What is an employment reference (Arbeitszeugnis)?

What is an Arbeitszeugnis?

An Arbeitszeugnis is an official work reference / employment certificate issued by the employer when an employment relationship ends – whether through resignation, dismissal, expiry of a fixed-term contract or mutual agreement.
In the German job market, this document is very important, as it plays a key role in your chances of finding a new job.

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Types of Arbeitszeugnis

1. Simple employment reference (Einfaches Arbeitszeugnis)

This type only contains basic information, such as:

• the position held by the employee

• the period of employment

Example:

“Mr/Ms … worked for us from … to … as … .”

2. Qualified employment reference (Qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis)

In addition to the basic data, a qualified reference includes:

• an evaluation of professional performance and work quality,

• an assessment of conduct and behaviour at work,

• a description of tasks, responsibilities and areas of activity,

• and often a final sentence mentioning the reason for leaving and/or a polite closing formula (thanks, good wishes, etc.).

This is the most common and preferred form when applying for jobs in Germany.

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Typical contents of an Arbeitszeugnis

An Arbeitszeugnis usually contains:

• name of the employee and the employer/company

• start and end date of employment

• job title and description of tasks and responsibilities

• objective assessment of performance, efficiency and professional skills (evaluation)

• assessment of behaviour towards managers, colleagues and customers/clients

• a final, usually positive closing statement, often including thanks and best wishes

• signature of the employer or authorised person and the company stamp

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Employee rights

• In Germany, every employee has a legal right to receive an Arbeitszeugnis when the employment relationship ends.
  Legal basis: Section 109 of the German Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung – GewO).

• The employee has the right to request a qualified reference, not just a simple one.

• The reference must be:

  • truthful,

  • objective,
    and at the same time “benevolently worded” (wohlwollend).
    In other words, the employer may not intentionally harm the employee’s professional future by using unfairly negative wording or by hiding important facts.

• If there are errors or an unfair evaluation, the employee can ask for correction and, if necessary, take legal action before the labour court.

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Why is an Arbeitszeugnis important?

• It is almost always required when applying for a new job in Germany.

• Potential employers use it to assess your experience, skills, performance, reliability and behaviour.

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Summary

An Arbeitszeugnis is a work reference and performance assessment issued by the company at the end of an employment relationship.
It is an important legal right for employees and has a strong impact on their future career opportunities.

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The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on extensive research and consultation of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or certain details may not be fully verified. For this reason, the information presented here should be regarded as an initial point of reference only. For binding and up-to-date information, please always contact the competent authorities, advisory services or legal professionals.