How Can an Employee Be Prepared Before a Yearly Employee Review?

Preparing for a yearly performance review is a good foundation for the yearly formal assessment of your knowledge, skills and abilities. Along with completing a self-assessment, there are other effective ways to prepare for your review.

Review Past Performance

• Review your employee file and past performance reviews. Concentrate on the constructive feedback you received last year and compare it to your accomplishments during this appraisal year. Draft a list of accomplishments of which you are especially proud. Be prepared to articulate your accomplishments during the performance review meeting.

Setting and Attaining Goals

• List every goal you and your supervisor identified last year. Beside each goal, note whether it's completed. If there's work in progress, note the remaining time and resources necessary to complete the goals. Draft a statement about each goal that includes how you approached the work, what level of expertise it required and how you developed steps to completion.

Areas for Improvement

• Look at your skills and capabilities with as much objectivity as possible. Define your areas for improvement -- determine if you need more experience, training or development for improvement in these areas. List specific steps you can take to change your areas for improvement to strengths and share these with your supervisor during the review.