Top tips to prepare for your annual review

Your annual review is a time for you and your manager to have a one-to-one in-depth discussion about your overall performance, achievements and future career progression. It’s also an opportunity to discuss your long-term goals and what steps you can take to work toward the promotion you want. One of the best ways to make the conversation meaningful and productive is to take time to prepare in advance.

Here are 4 simple tips to do to make sure you are fully prepared for your annual review.

Keep track of your achievements throughout the year

Six months can fly by, so when it comes to preparing for your annual review it’s difficult to remember everything. Keeping note of your projects will help jog your memory and will help make your preparation process a lot easier.

Prepare in advance

Preparation is key. Before you attend your annual review, it is important that you note down some of your most important achievements, big or small along with any back up stats and information needed to prove the success of your work. Preparing for your annual review allows both you and your employer to get the most out of it, whether it be self-evaluation, career goals or to provide a clear picture of your performance and progression.

Before you attend your annual review, it is important that you note down some of your most important achievements, big or small along with any back up stats and information needed to prove the success of your work

Enlist the help of a colleague and or mentor

If your workplace offers a mentoring program, then enlist their help. They will be able to mentor you through the process of preparing your self-evaluation and telling you what to expect. They would have had a fair few annual reviews in their employment and are therefore in the best position to help you.

Alternatively, ask one of your colleagues if they could let you know the best way to deliver your annual review to your manager. They will know how your manager likes to execute an annual review and therefore they can help you best deliver the key information in the best way.

Self-evaluate

Often in your annual review your employer will evaluate how you handle yourself in the workplace. It's important to evaluate this yourself to understand where you may need development or growth. Asking yourself the right questions can also help you identify areas for upskilling. Being mindful of your own self-evaluation will help you to not be put off-guard by what your employer might say.

Your annual review is an important time in your career. It helps you evaluate you, your role and your career goals. This one-to-one discussion with your manager will also help you understand what is expected of to progress within your career.