How to prepare for a performance review: 6 tips from HR

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes 

Yearly performance reviews are the perfect time to showcase successes and set the stage for future growth. These formal meetings give associates and their leaders a chance to share feedback and talk about what they’ve accomplished during the year. 

At Schneider, we emphasize professional growth for our associates. As someone who specializes in performance review processes, consider my six tips to help you prepare and maximize your career potential.  

6 tips for a performance review

1. Understand the purpose.

Performance reviews are an important and exciting part of professional development. They give an opportunity for associates and leaders to look back on the year and discuss:

• Individual contributions.

• Successes.

• Areas of opportunity.

These conversations give team members the chance to be recognized for their achievements and grow their careers.

2. Highlight your accomplishments.

You worked hard to accomplish your yearly goals: Now is the time to show off all your successes!

Preparing for a performance review is most effective when you document your achievements throughout the year. You can do this by:

• Keeping track of projects or tasks that showcased your skills.

• Noting how you’ve added value to your team or department.

• Gathering data to support the outcomes you provided.

If you didn’t regularly document your achievements, that’s OK! You can still:

• Review the projects you completed that year.
• Document a variety of examples that demonstrated your skills and highlight areas for growth.

• Gather data or feedback to support the outcomes you provided.

3. Provide specific examples.

Knowing the achievements you want to highlight in your performance review is a fantastic start. To further show the impact of your work, share detailed examples with measurable outcomes. You can do this by:

• Explaining the steps you took to reach the desired results for a certain project.

• Using metrics and data wherever possible to showcase your work.

• Talking about who you collaborated with on the project.

Showing clear details about how you achieved your goals or helped the team succeed can really make all your hard work shine through.

4. Gather feedback.

Seek feedback from leaders, clients and peers you worked with to tie into your performance review. Including feedback from others can provide a well-rounded view of your performance and add more weight to your self-assessment. 

Collect feedback via email, so you can attach or quote the message directly in your performance review. Some companies, like Schneider, offer tools that allow you to easily embed feedback into your review. 

5. Reflect on strengths and areas of opportunity.

Take time to reflect on what you accomplished and areas for growth. Consider the feedback and examples you've gathered and assess how they align with your self-perception.  

Identifying your strengths allows you to leverage them in your current role and future endeavors. Recognizing areas of opportunity provides a roadmap for professional development. 

6. Have a positive mindset.

Keep an open mind during your performance evaluation. Embrace the feedback you receive and view it as a chance to grow and improve.

Know that everyone has areas of opportunity, and feedback is a tool for developing those areas.