The seven "bad" sentences in the service reference
A qualified reference is of great importance for every employee. It reflects performance, skills and experience during employment and can directly impact future career opportunities.
However, not everyone is aware that certain formulations in a service reference can have negative effects, even if they appear positive at first glance. In this blog post, we will highlight the seven phrases that can affect a testimony.
1. "He always did his best."
At first glance, this statement may seem positive, but it is vague and leaves room for interpretation. In fact, it may indicate that the worker didn't always get good results, just tried their best.
2. "He was always trying."
Similar to the previous sentence, this sentence leaves room for doubt. It may mean that the worker has made an effort, but may not have gotten the desired results.
3. "There was no reason for complaint."
This formulation emphasizes that there are no comments or criticisms. Between the lines you can see that the performance was okay, but not outstanding.
4. "Mr. X was entrusted with the following tasks: ..."
You may think that the tasks are the most important thing, but actually the essentials have already been said. The passive wording suggests that Mr. X did not act on his own initiative and that the tasks had to be actively assigned to him. This indicates a lack of self-motivation.
5. "He performed his duties conscientiously and properly."
This means that the person did only the bare minimum without distinguishing themselves with any special achievements.
6. "He was a welcome conversationalist."
Unfortunately, not only for business matters: This statement suggests that the person enjoyed and frequently had private conversations and thus not only took up their own working hours, but also the time of their colleagues.
7. "We continue to wish him the best of luck."
That sounds friendly and nice, and one gladly accepts congratulations. But there is still a lot missing in the reference letter in order to trigger positive feelings in the potential new employer.
A satisfied employer wishes the employee "continued professional and personal success" and "all the best" instead of "luck".
The qualified reference should ideally contain the following four elements in the final formula:
- reason for resignation
- Thanks
- regret
- wishes for the future
It is important that both employers and employees are aware of the importance of the wording in a reference. A qualified reference should be objective and truthful, without creating unnecessary negative implications (which, if they hinder the employee's progress, are also not permissible).
When does an employee in Austria have the right to a qualified certificate and when is it voluntary for the employer?
It is important to note that in Austria employers are not required by law to issue a Qualified Service Reference, this is always voluntary and at the discretion of the employer. If an employee is satisfied with the performance and behavior of an employee and wishes to issue him with a testimonial, he can do so at the employee's request.
It is in the employee's interest to obtain a meaningful reference as it serves as a reference for future applications. However, as mentioned above, it is important to note that the employer is not obliged to comply with the employee's request. It is ultimately up to the employer to decide whether or not to issue a reference. If an employee leaves the company on the best of terms, they will usually also receive a qualified reference.
However, employees can exercise their right to review the certificate and, if necessary, request changes or additions if it is incomplete or contains errors. If there is a disagreement about the content of the certificate, it may be advisable to seek legal advice.
It is important that employees are aware that a reference can be a valuable document for their professional future. If you want a reference, you should communicate this clearly to the employer and, if necessary, convince him with good arguments.
"A qualified certificate is like a calling card for your professional future."
Peter Mueller, Career Advisor
