Self-evaluations or self-appraisals are an important part of the performance review process. They provide employees with the opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments and contributions, and to make a case for a raise or bonus. However, many employees find self-evaluations to be a difficult and time-consuming task.
One of the reasons for this is that it can be difficult to reflect on all of your performance from the past year or past six months if you haven't been documenting anything. Additionally, it can be difficult to sound objective and fair when assessing your own performance, as you naturally want to do well and perform well in the eyes of your manager.
Here are some recommendations as to how you can overcome these problems and put together the best self-assessment to help you on your path of professional development.
Preparing for a self-evaluation is key to making it a successful and meaningful process. It is important to keep records of your accomplishments and contributions throughout the year, as this will help you to reflect on your performance in a more objective and accurate way.
Additionally, it is a good idea to solicit feedback from colleagues, as they may have different perspectives on your performance and can help you to identify areas for improvement.
How great would it sound if you were able to say "I have been working on improving my communication skills, and have been seeking feedback from my colleagues on how I can better convey my ideas and thoughts. Here are some of the changes I'm looking to make."
Communicating effectively in a self-evaluation is also crucial. When presenting your accomplishments and contributions, it is important to be clear and compelling in your descriptions. Use specific examples and metrics where possible.
For example, you can say "I have been able to increase sales by 15% by implementing a new marketing strategy and leading a team of sales representatives".
Here are some additional specific and measurable examples:
Additionally, when addressing areas for improvement, it is important to be constructive and realistic in your approach. For example, you can say "I recognize that I need to improve my time management skills, and I have been working on creating a daily schedule and prioritizing my tasks to be more efficient." Here are other examples show that the employee is aware of their weaknesses and taking action to improve upon them.
Making a case for a raise or bonus is certainly appropriate when conducting a self-evaluation. There are multiple strategies that you can employ to maximize your chances of success when making the ask. It's important to be your own advocate. Additionally, it is important to be realistic and honest in your assessment of your performance and to identify areas for improvement, as this shows that you are committed to professional development and growth.
For example, when asking for a raise, you can say "I believe that my contributions to the company and the results I have achieved warrant a salary increase. I have been able to increase my group's project output by 40%, led a successful team and have been consistently meeting or exceeding my performance goals."
These additional examples emphasize the employee's achievements and make a clear case for why the employee believes they deserve a raise. They also highlight different key points such as tenure, consistent and positive feedback, and improved key metrics.
Self-appraisals give employees an opportunity to take time to reflect on their accomplishments and contributions. By preparing adequately and communicating effectively, employees can successfully showcase their value to the organization. Furthermore, it is important to approach self-evaluation as an opportunity to identify areas for growth, so that in the longer-term, both the employee and the organization will benefit.
