Have job reference translated

When applying for a new job, references are probably the most important documents – other than your CV – for impressing your potential employer. The quality of the applicant’s work, as evaluated by former employers, is a decisive factor in making hiring decisions, both in Germany and abroad. It is therefore all the more important for an employer’s reference to be translated by a professional translator, authoritatively and with flawless accuracy. Beyond this, the translation of the reference is often only valid and recognised if it is a certified translation including a stamp. This is the only way you (and your new employer) can be sure that the content of your reference retains its original meaning in translation.

First of all: We will translate and certify any type of employment reference. Still, it’s always good to know which types of credentials generally require a certified translation. In Germany, there are three types of references:

This type of document is restricted to objective facts with no assessment. A simple reference is usually standardised and contains data such as length of employment, position/title and the employee’s field of activity.

In addition to objective information, a qualified employment reference also contains evaluations. This is the most common type of employment reference in Germany and is well known for the precise phrases used (which can be ‘translated’ into a kind of grading system).

Interim references are often issued when there is a change of supervisor or to the company’s structure. In other words, they can also be requested by current employees (i.e. not only in the context of switching jobs).

In Germany, the term ‘job reference’ usually refers to a qualified employment reference. At least visually, these documents generally resemble normal letters of reference – yet the specific wording and phrasing they contain include coded messages that are similar to grades on a school transcript. In order for companies – both in Germany and abroad – to be able to correctly assess whether potential employees are suitable for employment, they attach great importance to the assessments and evaluations provided by previous employers. For international applicants, translations of such certificates are reviewed particularly closely. Translation alone is usually insufficient for a compelling application – after all, anyone can produce a rudimentary translation using online tools these days. Once translated, the content needs to be verified with certification – and that’s a service we can provide for you.

In other cultures, German-style employment references as described above are not necessarily the most important application document an HR officer or supervisor considers. In English-speaking countries, a letter of recommendation is often a crucial factor in hiring decisions. It goes without saying that letters of recommendation in the Anglosphere do not use the same ‘standard’ phrasing one might see in a German job reference. Instead, one of your colleagues or peers might write a letter assessing you and your work. It is best to find out in advance which application documents are required for the new job and, if necessary, obtain a reference or letter of recommendation from your current/former employer; we will of course be happy to take care of the translation and certification process for you.

When hiring new staff, the absolute top priority is to gain an accurate assessment of the candidate. HR employees and other decision-makers need to be able to rely on the truthfulness of the application documents, especially for applicants from abroad. In that regard, you can always count on our professional translations. They are always certified and prepared by sworn translators, and our service also has triple ISO certification: for our translation services (ISO 17100:2015), our quality management (ISO-9001:2015) and our information security (ISO/IEC 27001:2013).

Of course, you can translate your employment reference yourself, but we recommend getting a professional translation, preferably a certified one. Employment references that have been personally translated are often not very convincing or trustworthy because it’s not possible for your new employer to tell if everything has been completely and accurately translated. Translation errors can also lead to misunderstandings and in the worst case make a bad impression. That’s why it’s worth having your employment reference translated and certified by a sworn translator.