„vertrat engagiert seine eigene Meinung“
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)
“...committedly defended his own opinion...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The employee was argumentative, opinionated, uncooperative and unwilling to compromise, corresponding to grade 2 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
Hidden rating
Weak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 2.0)
What it means in detail
Under art. 330a CO, Swiss references are governed by the principle of goodwill, forcing employers to code negative feedback. While sounding like praise for initiative, asserting one's own opinion strongly is read by Swiss HR as a signal of conflict and obstinacy. It represents a deficient evaluation equivalent to a Swiss grade 2.0.
How to fix it
It is recommended to lodge a written objection with the employer to replace this phrase with a standard positive performance clause like "erledigte die Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit".
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Es wird empfohlen, beim Arbeitgeber schriftlich Einsprache zu erheben und die Ersetzung der Formulierung durch eine klar positive Leistungsklausel (z.B. „erledigte die Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit“) zu verlangen.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 2.0)
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 freeGoodwill vs. duty of truth
BGE 136 III 510, E. 4.1
The Federal Supreme Court describes the two poles of a Swiss reference letter: it should support your career and therefore be worded benevolently, but it must also give future employers a faithful picture – so it has to be true and complete.
Read the full decision (German)„Ein solches qualifiziertes Zeugnis bzw. Vollzeugnis soll einerseits das berufliche Fortkommen des Arbeitnehmers fördern und deshalb wohlwollend formuliert werden. Andererseits soll es künftigen Arbeitgebern ein möglichst getreues Abbild von Tätigkeit, Leistung und Verhalten des Arbeitnehmers geben, weshalb es grundsätzlich wahr und vollständig zu sein hat.“
Unofficial translation: “Such a qualified reference letter should, on the one hand, support the employee’s career and therefore be worded benevolently. On the other hand, it should give future employers as faithful a picture as possible of the employee’s activity, performance and conduct, which is why it must in principle be true and complete.”
Related phrases
- vertrat in den Besprechungen mit Nachdruck seine eigene MeinungWeak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)2.0
- vertrat seine eigene Meinung im Team stets mit NachdruckWeak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)2.0
- vertrat ihre Meinung im Team engagiert und mit NachdruckInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- seine Meinung stets offen vertratWeak / Unsatisfactory (grade 2.0)2.0
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 „vertrat engagiert seine eigene Meinung“