I have no work history in Switzerland and am applying to jobs here. Many companies seem to expect that you have an Arbeitszeugnis from previous jobs, but since in my case those jobs where outside Switzerland I don't have any sort of recommendation letter or AZ (although I could ask my previous employer for one, he has a very positive view of my work).
I'm worried that by not providing an arbeitszeugnis I am leaving a bad impression with potential employers. It might seem like I am trying to hide a bad evaluation (assuming that someone doesn't realize that AZs aren't customary elsewhere). If I try to write one myself I could unwittingly put phrases in there that might seem like coded messages (due to employees legal right to a positive AZ employers apparently hide bad evaluations that way).
So what do I do? Do I write an AZ myself with all the potential pitfalls and ask my former employer to sign it? Do I trust people in HR to understand that it's not strange that I don't have one since I come from another country? Do I hire a service to write one for me?
Please share any experiences you might have had in this area!
I recruited for an MNC for years and I couldn't have cared less about written reference letters, especially the Swiss ones as they say absolutely nothing whatsoever and are just empty, standard phrases, really. However, that is my slightly tainted American-influenced-environment view
Any recruiter worth their salt (yes I know there aren't many) will certainly know that most non-Swiss don't even know what an Arbeitszeugnis is (though for example they seem to be quite popular if not more popular in Germany too).
In companies that operate Swiss-style, big or small, they may well care and not having any will work to your disadvantage. What I would do is simply be transparent and add a comment on the bottom of the CV or cover letter: no written reference letters available due to work experience outside of Switzerland, however upon request, happy to provide contact details to obtain verbal references. Or something to that effect. That should do it and if you're still not getting invited, it won't be because you don't have any Arbeitszeugnisse.
A prospective future employer knows you have a zeugnis from a former Swiss employer. So they may ask for it.
It's your choice to say no, but that itself tell the prospective future employer that something is wrong. It's evasive for starters, but if there is something negative then you can explain it.
A zeugnis nowadays is quite bland, what are you trying to hide?
On top of this, I have yet to hear of someone giving a bad one. What you really need is the simple arbeitsbestätigung, most are happy with just this, it states just what you did, for how long and for whom. All in a neutral to no tone type paper. It's more just for your records and proving that what you said you did on your resume, you actually did and saves the employer having to call up NASA after you put down Rocket Scientist for 3 years. As your Arbeitbestätitgung will say just that.
Exactly...so with it being meaningless...what's the point of even keeping it around besides keeping up with the 21st century mentality of "give everyone a trophy". It's like on eBay, a seller can no longer give bad feedback to a buyer...just report him/her....so a buyer with 500 feedback all being positive....really means nothing...just that the buyer bought 500 items and paid for those particular items.
What if the employer writes something bad about you in the zuegnis just because you did not obey a bad boss. if your boss is bad that strains the working relationship, and if you leave because of him, the boss will definitely not be happy and will write a bad reference letter. how can one explain to potential future employers about this situation? is it always expected that employees should always be nice to their bosses and obey them always just to get a good reference when they leave.
I had a lot of trouble getting my previous employer to change a reference. It only worked when I rewrote the reference myself and presented it for signature.
For employees of Swiss companies, if you are thinking of leaving, it is important to get your reference well before you go