„durch seine gesellige Art war er im Kollegenkreis sehr beliebt“
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)
“...due to his sociable nature he was very popular among his colleagues...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Hints at inappropriate workplace behaviour, potential alcohol issues, or excessive socializing during work hours (grade 3 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Weak / Deficient (Grade 3.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 3.0)
What it means in detail
Describing someone as exceptionally "sociable" ("gesellig") in a Swiss reference is a coded warning. Under the principle of goodwill (art. 330a CO), employers use this term to signal unprofessional conduct or excessive private chatter. It evaluates to a weak grade 3.0.
How to fix it
It is recommended to lodge a written objection with the employer and ask for replacement with a standard positive clause.
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 3.0)
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
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Kollegenkreis sehr beliebtWeak / Poor (grade 3.0)3.0
- durch seine gesellige Art im Team beliebtInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Kollegenkreis beliebtInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Kollegenkreis sehr geschätztWeak / Unsatisfactory (grade 3.0)3.0
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „durch seine gesellige Art war er im Kollegenkreis sehr beliebt“