Most professionals find themselves unprepared for their annual review and would really rather skip it altogether. I encourage you to take a different approach, and rather than dread this time of self-assessment and feedback, be proactive in gathering information that will help further convey your value to your employer.

Life gets busy and we tend to forget details associated with projects – how much was that deal with ABC Company? What was the cost savings from identifying excessive cycle times? Was the budget for Project A $1M or was that for Project C? Sometimes it is difficult to remember (and keep straight) all of the details.

The fact is management may not even be aware of some of the tasks you have undertaken in the past 12 months. Sure they know you are a top producer but do they really know all of the revenue you’ve brought in? the amount of time or money you have saved?

Before you meet with your manager, take a few minutes to gather and organize your information. This may include:

➺ Correspondence from your customers, other team members, or vendors.
➺ Certificates from completed courses, training seminars, or conferences.
➺ Copies of awards or any other type of recognition you have received.
➺ Notes from your day planner on deals you’ve signed (with whom); ideas that have generated cost savings; processes / procedures that have produced results (and what the results were).

Now that you have gathered your documents …

⇛ Look for trends that showcase your strengths or areas where you have excelled.
⇛ Quantify your achievements. Taking this step helps frame your value.
⇛ Determine your goals. Look for opportunities where you may be able to expand your role, broaden your knowledge, or tackle more responsibility.

Proactive preparation can help steer your conversation and impact your compensation and/or advancement opportunities!

If this year’s review is already complete …

↬ Develop a system to track your performance. Invest in a journal or a day planner where you can record performance notes / wins.
↬ Be intentional about collecting information. Don’t rely on your memory. Use an envelope or a folder to save letters, emails, or jot notes from conversations to document your successes.
↬ Utilize the feedback given.  Record the plan your employer laid out for you in your meeting and then track your progress.

Be the master of your career by setting goals, managing your performance, and recording your accomplishments so that you can make your contributions known!

If I can help, please let me know.

Tammy Shoup,
Positioning VPs and Managers for Jobs They Love! |
Shorten Your Job Search Time | Get Better Job Offers |
Experienced. Trusted. 3x Certified
tammy@breakthroughresumes.com |  https://www.breakthroughresumes.com