How to Write an Effective Employee Self Evaluation
Publié le 14 September 2023
Review your performance to see where you can improve your performance and meet your goals by learning how to write an effective employee self evaluation.
The idea of assessing your own work performance may seem a little cringeworthy for many. Speaking openly about our successes and weaknesses requires honesty and can be tough for those who feel embarrassed about having such frank conversations.
However, the process can be necessary to make sure you’re getting the most out of your role. In fact, 41% of people have left a job because they didn’t feel listened to. Feedback is a key part and can help when it comes to evaluating overall performance.
So, how do you go about writing an effective employee self evaluation? Take a look at some of the tips featured in this article, including what to think about before you write it, plus examples for when you do.
What is an employee self evaluation?
An employee self evaluation is a process in which employees assess and evaluate their own performance, whether that be achievements, strengths, weaknesses, or areas for improvement within their job roles and responsibilities. It’s a reflective exercise where employees have the opportunity to introspect and provide feedback on their own work performance and contributions.
During the process, employees critically analyze their work over a specific period, typically a year or six months. They consider their accomplishments, the quality of their work, and how well they have met the objectives and expectations set by the organization.
You might also assess your skills, competencies, and areas where you may need additional training or support to enhance your performance.
Free to use image from Unsplash.com
The main purpose is to encourage self-awareness and self-assessment. It allows people to take a proactive role in their professional development and provides them with a voice in the performance appraisal process.
With it, employees can gain insights into their own feelings and demonstrate their commitment to continuous learning and growth. For instance, if you want to learn how to use a new piece of technology, such as eFax, it’s something you can include in your self evaluation and bring up at your next meeting.
It also doesn’t hurt that it facilitates open and constructive communication between employees and their managers during the formal performance review meeting. The self-assessment serves as a starting point for discussions about job performance, career aspirations, and potential areas for development or additional responsibilities.
Why is self evaluation important?
Self evaluation is important for both employees and managers alike. For managers, they gain crucial feedback about how the employee is getting on, what motivates them on the job, and how they may be incentivized to achieve more.
83% of employees feel they are not heard ‘fairly or equally’ in the workplace, so this gives them a chance to show them that they care and that they are listening. It also gives them an insight into what changes the employee might like to see, and what their overall opinion of the business is.
When it comes to employees, it is important because it gives the opportunity to do some self-reflection. It forces you to look at yourself and consider your own strengths, weaknesses, and general thoughts and feelings about where you are right now in your career and professional life. It also helps to identify any areas and opportunities to grow and improve.
Free to use image from Unsplash.com
What to think about before you write your self evaluation
Here are some points to consider:
1. Identify how you feel
Take a moment to reflect on your emotions and attitudes towards your job and performance. Consider your level of job satisfaction, engagement, and any factors that may have influenced your feelings during the evaluation period.
You can even try talking to a colleague about it, as this may help new feelings come to light that you hadn’t considered before. Try to bring to mind the full picture of your experience, and be sure to bring forward any specific examples that may be of use to you when writing it.
This will help you to give a genuine, unfiltered version of yourself which will create a more authentic self evaluation.
2. Consider your goals
Review the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the self evaluation process. Did you ever develop the remote log in software? Or did something hold you back? Assess your progress towards achieving these objectives and whether you met, exceeded, or fell short of your targets.
You can ask yourself some questions when looking at each goal:
- Did you meet or struggle to meet this goal? And why?
- What could have helped you achieve this goal sooner?
- Was this goal specific enough?
- How can you now build upon the success of any achieved goals?
Free to use picture from Unsplash.com
3. Take in your manager’s feedback
Consider the feedback provided by your manager throughout the evaluation period. Take note of any areas of improvement they highlighted within your one-to-one sessions, or any positive recognition they gave for your contributions.
Ensure you include references to your accomplishments and specific areas where they said you performed well. All of their feedback may not be positive, but as long as it is construction you should look at any aspects they said needed to be improved upon.
4. Listen to your peers’ feedback
Reflect on the feedback received from your colleagues and peers. In a survey, 82% of employees said they highly value their colleague’s input.
Consider their observations about your strengths and areas where you can improve. Peers, who are colleagues at a similar professional level, often have a unique perspective on your performance and interactions within the workplace.
Their feedback can provide valuable insights that may not be apparent from a manager’s viewpoint alone. Take this feedback into account while assessing your performance.
What can I write in my self evaluation?
1. Determine the requirements
Start by reviewing the exact requirements. Does it need to be for the whole year, quarterly, or even monthly? This could also vary if you are going for an annual promotion.
If it includes the last year, only review the most important products and assignments from that year; this keeps everything up to date and stops you from going off on a tangent. If in doubt, ask your employer what exactly they are looking for within the employee self evaluation – do they want a general synopsis of your time there or an in-depth look at the year?
