„Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten war korrekt“
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 was correct...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The relationship with superiors was distant and cool, which is the opposite of loyal or exemplary (grade 4.0 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Sufficient (grade 4.0)
German rating: Genügend (Note 4.0)
What it means in detail
Under Swiss employment law (art. 330a CO), the principle of goodwill means employers use coded language for shortcomings. Describing behaviour as merely "correct" implies a cold and distant relationship with management. This represents a sufficient rating of grade 4.0 on the Swiss scale.
How to fix it
To upgrade this rating to a top grade (6.0), the phrasing can be strengthened by adding words 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 4.0)
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 Vorgesetzten war korrektSufficient (Grade 4.0)4.0
- Verhalten gegenüber den Vorgesetzten war jederzeit korrektSufficient (grade 4.0)4.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kollegen war korrektSufficient (Grade 4.0)4.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten war stets korrektSufficient (Grade 4.0)4.0
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten war korrekt“