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Appraisal Time

Most companies will offer an appraisal review every six months. This is a meeting, usually held with your line manager, in which your performance is discussed and any areas for improvement are identified and required training offered.

The key factor to help make the process less painful is to be fully prepared. It is particularly important to remember that preparation should be ongoing throughout the year – not just a rushed job a few hours before you are due your appraisal.

Here are some tips to consider:

  • Prepare in Advance: Take time to review your achievements, projects, and responsibilities since your last appraisal. Make notes on your accomplishments, challenges you've overcome, and any skills you've developed.

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  • Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, provide quantifiable data to support your accomplishments. Numbers and metrics can help demonstrate the impact of your work and provide a clear picture of your contributions.

  • Highlight Growth and Development: Discuss any new skills you've acquired, training you've completed, or areas where you've shown improvement since your last appraisal. This demonstrates your commitment to personal and professional growth.

  • Show Initiative: If you've taken on additional responsibilities or gone above and beyond your regular duties, be sure to mention these instances. It highlights your proactive attitude and dedication to the organisation's success.

  • Discuss Challenges: Don't shy away from discussing challenges you've faced. Describe how you tackled them and what you learned from those experiences. It shows resilience and problem-solving skills.

  • Alignment with Company Goals: Demonstrate how your work aligns with the company's goals and objectives. This illustrates your understanding of the bigger picture and your role in contributing to the organisation's success.

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  • Provide Feedback: If you have any suggestions for improvements or changes in your work environment, share them constructively. This showcases your commitment to the overall betterment of the team and company.

  • Seek Feedback: Ask your supervisor for feedback on your performance. This shows that you're open to learning and growing, and it also provides you with insights on areas where you can further improve.

  • Set Goals: Discuss your future goals and how you plan to contribute to the team and company moving forward. This helps to show your commitment to ongoing success.

  • Stay Professional: Keep the conversation professional and focused on your work. Avoid getting personal or emotional during the appraisal.

  • Listen Actively: During the appraisal, listen carefully to your supervisor's feedback and suggestions. This demonstrates your willingness to take guidance and make necessary adjustments.

  • Stay Positive: Even if you've faced challenges, maintain a positive and proactive attitude during the appraisal. Emphasise how you've learned from setbacks and how you're eager to continue contributing positively.

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  • Be Open to Critique: If there are areas for improvement pointed out during the appraisal, take them as opportunities for growth rather than as criticism.

  • Follow Up: After the appraisal, consider summarising the key points of the discussion in an email to your supervisor. This can help ensure that both parties are on the same page and that there's a record of the conversation.

Remember, the appraisal is a chance for you to showcase your accomplishments, growth, and dedication. Approach it with confidence and a willingness to learn and improve.

Set clear objectives

At the start of each year, clear objectives and goals need to be set and these should be used as the basis for your appraisal. It is important that you continually review your own progress against these targets and adapt activities or behaviours, where necessary, to help you achieve your goals. Remember that all objectives should be SMART:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-based

Clear communication

Encourage ongoing and open communication with your line manager throughout the year. This will enable you to discuss any issues you may have and resolve them as they occur. It also allows you to discuss both successes and failings and provide constructive feedback to each other. A good line manager will provide consistent feedback throughout the year and the formal appraisal should make up only part of the process. This open form of communication also ensures that there are no surprises on the day.

Evidence of effectiveness

It is important to collect evidence throughout the year to support your appraisal. This provides documented back-up to support your key achievements and career highlights. Examples of things to collect might include: feedback from internal and external customers in the form of letters of commendation or emails from colleagues, copies of any presentations you may have given or evidence of continued learning e.g. certificates for any relevant training courses you have attended.

The big day

If you have been preparing for your appraisal throughout the year, the day itself should be relatively straightforward. It might be an idea to speak to your line manager in advance to determine if any specific preparation is required by you and what you should bring along. Go to your appraisal with an open mind and be positive. Hearing what your line manager feels about you and your performance can only help you. Even if the opinion is not what you had hoped for, it is better to be aware of it. After all, you can act then to put things right.

The appraisal process is key to your personal development, so see it as an opportunity; be open to suggestions and advice – even to criticism – as long as it is constructive and fair. Finally, make sure you sell yourself and your achievements. If you don’t argue your case for a pay rise or promotion, why should anyone else!

Future goals

On average, an appraisal should last about 90-120 minutes. Companies sometimes separate out the performance appraisal from setting objectives and goals for the following year. However, your continuing training and development are extremely important and you should ensure you set a date and time to discuss these with your manager. Even if you do not discuss future plans and objectives, be proactive and prepare some questions relating to your career and your future aspirations, such as wanting to take a certain course. This can be noted and followed up at your next meeting.

In conclusion, preparation is the key to a productive and painless appraisal. Set yourself SMART objectives early in the year and keep an ongoing record of your success and achievements, supported where possible with hard evidence. Try to encourage ongoing, open communication with your line manager to avoid nasty surprises and when the big day arrives be positive and open minded. Most importantly, remember that an appraisal is a continuous process and not a one-off event. This is the first and most significant step towards transforming the dreaded appraisal into the best opportunity to sell yourself.

 

Need More Help?

If you require further assistance or you're looking to take the next step in your career, please don't hesitate to contact one of our consultants for advice:

+44 (0)1625 541 030

enquiries@carrotpharma.co.uk