German job references are written in a special, very formal language. Learn to read the typical phrases, talk about your contract, probation and holidays, and understand how German turns verbs into nouns.
| German | Meaning |
|---|---|
| der Arbeitsvertrag, ¨-e | employment contract |
| die Probezeit, -en | probation period |
| die Kündigung, -en | notice, termination |
| kündigen | to give notice, resign; to dismiss |
| die Kündigungsfrist, -en | notice period |
| der Urlaubsanspruch, ¨-e | holiday entitlement |
| der Urlaubstag, -e | day of holiday |
| das Arbeitszeugnis, -se | job reference |
| das Zwischenzeugnis, -se | interim reference |
| die Arbeitszeit, -en | working hours |
| die Überstunde, -n | hour of overtime |
| der Betriebsrat, ¨-e | works council |
| der Arbeitgeber, - / die Arbeitgeberin, -nen | employer |
| der Arbeitnehmer, - / die Arbeitnehmerin, -nen | employee |
| die Leistung, -en | performance, achievement |
| die Zufriedenheit | satisfaction |
| stets | always (formal) |
| die Beendigung | termination, completion |
| das Ausscheiden | departure (from a company) |
| die Aufgabe, -n | task |
| die Krankmeldung, -en | notification of sickness |
| befristet | fixed-term |
| unbefristet | permanent, open-ended |
| der Tarifvertrag, ¨-e | collective agreement |
| wohlwollend | benevolent, favourable |
Formal German, for example in contracts, references and official letters, likes nouns where everyday German uses verbs. This is called Nominalisierung. There are a few regular patterns. Nouns with -ung are always feminine; infinitives used as nouns are always neuter; nouns with -heit and -keit are always feminine. Knowing these patterns helps you understand new words quickly and get the article right.
| Pattern | Base word | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| verb + -ung (die) | beenden, leiten, kündigen | die Beendigung, die Leitung, die Kündigung |
| infinitive (das) | ausscheiden, lesen | das Ausscheiden, das Lesen |
| verb stem (der) | beginnen, besuchen | der Beginn, der Besuch |
| adjective + -heit/-keit (die) | zufrieden, zuverlässig | die Zufriedenheit, die Zuverlässigkeit |
A subordinate clause with a verb can often be replaced by a preposition + noun. The nominal style is shorter and more formal; the verbal style is easier and more natural in speech. When you read a formal text, try to translate the nominal style back into a clause in your head.
| Verbal style | Nominal style |
|---|---|
| Nachdem die Probezeit beendet war, … | Nach Beendigung der Probezeit … |
| Während sie im Unternehmen arbeitete, … | Während ihrer Tätigkeit im Unternehmen … |
| Weil er krank war, … | Wegen seiner Krankheit … |
| Bevor die Arbeit beginnt, … | Vor Beginn der Arbeit … |
| Wenn Probleme auftreten, … | Bei Problemen … |
Note that während and wegen take the genitive in formal German, while nach, vor and bei take the dative.
A German Arbeitszeugnis must be truthful but also favourable, so negative points are rarely written openly. Instead, a set of standard phrases has developed, and small words make a big difference. The phrase about satisfaction is commonly understood as a grade: stets zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit is usually read as very good, stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit as good, and zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit as satisfactory. Words like stets and jederzeit are positive. A friendly closing sentence with thanks, regret and good wishes is also seen as a good sign. If something seems unclear or unfair, ask a colleague, the works council or a counselling service before you react.
Tap the words in the right order.
You left your job last month and have not yet received a reference. Write a formal email to the HR department of your former employer (80–100 words): say who you are and when you worked there, ask for a qualified job reference, explain why you need it soon, and thank them.
Sehr geehrte Frau Lorenz, vom 1. März 2024 bis zum 30. September 2026 war ich als Projektmanagerin in der Abteilung Logistik Ihres Unternehmens tätig. Leider habe ich bis heute noch kein Arbeitszeugnis erhalten. Ich möchte Sie deshalb freundlich um die Ausstellung eines qualifizierten Arbeitszeugnisses bitten. Da ich mich gerade auf mehrere Stellen bewerbe, wäre ich Ihnen für eine baldige Zusendung sehr dankbar. Gern können Sie mir das Zeugnis per Post an meine neue Adresse oder vorab als PDF schicken. Vielen Dank für Ihre Unterstützung. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Ayesha Khan
In Germany, employees generally have the right to a written reference (Arbeitszeugnis) when they leave a job. A simple reference only confirms the type and length of the job; a qualified reference also evaluates performance and behaviour, and it is the one employers expect in applications. You can ask for it, and you can also ask for an interim reference (Zwischenzeugnis) while you are still employed, for example when you get a new manager. Keep all your references, because German employers often ask for them.
Many important rules about your job, such as working hours, holidays, the probation period and notice periods, are set by law, by a collective agreement (Tarifvertrag) or by your contract. The exact details depend on your situation and can change, so always read your own contract carefully. If you have questions or problems, you can turn to the works council (Betriebsrat) if your company has one, to a trade union if you are a member, or to a specialist lawyer or counselling service.
Related: Getting a work reference · German work contract types · Letter and email writing trainer
