszeugnis', mentioning 'necessary drive' in an ambiguous context points directly to passive behavior and a lack of motivation. Employers use this under the principle of goodwill (art. 330a CO) to signal that the employee failed to take action. This corresponds to a grade 2.0 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
How to fix it
It is recommended to object in writing to the employer and request that this phrase be replaced with a clearly positive performance 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 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 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
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „die nötige Tatkraft“