Why Should You Perform a Self-Assessment?
Why Should You Perform a Self-Assessment?
How are you performing at work, really?
Have you ever looked in the mirror and asked yourself, “what is my purpose in life?” If so, you've taken the first step toward self-assessment. A self-assessment at work differs greatly from a performance review. A performance review is a tool that your company uses to determine whether you're meeting goals and to provide feedback on things for you to improve.
Conversely, a self-assessment is inward-focused. In the end, both tools are designed to show what you're good at and what you need to work on. There are a number of reasons why you should perform a self-assessment, including moving up in the world at work.
Why self-assessment is so important
Many self-assessments start with an employer prompting them. However, you can perform a self-assessment at any time. Possessing self-assessment skills allows you to identify your successes, failures, strengths, and weaknesses and to create goals to help you to become a better person and leader. By reflecting on where you've been, what you've accomplished, and what still needs to be done, you can realize your full potential and turn any inefficiencies into opportunities for improvement.
Specific benefits or takeaways of self-assessment include:
Ability to measure your performance
Motivating yourself to do better
Identifying clearly defined goals
Improving skills through new education
Recognizing work well done
How to write a self-evaluation
Being boastful is difficult for many people. If you have a hard time talking about your own achievements, this task is going to be uncomfortable. However, when you step outside of your comfort zone to reflect on things you do well - and not so well - then you will get a better indication of your future growth.
Writing a self-evaluation involves reflecting on your own performance, identifying areas of strength and weakness, and setting goals for personal and professional development. Here are some steps you can follow:
Review your job description or performance expectations: Start by reviewing the objectives and expectations set by your employer or supervisor. This will help you to identify the key areas where you’re expected to perform and excel.
Assess your performance: Next, evaluate your performance over the evaluation period. Consider the goals you met, the projects you completed, and the challenges you faced. Be honest and objective in your assessment.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses: Based on your performance evaluation, identify your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you to focus on areas where you need improvement and to capitalize on your strengths.
Provide specific examples: Use specific examples to support your self-evaluation. This will help your supervisor or manager to understand your performance better and provide more targeted feedback.
Set goals for improvement: Identify specific areas where you need to improve and set achievable goals for personal and professional development. This could include taking courses, attending workshops, or seeking mentorship.
Be constructive and professional: When writing your self-evaluation, be constructive and professional. Avoid making negative comments or blaming others for your performance. Instead, focus on how you can improve your performance in the future.
Seek feedback: Finally, seek feedback from your supervisor or manager. This will help you to understand how your performance is viewed from their perspective and to provide an opportunity to discuss areas of improvement.
Remember that self-evaluation is an opportunity to reflect on your performance, identify areas for growth and development, and set goals for the future. By being honest, specific, and constructive, you can use your self-evaluation to demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional growth.
Self-assessment example
While you want to focus on strengths and skills, be sure that you’re openly reflecting on what went right and what went wrong so that you can set goals or find ways to improve. Here is an example of a self-assessment:
Self-Assessment: Marketing Manager
Goal: To increase customer engagement on social media platforms. You were set a goal to increase customer engagement on the company's social media platforms. To achieve this, you develop a social media marketing plan that includes creating engaging content, running social media ads, and collaborating with influencers. As a result of your efforts, the company's social media engagement increased by 30% over the evaluation period.
Performance: During the evaluation period, you successfully managed several marketing campaigns, including a product launch campaign and a seasonal promotion campaign. You consistently met deadlines and delivered high-quality work. However, you struggled to effectively manage your workload and often found yourself working long hours to complete tasks.
Strengths and weaknesses: Your strengths include creativity, the ability to develop effective marketing strategies, and strong communication skills. However, you noted that you need to improve your time management and delegation skills.
Examples: One example of your work during the evaluation period is the successful launch of a new product line. You developed a marketing plan that included email marketing, social media ads, and influencer marketing. As a result, the company's sales increased by 25% in the first month of the product launch.
Feedback: You received feedback from your supervisor that you need to improve your workload management skills. You implemented their feedback by delegating tasks to team members and monitoring their progress.
Professional development: You plan to attend a time management workshop and seek mentorship to improve your delegation skills.
Conclusion: Overall, you are proud of your achievements during the evaluation period, including the successful launch of a new product line and the increase in social media engagement. However, you recognize the need to improve time management and delegation skills to better manage your workload. You are committed to personal and professional development and look forward to working on these areas in the future.
Key takeaways
The key takeaways for performing self-assessment include:
Reflection: Self-assessment requires reflecting on your performance, identifying areas of strength and weaknesses, and setting goals for personal and professional development.
Specificity: Use specific examples to support your self-assessment. This will help your supervisor or manager to understand your performance better and provide more targeted feedback.
Honesty: Be honest and objective in your assessment. Avoid exaggerating your accomplishments or making excuses for your shortcomings.
Constructiveness: Be constructive and professional when discussing areas where you need improvement. Focus on how you can improve your performance in the future rather than dwelling on past mistakes.
Remember that self-assessment is an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional growth. By being honest, specific, and constructive, you can use your self-assessment to identify areas for improvement, set goals for the future, and strengthen your relationship with your supervisor or manager.
ZipJob is more than just a resume writing company. Our goal is to ensure that the lives of everyone we touch are made better through sound advice and readily available career preparation support. Contact our expert team for any help you need on your career journey.
Recommended reading:
Written by
Marsha Hebert, Professional Resume Writer
Marsha is a resume writer with a strong background in marketing and writing. After completing a Business Marketing degree, she discovered that she could combine her passion for writing with a natural talent for marketing. For more than 10 years, Marsha has helped companies and individuals market themselves. Read more advice from Marsha on ZipJob's blog.
