Career Tip: How to Ace Your Annual Review
June 29th, 2010Most employees dread them. But did you know that most managers dread them, too? That’s right. Annual job performance reviews are an unwelcome activity for all involved. However, there are steps you can take to prepare for your review and help ensure it is as painless as possible.
Step 1: Create a list of achievements.
Write down all the achievements you’d like to discuss during your job performance review. You may have to spend a little time thinking about them if you haven’t kept track of your achievements.
Once you have your list going, consider how your employer benefited from all you accomplished in the past year. For instance, did you increase sales, reduce costs, grow the company’s client base, or help to hold onto an important customer?
Be sure to keep your list concise, though. Don’t just detail the tasks you’ve performed everyday.
Step 2: Take a look at last year’s review.
Chances are, you created a list of short- and long-term goals you wanted to achieve. Ideally, you will have achieved or be working on achieving these goals. If not, though, then what are the reasons? For instance, did your boss assign you a new project or task that took up more time than you anticipated? If so, then be sure to present your case so that your boss doesn’t think you just blew off one or more of your goals for the year.
Step 3: Be prepared if you’re asking for a raise.
When the conversation turns to money, know how much of a raise you will ask for and how much you will settle for. Expect to negotiate and eventually reach a compromise.
To ensure you’re prepared, do a little research ahead of time. Find out what the going salary is for people in similar positions as yours. If you don’t receive the raise you want, find out what you need to do to get it.
What should you do if your review doesn’t go well?
If you feel you received unfair criticism, wait a few days to respond to it. Emotions can get in the way if you react immediately. Then ask yourself this question: Was the criticism really off the mark, or were you just upset about being criticized? If you feel like you were being unfairly criticized, then back up your argument with specific examples. However, if you just don’t like being criticized, then now’s the time to start preparing for next year’s review. Develop a plan for applying your boss’ suggestions and start a file to keep track of your achievements.
Bonus Tip!
If part of the reason your job review didn’t go well is because you’re unhappy at work, then now may be the time for a change. Contact Northwest Staffing. We are the Northwest’s leading employment agency serving Everett, Seattle, and Snohomish County.
