Your performance review is important for more than your self-esteem. The results can affect your promotions, your pay raises, and your job security. Depending on where you work, your success in getting a great performance review is as important as doing a great job for your company.
As managers come and go or as you move to different responsibilities in your company, the things in your performance review are the documentation that you need to keep your career on track for the long-term. Therefore, it is important that you take an active role in your performance evaluation.
According to Forbes writer John Beeson, your performance review is not a good place to get career advice.
However, it is a good place for you to show what you have accomplished.
There are things that you can do to prepare for the meeting for your performance review. In doing these things, you will not only ace the review, you will do a better job for your company.
Here are six tips.
1. Some managers set up written goals for each employee. If your manager does not set up written goals, write them down yourself. Ask your manager to review the goals with you to make sure that you both understand the goals for your job performance.
2. Keep a log of your performance based on your responsibilities and goals. Log when you complete goals and the results from completing them.
3. Regularly give your supervisor updates on your progress in the assignments you have with your company. Send these updates to your manager in memos or emails when these updates are helpful for your manager. Ask you manager for feedback on your performance so that you can know that you are meeting or exceeding expectations.
4. Make a list of training, education, skills, and certifications that you get between performance reviews. Notify your supervisor and other people of these extra things that have you accomplished that make you a more valuable employee.
5. Before you go into your performance evaluation, prepare for the meeting the way you prepare for a job interview. Make a list of the things that you expect your supervisor to discuss and questions that your supervisor will ask. Write down your answers to these questions before the performance review.
6. Make two copies of the things you want to discuss in the performance review. Give a copy to your supervisor.
In setting up goals and having ongoing discussions about your progress, you will build a stronger relationship with your supervisor. When you supervisor gives you feedback, adjust immediately to any feedback on changes. You will both be more satisfied when you are doing what your supervisor wants you to do. When you work with this type of relationship with your supervisor, you will do a better job and the performance review will become just another meeting that is consistent with the meetings you have had with your supervisor since the last performance review.