work reviews
work reviews
(OP)
I expected to see a few threads dedicated to this through this forum but was surprised where after 10 pages I had found very little. So, I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse here.
Anyway, I have my first yearly work review in a couple days and am looking for some tips on using the review to my advantage. I have a few ideas I think could help but I don't want to storm in there with a list of 30 ways the company could be improved.
Should I be honest? How open should I be? Should I tell the truth or spend the hour sucking up?
I am looking forward to the interview because I would like to get more out of my job than I'm currently getting, but I don't want to get fired for what I say either.
Any tips will be appreciated.
Anyway, I have my first yearly work review in a couple days and am looking for some tips on using the review to my advantage. I have a few ideas I think could help but I don't want to storm in there with a list of 30 ways the company could be improved.
Should I be honest? How open should I be? Should I tell the truth or spend the hour sucking up?
I am looking forward to the interview because I would like to get more out of my job than I'm currently getting, but I don't want to get fired for what I say either.
Any tips will be appreciated.





RE: work reviews
As a general rule, don't say anything you wouldn't want broadcasted to the entire company.
I vote for being truthful. Keep in mind that there is a fine line between being truthful and getting fired.
This is your first review? I would ask other first year guys/gals who already had their first review what the review is like. This may give you a good indication of what to do in the review.
Good luck.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: work reviews
You can't always solve all the companies problems in an annual review, especially as a first year person. I would think focusing on your own position in the firm and how you function or don't function within its culture would be the most important at this review. During the following months and in future reviews you will be in a better position to offer constructive criticisms without upsetting your boss.
But as Ashereng says...depends a lot on your boss and his/her attitudes and approaches.
RE: work reviews
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091
RE: work reviews
RE: work reviews
If you think that your manager has forgotten your contributions, those, you can legitimately list for the review.
TTFN
RE: work reviews
Find out what the "plan" is for the following year. This will "align" your goals with that of presumably the company but at least that of your supervisor. Include a personal growth item or two.
Expect to be a bit nervous, your supervisor will be too. As a first review especially if there have not been any interim ones (30-60-90 day etc), you are still getting a feel for one another.
Good luck
RE: work reviews
Bare in mind that reviews are mostly intended to protect the company. If someone is screwing up, the review process is a means of documenting an employee's shortcomings such that the company has a documented reason to fire him/her.
RE: work reviews
RE: work reviews
Personally I have found reviews to be a crock for the most part. Far too little importance placed on an employees permanent work record. They are part of a legal documentation process. If dismissed casually they can and will be used against you later, even if they are just "marginal".
I had a Supervisor who never gave stellar reviews. He based his reviews on the "expectations" he had of the person. The company policy documentation allowed this to slip by. If he expected you to be a moron you could still get a good review.
Protect yourself. Cynical I know.
RE: work reviews
RE: work reviews
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RE: work reviews
Having been on both ends of the process, i.e. receiving reviews and giving them to others, one thing that I have learned is that they are generally not an appropriate place to make negative comments. The exception to this, is of course, if the comments are documenting a known and ongoing issue, but a review should not be the format where these 'issues' are brought to your attention.
In my first post graduate job, my supervisor complained in a review that the quantity of my work was insufficient. I took great offense to this statement as I was acheiving aproximately 50% more throughput than the other employees working on the same products in addition to spending almost 1/3 of my time providing technical phone support for the companies products. Needless to say, my opionion of the job and my supervisor went in the toilet. A few months later, I received a promotion to a different department where I worked for the best boss that I have ever had. When he gave me an outstanding review a few months later, I felt vindicated and wanted to show it to the previous supervisor with a "See Here: the problem is YOU not me", though I didn't. Knowing that the supervisor appreciated my efforts and was pleased by my results motivated me to work even harder where as receiving a 'poor' review created the opposite effect.
The memory of receiving an unexpected negative comment on that review, though, has stayed with me now for 10+ years.
RE: work reviews
At a lot of companies, your review is a straight determinator of your raise. A good review leads to a good raise.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: work reviews
Things to bring to the reviewer's attention are cost and time savings, efficiency improvements, waste reduction, quality improvement. These are desired by any business. Don't be afraid to ask your customers for an appreciation memo or letter so you can show them to the reviewer (or future prospective employer), as stated by a previous responder.
Be honest but cautious. Many supervisors are not at ease in performing the review. Someone who is not familiar with your function/role may do the interview. In either case, be prepared to list your accomplishments in a concise, straight-forward manner. Same for your goals.
Good luck.
RE: work reviews
corus
RE: work reviews
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RE: work reviews
This may be true in some companies, but I find it highly unlikely that a 1-2 hour "performance" can change any raise you may earn. More likely your review may give you an indication of what raise to expect.
RE: work reviews
It is crucial for a good review to have a good idea, or a list of what you have accomplished during your 12 month tenure so far. Write it like you would to go into your CV using the key words e.g. accomplished, led, developed, managed, solved. Take a copy for yourself and your manager to the review for discussion.
I'd personally steer away from any suggestions to improve the company during the reveiw. As one other poster said, if you have such suggestions then these should be developed during your day to day work not listed at the end of the year.
But if you have ideas as to how to improve or expand your job, or particular projects you'd like to do alongside your existing work, then this shows willing and commitment and can only be good. You may not get them all ticked off but decent managers will appreciate a self motivated individual who has aspirations to improve themselves and the company.
Good luck, and don't forget to ask other people, it shouldn't be a secret what the meeting entails !