2. Include your successes
Summarize your key job responsibilities and describe how you performed them during the evaluation period. If you excelled in a call center data analysis project, make a note of it and don’t be afraid to shout about it! Provide specific examples of any positive contributions you made to the team or organization.
Free to use image from Unsplash.com
3. Address where you may need to improve
Be honest about areas where you may have faced challenges or could improve. Acknowledge any mistakes or shortcomings, and demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow from these experiences. This may include some goals that you missed, some areas highlighted by your colleagues, or some personal targets that you weren’t able to meet.
4. List your positive qualities
Identify your strengths and skills that have positively impacted your performance. Explain how these qualities have benefited your team and contributed to your success. For example:
- Problem-Solving Abilities
Provide examples of how you tackled problems or obstacles in your work. Describe the strategies you employed to find solutions and the outcomes achieved.
- Communication Skills
Discuss your communication skills and how they have facilitated effective interactions with team members, managers, and other stakeholders.
- Time Management and Efficiency
Give an insight into how you managed your time and prioritized tasks to meet deadlines efficiently. Provide evidence of your ability to handle multiple responsibilities effectively.
5. Voice your ambitions
Share your long-term career goals and aspirations. Show how your current role aligns with your ambitions and how you plan to develop your skills further.
Demonstrate how you are committed to continuous improvement when you join the company, include things like how you seek feedback early on, learn from experiences, and actively work on enhancing your performance.
What to write in self evaluation: Examples
Here are some great examples of what to write in an effective employee self evaluation, referencing various roles across different industries.
1. Sales Representative
“I successfully achieved 120% of my sales targets this year, securing several key accounts and expanding our customer base. I consistently provided excellent customer service by sticking to a calling script, resulting in positive feedback from clients and a 25% increase in customer retention. Moving forward, I aim to enhance my product knowledge to better address customer inquiries and drive even higher sales.”
Goal Accomplishment:
“I successfully achieved 120% of my sales targets this year, securing several key accounts and expanding our customer base.”
Team Enablement and Support:
“I actively collaborated with the marketing team to create effective promotional materials, which contributed to our successful sales campaigns.”
2. Software Engineer
“I led the development of a new software feature for AI in contact centers that streamlined our internal processes, reducing operational inefficiencies by 30%. Additionally, I actively collaborated with cross-functional teams during product development, ensuring seamless integration with other features. As a next step, I plan to further my expertise in cloud technologies to contribute to our team’s ongoing projects in that area.”
Project Management:
“I led the development of a new software feature that streamlined our internal processes, reducing operational inefficiencies by 30%.”
Team Enablement and Support:
“I mentored junior developers, providing guidance on best practices and promoting knowledge sharing within the team.”
3. Registered Nurse
“I consistently provided high-quality patient care, receiving commendations from patients and their families for my empathy and attentiveness. I actively engaged in continuing education programs, staying up-to-date with the latest medical advancements. In the future, I aim to take on more leadership responsibilities and mentor junior nurses to foster a nurturing and supportive work environment.”
Goal Accomplishment:
“I consistently provided high-quality patient care, receiving commendations from patients and their families for my empathy and attentiveness.”
Team Enablement and Support:
“I actively participated in regular team meetings, sharing my expertise and contributing to the development of care plans for complex cases.”
Free to use image from Unsplash.com
4. Marketing Specialist
“I successfully launched several digital marketing campaigns that resulted in a 50% increase in website traffic and a 20% boost in lead generation. My ability to analyze data and identify consumer trends contributed to the team’s data-driven decision-making process. For my future growth, I plan to buy a domain name and expand my skill set in content creation and social media marketing to optimize our campaigns further.”
Goal Accomplishment:
“I successfully launched several digital marketing campaigns that resulted in a 50% increase in website traffic and a 20% boost in lead generation.”
Team Enablement and Support:
“I collaborated with the graphic design team to create engaging visuals that enhanced the effectiveness of our marketing materials.”
Taking the next steps
Learning how to write an effective employee self evaluation involves several key steps, as highlighted above. Don’t forget that one of the first key steps in the process is for you to reflect on your performance, accomplishments, and areas for improvement. You should consider your emotions, goals, and feedback from managers and peers.
And during the process, you should highlight your successes, strengths, and positive qualities while acknowledging areas where you can learn more. It’s essential to provide specific examples and data of your own experiences to support your claims.
Lastly, you should also voice your ambitions and career aspirations. It should be honest, balanced, and focused on continuous learning and development. By following these guidelines, you can create a comprehensive and constructive self evaluation that showcases your contributions and commitment to growth.
