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« Keep the Holidays Simple | Main | Most Unbelievable Workplace Events of ‘05 »

December 27, 2005

It's Annual Review Time

Hard on the heels of the holidays, like a hangover after too much celebration, comes that oft-dreaded ritual of modern business life: the annual review or performance appraisal.

Some folks say it's just a waste of time or a terrifying rite of passage, but I disagree on both counts. Yes, there's often an excess of nearly meaningless verbiage associated with the review process -- "360-degree feedback" is one of those nifty management slogans that raise my hackles -- but a key piece of the process, self-appraisal, is actually very useful.

I don't know about you, but in the press of daily or weekly deadlines I tend to keep looking ahead at the next task or project on the list and fail to look back at what I've done already. The annual review is the time to do this, and the self-appraisal portion is the right place to list the year's accomplishments. Here are a few tips I've learned as both a reviewer and a reviewee:

  • Go back and count up the tasks you've completed. It may seem silly, but it's satisfying. It also helps explain how you spent your time -- you'll be surprised how many things you've actually done. If the list doesn't look very impressive, now's the time to figure out why.
  • Open up that "Kudos!" email folder and reread the emails (or actual letters, if you get them) you've been keeping that thank you for a job well done -- whether from customers or colleagues. If you didn't save them separately, go digging in those archives and set up a folder right now for the coming year.
  • Pull together some samples of what you consider your best work this year and save them in a portfolio. This means a hard copy, even if the work is in digital form. Having something tangible to carry around with you is very useful. I still keep a printout of a PowerPoint presentation I gave eight years ago as a physical reminder of what that presentation accomplished.

There's one more reason why the annual review is helpful. You can use all the information you gain from it -- self-appraisal, 360-degree feedback and your manager's comments -- to update your resume. You never know when that will come in handy.

Monster has some great advice on performance appraisals. Be sure to read about both sides of the process so if you're doing a review you understand what your manager might expect.

And if you want to see what other people say about the annual-review process, try these blogs:

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Posted by Ryck on December 27, 2005 at 12:54 PM in Current Events , Resume , The Daily Grind | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack (1)

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Comments

MY REVIEW

Well, here is how my review went. It's year end 2005 close of billing. I went for my review very excited because it was a productive year…it went very well. I received most of 3.5 out of a possible 4. I got a 2.5 for not walking around interacting with others. I did not mind but pointed out the only reason why was because I am always busy. I guess busy and producing was not enough. I have been working at IREP for 2 years with out evening asking for a raise. Now when it was due without question I was told that my position is faze out.

Posted by: Ann | Jan 17, 2006 7:18:07 PM

My expectations of this web-site have been disappointing. I may have been wrong about what I was to receive from this service. Maybe I am going about it all wrong. This service has not helped me at all.

Posted by: Sondra Y. Hill | Jan 18, 2006 10:52:09 AM

I'm looking for salary comp information for positions that pertain to supplier diversity (a person who would represent the company as an advocate for Minority and Women Owned Busness entriprise spending initiatives). can you provide information on a source. If you have it specific to Gaming that would be helpful also.....National, regional and local comp data as well as gaming...I live and work in Vegas
Thanks
Dennis Daniel

Posted by: Dennis Daniel | Jan 18, 2006 7:48:52 PM

Employers should talk with dollars rather than empty PC, new-age crystal healing, quality management crap. That raise or bonus, or its absence, will send the desired message. Money talks, bulls**t walks, as the saying goes.

I also think employers should seek their employees' evaluation. However, my experience is that most are to arrogant to believe in this process. It frequently amounts to an empty slogan "...integrating employee suggestions to constantly improve..," in a glossy cardboard regurgitation for viewing by customers and auditors and self-congratulatory back slapping at management's myopic view at how wonderful they think they are.

