AGA Today

'Tis the Season to Ace Your Performance Review
By Sarah E. Needleman
Wall Street Journal

If there's ever been a year to ace the annual performance review, 2008 may be it.

Employers commonly trim their ranks when the economy turns sour, and low-rated workers are typically the first to go, say career experts. What's more, poor performers often receive low merit increases or none at all. To enhance your job security and boost your odds of financial success, start preparing now for your end-of-year review, advises Jill Smart, chief human resources officer at Accenture Ltd., a global professional-services firm. "By the time you walk into that meeting, there should be no surprises," she says.

Know what's expected. A month or two before the meeting, review the goals that were set for you in your last performance evaluation. Or, if you're new to your job, ask your supervisor what you'll be measured on, including any unspoken ways of contributing, suggests David B. Peterson, senior vice president at Personnel Decisions International Corp., a leadership-development consulting firm. "Your particular boss might value things like timeliness and [neatness], which can shade the color of the evaluation," he says.

Do a self-assessment. Take an objective look at your performance to determine whether you're on track to meet your goals, Ms. Smart says. Get feedback from your colleagues and direct reports as to how you're doing. Should you detect a problem, talk to your boss now about how you might resolve it or if perhaps your goals need to be adjusted because your job has evolved during the year.

Document your successes. Craft a summary of your accomplishments from throughout the year to help refresh your boss's memory. Be sure to include dates and figures that highlight how you helped improve your employer's bottom line. Highlight any work you did on top of your normal responsibilities -- if you stayed late to resolve a crisis or spearheaded a corporate volunteer program, point that out.

Find out how to excel. You should be vigilant all year about asking your boss how you can go above and beyond what's expected. You'll likely need to exceed those expectations to receive the highest possible pay increase and potentially set yourself up for promotion, says Tom McMullen, U.S. rewards practice leader at Hay Group Inc., a human-resources consulting firm. Set up a casual meeting and ask your boss how you can be of greater value to your employer. If your company has had layoffs or cutbacks, ask what you can do to fill the gaps.

Prepare a career wish list. "Many people think of the performance review just as a backward reflection," says Dr. Peterson. "But it's an ideal opportunity to look forward as well." Think about what you'd like to achieve in advance so you can share this with your boss and get his or her input on how you can be successful. Also, evaluate your job satisfaction, adds Ms. Smart. Would you prefer to do different tasks? Crave greater work-life balance? By considering what might make you happier ahead of time, you can arm yourself with suggestions for the boss to help you meet those goals.