A German job reference (Arbeitszeugnis) is unlike anything in the Anglo-American world. Polite on the surface, coded grading underneath. Knowing how to decode — and challenge — it can decide your next career step.
Your right to a reference
Under § 109 GewO, every employee has the right to a written reference at the end of the employment relationship (Endzeugnis). You can also request an interim reference (Zwischenzeugnis) during the relationship if you have a legitimate reason.
The grade code — performance
The decisive sentence in a qualified Zeugnis is the closing summary of the performance assessment. The wording is almost identical from grade to grade; the differences are tiny but decisive:
| Grade | German wording | Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “stets zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit” | Very good |
| 2 | “stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit” | Good |
| 3 | “zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit” | Satisfactory (note: no “stets”) |
| 4 | “zu unserer Zufriedenheit” | Sufficient (no “voll” either) |
| 5 | “im Großen und Ganzen zu unserer Zufriedenheit” | Poor |
| 6 | “hat sich bemüht” | Unsatisfactory (made an effort, i.e. without success) |
The grade code — conduct
- Grade 1: “stets vorbildlich” / “stets sehr gut”
- Grade 2: “vorbildlich” or “stets gut”
- Grade 3: “einwandfrei” (faultless / without fault)
- Grade 4: “im Wesentlichen einwandfrei”
- Grade 5 or worse: any reference to “Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten” first (friction with management), open mention of conflicts, complaints, or alcohol.
Hidden negative codes to watch for
Required structure of a proper Zeugnis
-
Company & period
Company name, address, date, authorised signatures. Your full name, exact employment period, exact job title.
-
Duties & responsibilities
Specific, not generic. Vague duties for a senior role are themselves a coded downgrade.
-
Performance assessment
With the magic-formula summary sentence above.
-
Conduct assessment
Note the order: superiors first, then colleagues, then external partners or clients.
-
Closing formula
Bedauerns-, Dank- und Wunschformel: regret, thanks, good wishes. Missing elements are downgrades.
Fixing a bad reference
If your Zeugnis contains a downgrade you disagree with, you can demand a corrected version. Most disputes are resolved out of court once we set out the specific defects in writing. If not, a Zeugnisberichtigungsklage at the labor court can force the issue — typically with a Streitwert of one monthly salary.