Posted by: John | Jan 19, 2006 1:20:38 AM

Mr. Alfie Kohn would disagree. He says annual reviews are bad. The URL takes you to the Amazon page selling "Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes", but I got mine here at the library. It is 'documented with almost 100 pages of notes and references', and says that popular behaviorism often fails.

Posted by: Jerry | Jan 19, 2006 6:11:10 PM

My personal feeling is that if the boss goes around "walking his spaces" and handing out dollars while he says, "I like what you are doing, here is an extra dollar" he will get more results, for less money, than a once-a-year 'performance review' to determine salary for the next year.

Posted by: Jerry | Jan 19, 2006 6:18:31 PM

My "Self Evaluation"

When given the paperwork to do a "self evaluation", I responded to the subject under "Areas in the field of your work that can use improvement", I put "my salary".

Posted by: Karen | Jan 20, 2006 11:28:41 AM

I am not looking forward to my review this year. 6 years ago I was hired to be a technical liaison for my area, doing first-line deskside support, interfacing with IT, designing and running reports off of back-end databases with Access and Excel (lots of VBA coding), etc.

At the beginning of 2005, the department was restructured and although I didn't lose my job, my position was eliminated, and I now report to a different manager. I am now a Business Analyst, gathering requirements, writing procedures, and doing production support. It is totally not an IT position anymore. It is simply not what I do. I'm not good at it and frankly am not motivated to be. If I had wanted to do this stuff, I would have been an English or Business major.

I approached my management in a professional way about the new job description and my existing skill set, but was basically told "take it or leave it." They want me to use skill sets that I'm weak in or just not interested in acquiring, but they don't want to use the strong skills that I have. Disgusting.

I am likely to get a lot of "not met" ratings this year after 5 good reviews from my previous manager (I never got a "not met" before). This will trigger an official Performance Improvement Plan. I am disgusted - I am tired of being treated like an under-performer without appropriate context of the situation. A lot of people will say I just need to suck it up and deal, but I'm burning out quickly doing that. I'm not interested in this position, or the review, but I need a paycheck.

I know IT is tough right now, but I love computers and technology and I can't see doing anything else. I have a Network+ now and am pursuing a CCNA. Hopefully this will add to my 12+ years of experience and make me more attractive.

Posted by: Zack | Jan 21, 2006 10:32:55 PM

I'm having my 6 monthly review in 30 min time and i've given up being anxious, worried and nervous. I've done what i've been expected to do and don't feel i should have done more. My employer pays me what his expected to pay me and nothing more too. I've achieved some of the goals. The ones i didnt meet were due to situations not arising for them to be met. Besides, im still almost 5000 short of what someone with my experience and knowledge SHOULD be paid. So maybe its my manager that should be anxious, worried and nervous.

Posted by: Shani | Aug 22, 2006 3:33:04 AM

I often heard, they sing great and with complete devotion when drunk.

Posted by: JOhn | Jan 22, 2007 10:01:24 AM

Just had my midyear review - disappointing; everyone I work with always raves to my bosses about me except them;there is always some little stupid tidbit that they have to throw in apparently to keep you from getting a superior review. Are you supposed to argue the feedback your boss gives you if it is not valid or special circumstances that they are not aware of caused you to be percieved as the one at fault? How do you move on after an awkward review?

Posted by: liz | Nov 7, 2007 10:41:18 PM

I have been working for same company for almost four years and never received a raise. First two years, they never even did the review then after me pushing it for over three months, I finally got my evaluation but they had no budget to give me raise. Next review, they did the same thing saying under budget again. Literally the company is spending all kinds of money on parties, supplies and I know for sure they are in good business but treat the employees so bad. It really makes me feel hard work, dedication and patience has no value in today's world.

Posted by: Magi | Jul 10, 2008 11:45:26 PM

thanks for the advice. this is alwaysa confusing time for people at their jobs and I think you put me in the right frame of mind to finally ask for more money.

Posted by: Gabe Markowitz | Sep 18, 2008 3:52:28 PM

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