Performance reviews allow you to inform your manager of how you performed over the last year, and what goals you have for the coming year. But it is crucial that you are prepared before the meeting. You will have a less effective review if you don't prepare. Here are a few tips to help prepare you for your next review.
Make a plan for your upcoming goals. You can either improve your current skills or you can learn new ones. You can ask yourself how to use the new knowledge you have gained to benefit your company. You might want to try to get a new job in a different department or shift your responsibilities in order to better meet your employer's needs.
Make sure you have a few concrete examples of how you achieved these goals. In addition, you should mention the difficulties you faced while working to achieve your goals. You should also include the people that helped you achieve these goals.
During the performance review, it's important that you don't come off as arrogant or confrontational. It's important to be sincere and mature. Your words should show the growth that you have made in the last year. Using meaningful words will help you get more out of your review.
Reevaluating your job is not unusual. If you want to change to a different department, title or role, then you need to present a plan to your boss. You will feel in control, and you may even be less defensive.
You should also show that the review is important. If you don't, then you may end up having to look for another job. A good performance review will leave you feeling more confident and motivated to do better. Don't forget to express your gratitude for the honest feedback you received from the person who reviewed your performance.
Depending on their company, some will use numerical ratings, while others may use written descriptions. Do not be influenced by the language used to evaluate you. Avoid phrases such as "As you know, I'm very hardworking" as this shows that the reviewer doesn't have an accurate picture of you.
Highlight your skills and achievements. Include examples that demonstrate your best skills, like creativity or effective communication. In your resume, you should emphasize the lessons you learned and ways that you improved. When you're able to, point out new skills you've acquired as well. These will not only add value to your job, but also to your company.
Lastly, remember to keep your expectations realistic. It's tempting for you to be optimistic about your future. However, it is important to not become overconfident. The best reviews are those that focus on what's positive and don't include negative criticism or compare you to others.
Before you attend your next performance review, research is a good idea if you want to change careers. If you're in an administrative or managerial position, you might want to consider a shift into marketing, or into a new area of the company.