Leadership support
As a supervisor at ETH Zurich you might have some questions on topics to all about employment.
Further information on the Dialog.
How we engage with ourselves and others is essential for our well-being and our success. ETH Zurich has developed a common understanding with its social and leadership competencies.
Supervisors work together with employees to define targets, to encourage them to take responsibility for their own actions, and to help them achieve and evaluate their goals.
According to the DownloadPersonnel Ordinance (German) (PDF, 1.4 MB)vertical_align_bottom, supervisors must conduct appraisal interviews with their employees at least once a year. The appraisal interview offers the chance for both the employee and the supervisor to assess the employee’s current performance and work out opportunities for further personal development.
The following tools and templates are available:
Technical/Admin. Staff
DownloadAppraisal Interview (PDF, 610 KB)vertical_align_bottom
DownloadAppraisal Interview - Information for Supervisors and Employees (PDF, 465 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Doctoral Students
Progress Report and Annual Status Conversation
DownloadTemplate Annual Status Conversation (PDF, 463 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Postdocs/Established Researchers
DownloadTemplate Performance and progress interview (PDF, 260 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Senior Scientists
DownloadTemplate Performance and progress interview (PDF, 612 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Additional Information
DownloadReflection on the appraisal interview (German) (PDF, 22 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Appraisal interviews: necessary evil or untapped opportunity? Talk with Lukas Vonesch, Head of HR ETH Zürich
DownloadGuidelines goal and assessment process (PDF, 169 KB)vertical_align_bottom
DownloadIndividual Objective Achievement Plan (DOTX, 87 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Employer’s references (job references) and letters of recommendation are important documents in a professional and academic career. The relevant personnel manager will be happy to help supervisors fulfil this highly responsible task.
Job reference
ETH Zurich employees are entitled to a job reference (employer’s reference) or interim reference, which provide details of the type and duration of their employment relationship and information about their performance and conduct.
There is a reference application available from Human Resources to help with writing references. You will find the reference application on the protected pageETHIS Portallock via Personal > Mitarbeitende (employees). For access an appropriate ETHIS-authorization is needed.
DownloadInformation sheet job reference (PDF, 36 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Letter of recommendation
In an academic context, a letter of recommendation provides information about an employee’s academic performance and conduct from the point of view of his/her professor. It contains an explicit recommendation for a position or research funding. Letters of recommendation are not legally binding.
DownloadLetter of recommendation example sentences (PDF, 311 KB)vertical_align_bottom
References
References are statements of information which a future employer can obtain from your former employer or a third party. They are intended to supplement and verify your written application documentation and interview. Your potential new employer may only request a reference from your current or previous employer with your consent. However, it may be assumed that your consent has implicitly been given if you name your current or previous employer as a referee in your application.
It is up to you to choose your referees, but they must be familiar with your work. As a general rule, direct supervisors are named as referees. When giving a reference, referees are bound by the regulations of the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection and the corresponding Ordinance and may only disclose information which relates to your future work situation.
Please inform people if you wish to name them as a referee. You should also tell them about your plans to help them prepare for giving a reference.