Arbeitszeugnis Grades Explained: The English Translation of Every Phrase

JobChamp Guide · Updated July 17, 2026

A German Arbeitszeugnis (employment reference) never states a grade as a number. Instead, one sentence about your performance uses a fixed phrase that German HR staff read as a grade from 1 (excellent) to 5 or 6 (poor). "Stets zur vollsten Zufriedenheit" means grade 1, "volle Zufriedenheit" means grade 2, "Zufriedenheit" means grade 3, "im Grossen und Ganzen zur Zufriedenheit" means grade 4, and "bemuehte sich" means grade 5. If you are not from Germany, nobody warned you this code even existed, and that is exactly the problem this guide solves.

Why German references speak in code

This concept simply does not exist in most English-speaking countries. A US or UK reference letter can be short, neutral, or openly critical. A German employer is not allowed to do that. By law, an Arbeitszeugnis must be written with "Wohlwollen": it must not unnecessarily harm your future career. At the same time, it must be truthful. Over decades of labor court practice, German employers and HR departments solved that conflict by inventing a coded language that sounds friendly to an outsider but tells the true story to anyone who can read it.

That is the core thing to understand as a foreign professional in Germany: the tone of the letter is almost always positive, because the law requires it to be. The actual grade is hidden inside specific word choices, not in the overall friendliness of the text. A German recruiter reads a reference in under thirty seconds and immediately knows the grade. Without knowing the code, you cannot.

The grade scale: German phrase, English translation, real grade

The decisive sentence almost always follows a pattern like: "Herr/Frau [name] erledigte die ihr uebertragenen Aufgaben ..." (Mr./Ms. [name] carried out the tasks assigned to her ...), followed by the grade phrase itself:

A single word like "stets" (always) or "im Grossen und Ganzen" (by and large) moves the grade up or down by one or two full steps. That is why it is worth a second, careful read before you sign anything or file the letter away.

The trickiest hidden code words

Beyond the grade sentence, several phrases sound harmless in isolation but carry a very different message once you know the code.

• "Er war gesellig" (he was sociable) instead of "teamfaehig" (team-oriented): often a hint at excessive drinking or a party lifestyle, more common in older references.
• "Im Rahmen ihrer Moeglichkeiten" (within the limits of her abilities): dresses up weak performance as a compliment. The real message is that more simply was not possible.
• Punctuality praised in isolation: if "always punctual" is the only concrete thing mentioned, professional or social substance is probably missing.
• Missing closing formula: if the usual sentence thanking you and regretting your departure is absent at the end, that is a deliberate signal, not an oversight.
• Eloquent silence (beredtes Schweigen): if the letter covers everything except the one skill that mattered most for your role, for example leadership for a manager, that is rarely a coincidence.

If your Arbeitszeugnis was issued after a workplace conflict, our guide on what to do if you get fired in Germany covers the wider picture beyond the reference letter itself.

The closing formula check

The closing paragraph is the final part of the reference, usually a mix of thanks, regret and good wishes for your future. It is not legally required, but German HR reads it just as closely as the grade sentence. Check for these four things:

1. Does the letter explicitly say your departure is regretted?
2. Are you wished "alles Gute" (all the best) or "viel Erfolg" (much success) for the future?
3. Does the thanks sound personal and specific to you, or like a generic phrase copied from a template?
4. Is the whole closing formula missing, even though the rest of the letter reads well?

If the formula is missing entirely or reads unusually short, that is often a contradiction to an otherwise good evaluation, and a sign there was tension at the end of your employment.

Interim reference vs. final reference

A Zwischenzeugnis (interim reference) is issued while your employment is still ongoing, for example when your manager changes, you move to a different internal role, or you apply externally without resigning. An Endzeugnis (final reference) is issued when your employment ends, whether through dismissal, a termination agreement, or the end of a fixed-term contract. Both follow the same grade logic. The final reference simply adds a closing formula about the end of employment.

Here is a useful trick: if you already have a good interim reference on file, the final reference should not suddenly read worse. A noticeable drop in grade between the interim and final version is a strong argument for a correction. This matters especially if your employment ended through a termination agreement (Aufhebungsvertrag), where the reference wording is often negotiated alongside the agreement itself.

Common mistakes when reading your own Arbeitszeugnis

Foreign professionals tend to make the same three mistakes when reading their own reference.

• Judging only by the first impression. A German reference almost always sounds friendly, because the law requires benevolent wording. The real grade sits in specific details, not in the overall tone.
• Ignoring the order of tasks. Your most important responsibility should be listed first. If your core task only appears at the end of the list, that can be a signal in itself.
• Mixing up technical skills and social skills. A strong reference usually evaluates both separately and in detail. If one of the two is missing entirely, it is worth a second look.

What to do about a poor grade

You do not have to accept a below-average grade. Legally, for a grade of 4 or worse, the burden of proof shifts to the employer, who must show why that grade is justified in a dispute. Up to grade 3 (satisfactory), the burden of proof tends to sit with you as the employee instead.

In practice, you can:

• Request a written correction from your employer, ideally with a concrete suggested wording.
• Point to your actual achievements: targets met, performance reviews, promotions, prior interim references.
• Involve the works council (Betriebsrat) if one exists and the disagreement continues.
• As a last step, consider a correction lawsuit before the labor court, ideally with support from an employment lawyer.

If a poor grade came out of a tense separation, our guide on notice periods in Germany explains the timeline you were likely working with when the reference was written.

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information and does not replace individual legal advice. For specific conflicts, a trade union, legal insurance, or an employment lawyer can help you further.