„Verhalten gegenüber den Mitarbeitenden und externen Partnern war jederzeit einwandfrei“
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)
“...conduct towards colleagues and external partners was at all times flawless...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The complete omission of superiors points to significant tension or conflicts with management, corresponding to grade 4.5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
Hidden rating
Satisfactory (Grade 4.5)
German rating: Befriedigend (Note 4.5)
What it means in detail
Under the principle of goodwill in Swiss employment law (art. 330a CO), negative facts are often signaled through eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'). While praising behavior toward peers and partners, omitting managers indicates poor relationships with leadership. This results in a mediocre overall rating equivalent to a Swiss grade 4.5.
How to fix it
To upgrade the evaluation to a top mark (6.0), the phrasing can be reinforced, for instance by inserting "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“.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 4.5)
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
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und unseren externen Partnern war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber den Mitarbeitenden, Kollegen sowie externen Partnern war jederzeit vorbildlichGood (grade 5.0)5.0
- Das Verhalten gegenüber den Mitarbeitenden und externen Partnern war stets korrektSufficient (grade 4.0)4.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen und externen Partnern war jederzeit 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 und externen Partnern war jederzeit einwandfrei“