"Wir lernten sie als umgängliche Kollegin kennen"
Category: Behavior
Meaning
Classic example from the ver.di guide. 'Agreeable' as the sole behavioural trait signals average.
A nearby wording to compare
Compare this with "Sein/Ihr Verhalten zu Vorgesetzten, Mitarbeitern, Arbeitskollegen und Kunden war stets sehr vorbildlich", assessed as Swiss grade 1 rather than 3. The change in wording illustrates why modifiers and sentence structure matter.
"Sein/Ihr Verhalten zu Vorgesetzten, Mitarbeitern, Arbeitskollegen und Kunden war stets sehr vorbildlich"Hidden Meaning
Only 'agreeable' = no outstanding social skills, merely neutral coexistence.
Switzerland vs. Germany
This phrase is rated grade 3 (sufficient) in Switzerland, and grade 4 (adequate) in Germany. In Switzerland, this phrase is rated better than in Germany.
Background: In Switzerland, "good" is the norm qualification (Labour Court Zurich), while in Germany, "satisfactory" (grade 3) is the statistical average (BAG 18.11.2014, 9 AZR 584/13).
Sources
- ver.di ABC der Zeugnissprache
Swiss employment-reference context
Swiss guidance says a full work reference should clearly cover duties, performance, and behavior, and that ambiguous coded messages are not permitted. The decoder explains common interpretations but cannot determine whether a specific reference is legally valid.
Read SECO's official work-reference FAQFrequently Asked Questions
What does "Wir lernten sie als umgängliche Kollegin kennen" mean in a work reference? +
Classic example from the ver.di guide. 'Agreeable' as the sole behavioural trait signals average. Hidden Meaning: Only 'agreeable' = no outstanding social skills, merely neutral coexistence.
What grade does "Wir lernten sie als umgängliche Kollegin kennen" correspond to in Switzerland? +
In Switzerland, this phrase corresponds to grade 3 (sufficient). In Germany, it corresponds to grade 4 (adequate).