Dreading an upcoming performance review? Don’t worry. You’re in good company. Most workers suffer from a minor (or major, in some cases) bout of anxiety before a review. But an effective performance review is actually a good thing. That’s right. We said “good thing.” Reviews can help you to identify and maximize your strengths, pinpoint areas that need improvement, and get on track for achieving both professional and organizational goals. So here are some tips for making the most of your year-end performance review.
Keep a record of your accomplishments.
A lot can happen in a year and it’s easy to forget every detail of your South Florida job. So create a file where you can record your achievements, big or small. In your file, keep track of the projects you’re assigned, projects completed, positive results, feedback from customers and co-workers, challenges faced, and notes to yourself. Having a file to reference makes preparing for a job performance review a lot easier.
Gather data.
If you’ve been in your South Florida job for more than a year, reference last year’s performance review. Then ask yourself these questions and prepare answers for each:
- How well have I performed since the last review?
- What are my major accomplishments for the past year?
- What problems did I encounter? How did I handle them?
- In which areas do I think I could improve my performance?
- What skill sets or areas do I need to update?
- What are my goals for the future?
- What support do I need to accomplish those goals?
Confirm the review.
The day before your job performance review, connect with your manager and confirm the scheduled meeting. No matter how nervous you are, don’t reschedule unless there is a true emergency.
Be professional.
Be cooperative, open, and honest with your manager. If there is a problem, acknowledge it and deal with the criticism maturely. Try not to get defensive. Participate actively in the performance review. Be a good listener and aim for a positive exchange of views and ideas.
Make your expectations clear.
If you think you deserve a raise or promotion, then tell your manager. If you don’t communicate your expectations, you’re signaling that you are content with the status quo. With that said, when asking for that raise or promotion, make sure you make the case for why you deserve it. If the company isn’t in a position to offer you a raise or promotion, then be open to other perks and rewards, such as extra vacation days.
And if you’d like to get promoted to a new job in South Florida, please connect with Future Force Personnel. As a South Florida employment firm, we’ve helped thousands of candidates find rewarding job opportunities with great companies throughout South Florida.