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Topic: Self-evaluation
| Author | Message |
| yourstruly | Posted – 10/10/2007 8:30:38 PM | show profile So, my boss and two of his managers have called me in for an evaluation. No problem, I've done a stellar job for them, any complaints they have should be more than offset by my strong performance. But they want me to do a self-evaluation, too. They asked me a ton of questions including where do I see myself, 2 to 5 years from now... I think this is so dumb. Obviously I am having an evaluation because they have an opinion of me, which already carries more weight than anything I can say. So I don't understand why they're making me play 20 questions. Just tell me where I stand. Don't make me guess. Maybe it's my imagination, but I feel like anything good I say about my performance can be shot down. If I brought them chocolate, they can say they wanted vanilla. Obviously, I have to go through with this exercise. Any tips? |
| WritingEd | Posted – 10/10/2007 9:04:03 PM | show profile I'm confused by your question. Do you really think you've done a stellar job for them? If so why would they have complaints about you? It kind of sounds as if you think strong performance will save you from other things you may be doing wrong--are there personality issues or something? And are others being evaluated now or just you? |
| ConfidentDesigner | Posted – 10/10/2007 9:28:07 PM | show profile yeah...the old corp. America "justify your existence" method. It's ridiculous but it's probably part of the company's standard review exercise. Count your blessings that you've got a job and suck it up. |
| yourstruly | Posted – 10/10/2007 10:41:58 PM | show profile Hey gang. Looking back at my original post I can see why you might have been confused- I do think I've done an excellent job, but my job is the type where you only hear about it when you do something wrong. So the failures tend to stand out. As for personality conflict, I wouldn't say I have any serious beef with anyone, but it is a high-pressure job, and I do get grouchy. It's not that I think they're out to get me, and this self-evaluation is standard procedure, so it's not like it's personal. I guess the purpose of my question - other than to vent a bit - is to ask what's the right way to do a self-evaluation? Because I feel like any answer I give can be seen as wrong. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 10/11/2007 10:36:19 AM | show profile I haven't done one, but it seems fairly logical (?) to back up any of your positive statements about yourself (excellent manager, productive, whatever) with any factual material you can find. Of course, opinions are subjective, but they're looking for your own self-awareness of what you do best/less well. Are you getting -- or does your company even do -- a 360 evaluation? I think they're a lot smarter and reflective of your skills when an evaluation also includes mentees, interns, colleagues, subordinates, even support staff. Most people try to manage up well -- while some treat their "underlings", and even their peers, abusively. If you work well with freelancers and they've given you that feedback as some will, you might include this as well....it takes some skill and diplomacy to keep talented people around, even freelance, and this invisible skill set gets overlooked in some workplaces. |
| onmyown | Posted – 10/11/2007 2:42:47 PM | show profile C'mon! I've had to do self-evaluations since 1978 or so, since my first job at age 16. It's nothing new. Why does this new generation read so much into every little thing that comes with having a real, adult job? Just fill in what you think you need to improve on. Jeesh, it's not that difficult. And if you have done such an excellent job, as you say, it won't really matter. |
| yourstruly | Posted – 10/11/2007 8:10:27 PM | show profile Self-evaluations since 1978? Hey, I'm proud of you. BTW, how do you know how old I am? Oh, that's right. You don't. |
| HisGirlFriday | Posted – 10/12/2007 9:54:42 AM | show profile Lighten up swansons ... and give yourstruly a break. It's annoying as shit. And stupid. And worthless. When I had to do this when I was on staff - I did what (uh... candylilacs? was it ) suggested - backed up my "I can meet tight deadlines" crap with a specific example. When they asked 'what can you do to improve,' I'd say somthing like "I'd like to do more enterprise stories," but then add something positive like "just like the investigation into the Great Pie Thief of 1998" or whatnot. As for the "where do you want to be in 5 yrs." - you could write - "not working for a jerkoff like you." Ha. Kidding. Since it's all Dilbert-double speak I'd have no problem offering them the same crap in return. "I'd like to be continuing to challenge myself, blah, blah, blah." The only plus was that I got the feeling from all my supervisors that they too thought it was BS. I'll bet it's the same way in your shop too. |
| HisGirlFriday | Posted – 10/12/2007 9:55:33 AM | show profile Whoops it was caitlin who had that idea! |
| nandy | Posted – 10/12/2007 11:56:44 AM | show profile Self-evaluations I find these to be the crutch of a lazy boss. How many have seen their "self-evaluation" rewritten to become their evaluation? I know I have. Good AND bad ones. |
| jjones | Posted – 10/12/2007 3:34:51 PM | show profile god I hate these things But, I think it's true that while you know what a good job you have done, your bosses may not have the big picture and so this is a good chance for you to expound on the many good things you do. Though my supervisor had a vague sense of some projects I had done, he had no idea of the level of detail and work that was involved until I told him in my self-evaluation. So don't assume they know what you do. This is your chance to lay it all out for them. And, it's also true that my supervisor listed entire sentences from my evaluation to put in his evaluation of me. But that's ok. He has several people to supervise, not to mention his own work to do, and these self-evaluations really help them out in that way. It's your chance to create your own spin. Go for it! |
| m.m.m. | Posted – 10/12/2007 5:42:31 PM | show profile Nandy hit it on the head--lazy boss. |
