Self Evaluation - The dreaded corporate self-evaluation or self assessment.

Time for your self-evaluation? Mine is due in about a week. So, in this video I thought I would help you answer the questions. Below are typical "generic" forms of the questions I've seen asked along with my thoughts on how to answer them. It’s my hope that my answers/thoughts will help you give the best answers for your case. Remember, the "answers" I provide are just my opinion and are meant to help you generate your own answers. I hope this helps you. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch my videos. ~Joe Q: How did you contribute or add value to the company this past year? What is REALLY being asked here? Well, what goals did you accomplish this year? Did you help train or mentor new hires? Did you receive praise from customers (both internal and external.)? Did you work late and pitch in to meet unexpected deadlines? Did you cover for a teammate who was away from work? AND did you meet or surpass the goals set for you last year? This is the "What have you done for us lately" question. Example answer: During the past year I exceeded the goals set during my previous self-evaluation period. (List those goals and how you achieved them.) The number of sales calls I placed increased by over 8% per day and as a result my sales numbers increased by nearly the same percent. I created a process document for onboarding new hires into our department and I helped train three new hires who have all gone on to contribute great things to our team. I also received the following praise and positive feedback from customers. (Give that example of positive feedback here.) Q: How do you plan on adding value to the company this coming year? What are they REALLY asking here? They have seen you jump 10 feet and run the mile in under 6 minutes. Now they want to hear that you will increase those numbers by a certain percentage. I would recommend increasing the percentages by around 3% - 5% as an example. Here you do not want to over-promise. It’s better to under promise and over-deliver because then you are an over achiever. Example answer: This year I plan on increasing my call rate and my closed-won ratio by 5%. I will also refine my training manual for new hires such that it aligns with our departmental and corporate vision. I will also look for ways to streamline many of our current processes such that the result is a cost-savings for both our department and the company. (It’s good to use percentages and actual numbers in these answers wherever possible.) Q: What professional / personal development paths or opportunities would you like to pursue this year? What are they REALLY asking here? The company wants to make sure you do not stagnate as an employee. They want to keep people from "gliding along". They want to make sure that all employees are perceived as "perpetual learners" and "life-long" learners. This is an opportunity for you to take that class you always wanted to take, or get that certification you want, or begin to get on a better path within the company or learn a new skill that you can take with you to another company (very sneaky of you). Example answer: This year I would like to further my professional learning by enrolling in an online college course for CPAs. I have a strong interest in Accounting and Finance and would like to gain these skills to eventually join the Finance team here at our company. I would also like to learn more about project management and ask that I could be aligned with an internal project manager who could act as a mentor for me. (So, here you ask for external training in the form of college courses or certificates and internal alignment with the teams and people you eventually want to work with.) I feel these things will allow me to add much more value to our company. Q: How would you rate your performance this past year? What are they REALLY asking here? Ugh, I'm not sure, but they will ask. I would not give myself low marks here, nor would I select the top achiever spot. I suggest you rate yourself in the upper range. Then discuss this with your manager to try to get the best option possible. Remember this is really a weird kind of narcissistic question. Don't worry too much about it but don't sell yourself short by any means. Companies rarely let you choose the highest option. Don't sweat it. Remember this is a bit of a game. Q: Overall, what else would you like to achieve this coming year? THIS is your chance to free-form all the things you want to say about your career at the company. DO NOT say anything negative - keep a focus on the things you want here. Example: I would like to work toward joining the management team. Or I would like move to Australia and open our branch office or I would like to try to break into a whole new market for us. (If you don't express your thoughts the company will never know.) Above is my opinion I hope this helps. Thank you for watching, thank you for liking, thank you for subscribing. All the best, Joe