Ask Aunt Katie: How do I prepare for my performance review?

Dear Aunt Katie,

I have a performance review coming up and truth is, I’m pretty nervous. This is the first performance review at my current job, and I’m not sure how to prepare for the interview. More than anything, I’m worried that it could go terribly.

Are you able to give me a few tips on how to prepare for my performance review? What should I expect when I step in?

Thanks,

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

The thought of an upcoming performance review can be quite terrifying, and while that’s completely understandable, it really shouldn’t be!

Consider this: rather than thinking of a performance review as a judgment of you personally, think of it as an evaluation of your skills. The aim of a performance review is to see how you’ve been coping with work up until this point of time, and how you can improve or progress your skills for the future.

Here are a few things to consider when preparing for your appraisal before heading in.

Reflect on the past period (month, quarter or year). What did you achieve, what worked well, and what didn’t? Write all of these bits and pieces down and remember to be honest with yourself.

Based on your personal evaluation, think about what parts your manager may have a particular interest in. These could be positive or negative results, so be prepared to answer questions on both – don’t just focus on one or the other.

Create goals for the next period. Ask yourself where you want to be in a year, and what steps you can take to achieve that aim. Once you’ve written down your goals, you can talk them through with your manager. Remember that your manager wants you to succeed as much as you do, especially when it benefits the company or business.

Most importantly, make the most of your time with your manager. This is an opportunity to express any work-related concerns or ambitions.

Best of luck, Olivia. I hope your performance review goes fabulously!

Katie