At some point in your career, your employer is probably going to ask you to write a self-assessment to be included in your Performance Evaluation. It’s a routine part of the annual evaluation process at many companies and everyone seems to hate it but consider the benefits of this important tool and master the strategies for evaluating yourself effectively.
Welcome back to BarrWorld.com. Today we are talking about Performance Evaluations and what to consider when writing your own.
I have worked in places where you told to show up for your performance evaluation which turned into a list of everything you did wrong since your last review. It was terrible. My present employer has a different approach where you write your own and your boss writes one and you compare them. This is much better method of getting feedback.
Let’s look at the benefits of writing your own Performance Evaluation.
1. Feel more confident. Reviewing your own work positions you to be better prepared for the upcoming discussion with your supervisor. There may be fewer surprises that could catch you off guard.
2. Review your Job Description. Make sure you are really doing the job you were hired to do. It can be very easy to take on new work and over time end up not be doing anything that is in your job description.
3. Give your manager important information. Events from earlier in the year are easily forgotten in a busy workplace, and your manager may not be familiar with all the details of your tasks. Your input is essential.
4. Track your progress. You can learn a lot from how others see you, but it’s also important to take your own measure. Rate how you’re doing on the elements of your job that are most meaningful for you.
5. Clarify goals. Remember that one purpose of an evaluation is to help you do your job well in the year ahead. Review your current goals and adjust them as needed.
6. Strengthen your career prospects. Listing your accomplishments helps you make the case for taking on more responsibilities or getting a promotion. It may also prompt you to explore other openings.
7. Build your resume. By doing a review, it can be a easy way of keep your resume up to date. This is something that you should be doing even if you’re not looking for a new job.
Strategies for Making Your Assessment More Effective
1. Relax first. It’s natural to feel tense about being under review. Take a walk or play gentle music to put you in a positive frame of mind.
2. Make it an ongoing task. Jot down your major accomplishments each week. It’s much easier than trying to remember them all twelve months later. Sticking to this routine will also make it evident that you’re diligent all year. Remember to record positive and negative events.
3. Put it in writing. Even if your employer lacks any requirements for a self-evaluation, you’re better off volunteering to do one. Offer your supervisor a list of the items you feel are important.
4. Quantify your contributions. Speak in concrete terms about how you’ve increased revenues and reduced costs. Find ways to really measure your impact on the company. It’s possible for any position, whether you work in sales or accounting.
5. Document your successes. Bring along proof to back up your statements. Save flattering emails from clients and colleagues. Take before and after pictures of the work areas you reorganized or the brochures you designed.
6. Propose solutions for weaknesses. Of course, it’s important to address the whole picture. For every area where you aren’t as strong, lay out your plans for boosting your skills. You need to get your weakness to the point that it is acceptable for your employer. Mastery is not the objective here. Leave that for your strengths.
7. Ask for additional resources. This is the time to request the support you need. Explain why a certain seminar or subscription would be worth the investment.
8. Hand your materials in early. Prepare your evaluation well in advance of meeting with your supervisor for your formal review. It will give them more time to process your input. Managers often consult a variety of sources in order to write employee evaluations, so they may need a chance to reconcile different viewpoints and explore new information.
9. Listen with an open mind. Reviews are most productive when they’re conducted as an open and respectful dialogue. Being receptive to what your manager has to say will help you to grow as an employee and an individual. Feedback from others is vital and instructive.
10. Ask questions for clarity. If something doesn’t make any sense, ask for clarity. Also if you have taken on new task ask for them to be included in your job description. Remember to also remove any work you don’t do anymore
Look at your annual performance evaluation as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and advance your career. Your employee self-assessment lets you shine a spotlight on your achievements and propose solutions for areas where you want to do better.