Ace That Performance Review!

Performance reviews should recap an employee’s job performance with few or no surprises to the employee. A proactive approach to your position, whether you are a new or seasoned employee to the company, will empower you to complete the performance review with ease and confidence.

Preparation for the performance review should be ongoing throughout the year.

• Begin with your job description. If your current job description is out of date, meet with your manager to determine the actual responsibilities and goals your performance will be based upon. Understanding your job description and responsibilities also includes a clear understanding of your job goals and expectations.

• Create a file in which you track notes on project updates, additional responsibilities or assignments outside the scope of your job description, and copies of e-mails or letters congratulating you on a job well done. Managers sometimes learn the actual details of an employee’s responsibilities in the review process. This is your opportunity to make sure successes, challenges to, and diversions from your responsibilities are reviewed in a formal process. Find out when your performance review is scheduled.

• Begin formalizing your self-analysis one to two months in advance of your review. While performance reviews are intended to reflect the previous year’s job performance, it is not uncommon that the performance is based on the most recent month’s performance prior to the review. Make sure you are on target in achieving the goals in your position and communication between you and your manager is consistent.

• Ask for a blank copy of the performance evaluation to conduct your self-analysis. Rate yourself as objectively as possible, identifying strengths, successes, and areas to improve. Also include areas in which you wish to grow or be challenged. Again, this is an opportunity to formally communicate with your supervisor career goals.

• Prepare to present your self-analysis in the most positive manner. Do not use the performance review as an opportunity to vent.

• Treat the performance review as an interview. Go prepared with the necessary documentation and copies, if needed (e.g., copies of letters congratulating on a job well done). You want to present your best self in an interview; the same applies to the performance review.

• Dress for success for the performance review. However, don’t wear your Sunday best if khakis are the norm. Make a conscious effort to wear business attire in which you feel your best.

Proactively approaching your performance review will keep you focused on achieving the goals for your position throughout the year, empowering you to approach the performance review with ease and confidence, resulting in your ability to ace that performance review!