Document background
The Job Experience Letter (Arbeitszeugnis) is a fundamental document in German employment relations, serving as an official record of employment and performance evaluation. It is issued when an employment relationship ends, whether due to resignation, termination, or retirement. Under German law, every employee has the legal right to receive this document, which must be provided by the employer in written form. The letter includes detailed information about the duration of employment, job responsibilities, performance assessment, and behavioral evaluation. It follows specific linguistic conventions and must maintain a balance between truthfulness and benevolence, avoiding any coded negative messages that could disadvantage the employee in future job searches. The document plays a crucial role in German job applications and is often scrutinized carefully by potential employers.
