„Verhalten war 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 ... was faultless...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
This indicates good, correct conduct, but without notable initiative or warmth, 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
While 'einwandfrei' (faultless) sounds positive, the absence of temporal adverbs like 'stets' (always) prevents it from reaching a top score. In Swiss HR practice, good conduct is expected to be consistently demonstrated. Under art. 330a CO, this represents a solid, satisfactory evaluation.
How to fix it
To upgrade to a top score (6.0), the phrasing can be strengthened 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
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „Verhalten war einwandfrei“