„Verhalten gegenüber den Mitarbeitenden, Kollegen sowie externen Partnern war jederzeit 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 staff, colleagues as well as external partners was at all times exemplary...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The deliberate omission of superiors signals that the relationship with management was severely disrupted, which is unacceptable in HR roles.
Hidden rating
Good (grade 5.0)
German rating: Gut (Note 5.0)
What it means in detail
Despite using strong positive words like "exemplary" for colleagues and external partners, omitting superiors ("Vorgesetzte") is a critical code in Swiss HR practice. It signals significant authority issues or conflict with leadership. Under the goodwill principle of art. 330a CO, employers use selective omissions to convey conduct problems.
How to fix it
To achieve a top grade (6.0), the employee should request that superiors be included in the conduct statement alongside phrases like "stets" or "jederzeit hervorragend".
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Zur Aufwertung auf die Bestnote (6.0) kann die Formulierung verstärkt werden, z.B. durch Einfügen von „stets“ oder „jederzeit hervorragend“.
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
- Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen und externen Partnern war jederzeit vorbildlichGood (Grade 5.0)5.0
- Verhalten gegenueber Vorgesetzten, Kollegen und externen Partnern war jederzeit absolut vorbildlichGood (Grade 5.0)5.0
- Verhalten gegenüber den Mitarbeitenden und externen Partnern war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten sowie gegenüber unseren externen Partnern stets 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 den Mitarbeitenden, Kollegen sowie externen Partnern war jederzeit vorbildlich“