Employer's reference, verbal reference and letter of recommendation
Employer's references, verbal references and letters of recommendation are important for professional careers.
The HR partners are there to support line managers in preparing such documents and help employees with any questions they may have.
Employer's reference / Interim employer's reference
All employees of ETH Zurich - whether employed on a temporary or permanent basis - are entitled to a written employer's reference and interim employer's references. These documents provide information on the nature and duration of the employment relationship and contain details of the employee's performance and behaviour.
Access the reference generator
The reference generator supports line managers in writing employer's references. Find it on ETHIS Portal under Human Resources > Employees.
User manual / Download Leaflet on employers reference (PDF, 43 KB) (both in German)
The employer's reference is issued when an employee is leaving ETH Zurich. It evaluates the entire period of the employment relationship. It is written in the past tense (imperfect). The interim employer's reference, on the other hand, relates to a defined period of work in one area or function at ETH and it is written in the present tense.
Employees can request an interim employer's reference from their line manager at any time. It is issued during employment and describes a defined period in an area or function. Typically it is issued when there is a change of line manager, an internal job change, a reorganisation or when a position assessment is made.
ETH Zurich's employer's references follow the principles of truth, completeness, clarity and goodwill. In order to support the professional advancement of our employees, employer's references should be formulated with benevolent intent. It is advisable to discuss negative aspects of performance and behaviour with the responsible HR partner in advance.
It is the responsibility of the line manager to prepare the employer's reference for their employees. The reference generator (see above) should be used and HR partners provide support.
Employer's references usually bear a double signature: The line manager signs on the left and the HR partner signs on the right.
Employees can contact their HR partners if they have any questions or differences of opinion.
Verbal reference
A verbal reference is information about you that a future employer obtains from your current/former employer or from third parties. The verbal reference information serves to verify your written application and as a supplement to the job interview. Verbald references may only be obtained with your consent. However, it may be assumed that you have given your tacit consent if you name reference persons in your application.
The choice of the reference person is up to you; they should be familiar with your work. As a principle, you should name your direct line manager. When providing information, the reference person is bound by the provisions of the Data Protection Act and the associated ordinance. They may only provide information that is related to the future work situation.
If you name someone as a reference person, be sure to let them know. Also tell them about your career plans so that the reference person can prepare for the interview.
Letter of recommendation
A letter of recommendation in an academic context provides information about academic performance and behaviour from the professor's point of view. It contains an explicit recommendation for a position or research funding. A letter of recommendation is not legally binding.
Download Examples sentences for letters of recommendation (PDF, 311 KB)