„erledigte Aufgaben im Rahmen seiner Fähigkeiten“
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)
“...completed tasks within the scope of his/her abilities...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
This is a severe warning signal indicating inadequate capabilities (grade 3.0).
Hidden rating
Poor
German rating: Schlecht
What it means in detail
To a Swiss HR professional, this translates to the employee doing what they could, but having very limited capability overall. It is an intensely negative assessment.
How to fix it
This must be removed and replaced with a positive phrase such as "...erledigte Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit" (5.0).
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Zwingend streichen und durch eine positive Leistungsbeurteilung wie "...erledigte Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit" (5.0) ersetzen.
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 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
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 „erledigte Aufgaben im Rahmen seiner Fähigkeiten“