When it comes time for your performance review, it’s natural to feel a little anxious. After all, there’s a lot at stake—a promotion, a salary bump, and perhaps a bonus.
To overcome those nerves, use the meeting as an opportunity to showcase your accomplishments with an eye toward furthering your career. Performance reviews help managers identify strong employees for promotions and pay increases. For example, in a recent Accountemps survey of chief financial officers, 63 percent of respondents said they plan to move up top performers and 52 percent anticipate raising salaries as ways to retain top talent.
Here are five performance review tips to help you prepare so you’ll shine on that big day.
#1. Document Your Accomplishments Throughout the Year
Because most employers conduct performance evaluations once a year, it can be hard for you or your manager to remember what your achievements were many months ago. To keep track, write down successes as they occur. This performance journal could be in the form of a physical notebook or a spreadsheet that resides on your computer. Include the “what,” “when,” and “how,” and note how your accomplishments relate to organizational goals.
Keep the list concise, though. Think about what your manager already knows and needs to know, and provide the contextual details needed to understand your performance. Include challenges that limit your ability to succeed, and don’t forget to note support you received from colleagues.
Your journal should include supporting documents that attest to your high performance. These include awards, thank-you letters and emails, and other forms of recognition you received in the past 12 months. Don’t forget hard numbers. If one of your projects or initiatives saved the company time or money, note the specifics. Last but not least, list any training, professional development activities and certifications you completed.
#2. Do a Self-Evaluation
Some companies require employees to complete a self-evaluation or list of accomplishments and submit to the reviewing manager prior to the meeting. Even if yours doesn’t, preparing such a list allows you to crystallize your achievements so they are top-of-mind during your review. If you’ve been creating such a list all year long, as suggested above, the job of finalizing it will be much easier.
#3. Suggest Areas for Self-Improvement
One of the best performance review tips is to know yourself, and that includes both strengths and weaknesses. Show your manager you’re aware of your own shortcomings and want to improve in those areas. After listing a few areas that need work, offer some tangible steps for self-improvement, such as receiving coaching or mentoring, getting additional training, and attending conferences. You can review and refine these goals during the meeting. They will become part of your next year’s evaluation, so choose wisely.
#4. Have an Open Mind
During the evaluation, listen attentively to your manager’s feedback, both the positive and the negative. No one is perfect, and if you take criticism in stride, it can help you improve your job performance and advance your career. Ideally, your manager has already informed you of any problems as they occur. But if something surprises you, ask for time to develop ideas that can address the issue and schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss them.
#5. Broach Compensation
If you feel you’ve had a stellar year, use the review as an opportunity to ask about a raise or promotion. CFOs are primed and ready to offer them, so be prepared to make your case.
Yearly reviews are important, but your annual evaluation shouldn’t be the only time you and your manager discuss your performance. Throughout the year, be proactive about reporting on your progress and asking for specific feedback. Once the evaluation is over, immediately start another performance journal for the new review period. Follow these performance review tips now, and you can reduce the stress leading up to your next evaluation.
