NEW YORK (RUSHPRNEWS) 09/04/2008 – -How do you write a self-evaluation without sounding either pompous or self-effacing? And one that will still benefit you in your career? Be strategically honest. Use select facts to build the correct impression without saying anything untrue. This article will outline a systematic approach to showing how valuable you are as an employee.
StepsLook at the projects you have been working on. Using a spreadsheet program, type in the name of every successful project in column A. (If you don’t have a spreadsheet program, you can follow these steps with a pen and paper.)
Go to column B,and write an action verb(s) that summarizes your contribution to the project. Examples:
“Created”
“Designed”
“Improved”
“Compiled”
“Completed on time” – can be used for a large and cumbersome project
“Increased efficiency”
Go to the right of that and write down the larger purpose of the project within the scope of the company. Examples:
“aid with next year’s projections”
“satisfy customer request”
“analyze operations efficiency”
“bargaining tool”
“help colleague so they can do X and Y easier”
Go to the right of the purpose, write down the management’s reaction to your work. Examples:
praise
bestow more responsibility
ask to continue/develop project due to usefulness
make managerial decision based on information you provided
Look at the third column, purpose. At this point, you can rearrange your list based on the purpose of the project. This will make it easier to transition from one project to the next when you put it into paragraph form. Group projects that have the same or similar purposes together.
Combine the four columns into coherent sentences and throw in transitions, such as:[1]
similarly
therefore
furthermore
consequently
shortly after
Separate sentences into paragraphs by purpose so that each paragraph exemplifies how you’ve helped a particular aspect of the company. If you can get three paragraphs together, you have effectively helped the company with a great number of things and you are a very useful employee.
Start a new spreadsheet.
Go to the first column, write down any kind of education pertaining to work you received in the last year.
Go to the right, write one applicable thing from every learning experience. Example:
“importance of budgeting”
Continue to the next column by writing down what you learned from working at your job. Be specific. Examples:
“use filters in Quickbooks”
“effectively communicate with supervisor”
“keep track of deadlines with Outlook calendar”
Go to the right, write down how what you learned will improve performance at your job in the future.
“produce accurate reports quickly”
“guarantee project requirements are met”
“ensure timely completion”
Note, that as above, combine into coherent sentences. The result: you are motivated individual eager to gain new skills and improve efficiency. You should now have a solid, truthful and informative self-evaluation.
Usually, you will top it off by elaborating on areas you are planning to improve in. In order to do that, follow the steps for education in reverse. Put the effect you want to achieve first and steps you plan on taking to achieve it second. You can put the overall company purpose third, depending on your position in the company. If you are a cashier, the goal of getting to work on time is mostly personal (so that you don’t get fired) and putting down that it will improve store efficiency is unwise in this section, even if appropriate in the first. Throw together a paragraph. You are now someone who recognizes his faults and works hard at them. Example:
Effect – “get to work on time”
Plan – “carpool with Jeff”
“Recognizing the importance of getting to work on time every day, I have arranged to carpool with a very punctual coworker, Jeff Marks, starting next week.”
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[edit] TipsPlan your next evaluation with your manager by setting specific goals and how you will be evaluated on those goals (metrics). Agree on how you will be rated depending on the results. That way, the evaluation will be pre-agreed.
Have at least quarterly meetings with your manager to discuss your progress and ask how you can improve. If appropriate, agree on new goals that you will put on your self-evaluation.
Do this with even the most minuscule achievements/plans and your self-evaluation will shine without resorting to lying, bragging, or humbling.
If you’ve been with the same organization for a long time, specify when you made your individual contributions so that your progress can be tracked.[2]Â Â
 Warnings–If you’ve never done this before – or if you have only done this in the Public Sector (especially Military) be prepared for the rating system. In the Private Sector reviews are usually graded on a 1 (very bad) to 5 (incredible). A 3 is considered to be a good score and means you are performing your job with excellence. A 4 means you are also helping other people perform their job with excellence. Getting a 5 means your name has spread and people are coming to you for advice. A 2 means you need improvement. A 1 typically means you’re just not trying at all.
Sources and Citations↑ http://writing.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
↑ http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/06/leadership-jobs-careers-lead-careers-cx_tw_1107bizbasics.html