„Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten, Kollegen und externen Partnern war stets 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)
“...behavior towards superiors, colleagues and external partners was always impeccable...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
This indicates good social conduct overall, but deliberately omits behavior towards subordinates in a leadership role (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 Swiss labor law (art. 330a CO), employers must adhere to the principle of goodwill. Omitting direct reports from the list of social interactions signals potential management or leadership issues. It corresponds to a satisfactory rating of grade 4.5.
How to fix it
To upgrade this evaluation to a top mark (6.0), the wording can be strengthened by inserting terms 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“.
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 Kollegen und Vorgesetzten war stets einwandfreiSatisfactory (grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kollegen war stets einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und unseren externen Partnern war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen und Vorgesetzten war einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
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 „Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten, Kollegen und externen Partnern war stets einwandfrei“