Document background
The Certificate of Service Employment (Arbeitszeugnis) is a fundamental document in German employment law, required whenever an employment relationship ends. This document serves multiple purposes: it provides future employers with standardized information about a candidate's previous employment, serves as an official record of employment history, and plays a crucial role in the German job market. Every employee in Germany has a legal right to receive this certificate, which must be issued in accordance with the principles of truthfulness and goodwill ("Wahrheit und Wohlwollen"). The certificate must be written in a way that doesn't hinder the employee's future career prospects while remaining truthful about their performance and conduct. It follows a highly standardized format and uses specific phrases that have developed standardized meanings in German business practice.
