„Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten, Kollegen und Kunden war stets vorbildlich“
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 towards superiors, colleagues and clients was always exemplary...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Flawless social conduct listed in the correct hierarchical order (grade 6 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Excellent
German rating: Hervorragend
What it means in detail
The order "superiors, colleagues, clients" is crucial in Swiss employment references. If any of these groups is missing, Swiss HR reads it as an intentional omission and an eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen').
How to fix it
No correction needed.
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Keine Korrektur nötig.
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
- Ihr Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kollegen war stets vorbildlichGood (grade 5.0)5.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kollegen war stets vorbildlichGood (grade 5.0)5.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten, Kollegen und Kunden war jederzeit vorbildlichGood (grade 5.0)5.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen und Kunden war vorbildlichGood (grade 5.0)5.0
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 „Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten, Kollegen und Kunden war stets vorbildlich“