„stets bemüht, den Kunden und Gästen unseres Hauses freundlich zu begegnen“
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)
“...always strived to meet the customers and guests of our house in a friendly manner...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The employee was actually unfriendly, arrogant, or rude to customers.
Hidden rating
Sufficient (Grade 4.0)
German rating: Genügend (Note 4.0)
What it means in detail
In Swiss references, stating that someone "strived" ("bemüht") signifies that they failed to achieve the goal, despite the principle of goodwill (art. 330a CO). For customer-facing roles, this signals poor interpersonal skills and subtle rudeness. It corresponds to a grade of 4.0.
How to fix it
The employee should request a written revision replacing this phrase with a clearly positive evaluation.
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 4.0)
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
- Verhalten gegenüber den Kunden war stets freundlich Auch im KollegenkreisSufficient (grade 4.0)4.0
- Das Verhalten von Frau Keller gegenüber Kollegen und Kunden war stets korrekt und freundlichSufficient (grade 4.0)4.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Kunden war stets korrektSufficient (Grade 4.0)4.0
- Ihr Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kunden war stets korrektSufficient (grade 4.0)4.0
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 „stets bemüht, den Kunden und Gästen unseres Hauses freundlich zu begegnen“