„Verhalten war stets einwandfrei“
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)
“...behaviour was always irreproachable...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Good, conflict-free social conduct (grade 5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Good
German rating: Gut
What it means in detail
"Einwandfrei" (irreproachable) is the standard positive phrasing in Swiss references. It indicates that there were no complaints regarding the employee's conduct.
How to fix it
To aim for a top grade 6.0, "einwandfrei" can be replaced with "vorbildlich".
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Für die Note 6.0 kann "einwandfrei" durch "vorbildlich" ersetzt werden.
One good phrase ≠ a good certificate
Swiss employers often hide weaknesses elsewhere – in the conduct section, in the closing statement or through omissions (“telling silence”). Check whether the rest of your letter keeps up.
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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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 „Verhalten war stets einwandfrei“