„Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und unseren 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)
“...behaviour towards superiors and our external partners was at all times impeccable...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Good conduct towards bosses and external contacts, but omitting colleagues signals clear problems within the team (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
Although the conduct towards management and clients is rated impeccably, the total omission of peers ('colleagues') is a clear instance of eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'). HR professionals will deduce that the employee caused friction or interpersonal conflicts inside the team.
How to fix it
To upgrade to the top grade (6.0), the wording can be strengthened, 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 den Mitarbeitenden und externen Partnern war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten, Kollegen und externen Partnern war stets einwandfreiSatisfactory (grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Kunden und Vorgesetzten war jederzeit 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 und unseren externen Partnern war jederzeit einwandfrei“