„sein freundliches Wesen“
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)
“...his/her friendly nature...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Points to a lack of professional competence or assertiveness (grade 3.5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Insufficient
German rating: Ungenügend
What it means in detail
If an employee's "friendly nature" is overly emphasised, Swiss HR reads it as a code meaning the person was nice, but professionally insufficient or unable to handle pressure.
How to fix it
Shift the focus to work performance and frame friendliness as part of good overall social conduct.
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Fokus auf die Arbeitsleistung verschieben und die Freundlichkeit als Teil des guten Sozialverhaltens formulieren.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 3.5)
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
- Bei den Mitarbeitern und Kollegen war sie wegen ihrer toleranten und umgaenglichen Art sehr geschaetztInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- bei den Patientinnen und Patienten sowie den Kolleginnen war sie wegen ihrer freundlichen Art sehr beliebtInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- war bei den Mitarbeitenden sehr beliebtInsufficient3.5
- beriet die Kundschaft auf seine ganz eigene, unverwechselbare ArtInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
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 „sein freundliches Wesen“