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A Star Performer
Can you believe the year is almost over? The clock is ticking. Retailers are busily cramming glittery hats and noisemakers onto store shelves. Everyone is gearing up for 2007. It's a terrific time to look back at the many exciting changes that have happened this year. You graduated college, found a place to live, started a job, and made some new friends along the way. It's phenomenal. Never have you accomplished so much in such a short period of time. Go ahead and pop the cork on that champagne!
Wait.
Before you do, we have to sit down and talk about work.
What? Work?
Yeah. Your company has (not uncommonly) chosen the end of the calendar year to administer your first performance review.
What does this mean for you? What should you expect? How should you prepare?
A performance review, also referred to as a job appraisal or evaluation, is a tool your employer uses to formally recognize your contributions to the organization and correct any deficiencies demonstrated in your work. Hopefully more of the former than the latter.
Basically, you'll sit down with your supervisor and pull out the job description you were given at the time of hire. Are you a slacker who's playing tetris all day, or are you meeting the expectations outlined on that document? Maybe you're a corporate superstar who has gone "above and beyond" in order to move out of that gray cubical and into the small office (still without a window). Regardless, you and your boss will discuss what you've been doing right and what you won't be doing wrong from that point on.
It isn't as intimidating as it might seem. There are definite ways to maintain your cool during your performance review. First, come prepared. If your company takes the phrase "works with minimal supervision" to heart, chances are good your boss doesn't exactly know your daily routine. Your performance review is a good opportunity to show off your stuff. In advance, go through your calendar from this past year. Make a list of all the projects you've been part of over time. Summarize your contributions. If you have physical proof of your work (reports, inventions, etc), bring them to your review. Create a portfolio of all the great things you've done on the job. Hand it to your boss. This is your opportunity to play "Show and Tell" and brag about yourself. Arm yourself with confidence and confirmation of a job well done.
Your performance review could end with any number of consequences. At best, your boss will probably pat you on the back, say you're doing a "satisfactory" job (even if you're working your ass off), and give you a nominal salary increase with a host of new responsibilities to go along with it. More likely, things will remain relatively unchanged and continue just the same as the day before. Worst case scenario? You'll be reprimanded for poor show, and outfitted with a plan of improvement.
While performance reviews are often filled with stress and anxiety, they shouldn't be. If you haven't done so already, work on developing a relationship with your supervisor that invites continuous feedback. The conversation that flows during your performance review shouldn't be new. It's your supervisor's responsibility to assess your abilities and be responsive to you, the employee. Learn the boss's expectations before biting your nails down to the nub.
Ok. So enough about this nonsense. You know whether or not you've been pulling your weight at work. Hopefully your performance merits a big fat raise that'll help you out with last-minute holiday shopping and set you up right for the New Year. A toast to you and the year ahead! Happy 2007. |
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