Imagine sitting down and thinking about all the work you’ve done recently—your accomplishments, challenges, what went wrong, and what you’ve learned. This process is called self-evaluation, and it’s more than just looking back. It’s a way to understand where you could do better.
In this blog, we’ll explain what self-evaluation is, why it’s important, and how to do it effectively. You’ll learn how it fits into the bigger picture of your career and find 10 examples with their pros and cons to guide your reflection. By the end, you’ll see that self-evaluation is about more than just reviewing the past—it’s about building your future.
What is Self-Evaluation?
Self-evaluation is like pausing and reflecting on what you’ve done so far. Whether it’s work-related or life-related. It helps you to understand what you have done and what the outcome of this was, and it helps identify what could be done better.
But self-evaluation isn’t just a casual reflection. To make it effective, you can use a framework to structure your thoughts and focus on what really matters. Maybe a particular skill that will help you grow professionally, or it’s a new musical instrument you struggle with, but you don’t know why. A good framework helps you balance the positives and negatives, ensuring your evaluation isn’t all praise or all criticism. It keeps you organized, honest, and forward-looking.
Self-evaluations are valuable tools for personal and professional growth, applicable in various contexts:
Personal Self-Evaluation:
This involves reflecting on your personal life, behaviors, and goals. It’s an introspective process to assess your values, habits, and overall life satisfaction. Engaging in personal self-evaluation can lead to improved self-awareness and personal development.
Fun fact: New Year’s Eve is the most popular day for personal self-evaluation.
Structured self-evaluation typically includes:
- Achievements: What goals have you met or exceeded?
- Challenges: Where did you face obstacles, and what could you improve?
- Impact: How did your work contribute to your team or company?
- Goals/Improvements: What do you want to focus on next, and how will you get there?
Professional Self-Evaluation:
In the workplace, self-evaluation is a structured reflection on your job performance, skills, and career objectives. It’s often integrated into broader performance management systems. In many companies, it’s a crucial part of larger performance management systems, such as 360-degree feedback or annual salary reviews.
Annual Salary Reviews: During salary discussions, self-evaluations can help demonstrate your contributions, showcase your growth, and prove why you deserve a raise or promotion. Each company has it’s own politics for this, but in most of the cases, we can extract a few:
- Post-Project Reviews: Reflect on your contributions and lessons learned after completing significant projects.
- Before Career Conversations: Prepare for discussions about promotions, raises, or role changes.
When Can Self-Evaluation Be Done in a Company?
Self-evaluation is a flexible tool that can be incorporated into various stages of an employee’s journey within a company. Below are the key instances when self-evaluation can be most effective:
1. During Performance Reviews
Self-evaluation is most commonly used as part of mid-year or annual performance reviews. Employees are asked to reflect on their achievements, challenges, and goals, which managers can then compare with their own evaluations.
- Why It’s Effective:
- Encourages employees to take ownership of their performance.
- Provides valuable insights that complement the manager’s assessment.
2. After Major Projects or Milestones
Once a significant project or milestone is completed, employees can evaluate their contributions and the outcomes.
- Why It’s Effective:
- Helps employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement in real-time.
- Provides insights that can improve future projects.
3. Before Career Conversations
When preparing for discussions about promotions, raises, or role changes, self-evaluation can help employees articulate their value and readiness for the next step.
- Why It’s Effective:
- Gives employees confidence to present their achievements.
- Ensures career discussions are grounded in data and self-reflection.
4. As Part of 360-Degree Feedback
In a 360-degree feedback process, self-evaluation is combined with feedback from peers, managers, and subordinates. This provides a well-rounded view of an employee’s performance.
- Why It’s Effective:
- Highlights alignment (or misalignment) between self-perception and external feedback.
- Encourages more honest and constructive conversations.
5. When Addressing Performance Issues
Self-evaluation can be a preliminary step in addressing performance concerns, allowing employees to reflect on their challenges and propose solutions during the Performance Improvement Plan.
- Why It’s Effective:
- Helps identify underlying issues before formal measures, like a Performance Improvement Plan, are implemented.
- Encourages employees to take accountability.
6. Periodically, as Part of Development Plans
Some companies incorporate self-evaluation into regular employee development plans. This allows employees to reflect on their growth and track progress over time:
- Mid-Year Reviews: Assess your progress and adjust goals for the remainder of the year.
- Annual Reviews: Summarize yearly achievements and plan future objectives.
7. During Organizational Changes
When companies go through transitions, such as restructuring or new leadership, self-evaluation can help employees reassess their roles and adapt to change.
- Why It’s Effective:
- Provides clarity on how employees see their fit within the evolving organization.
- Encourages proactive adaptation to new expectations.
8. At the End of Employment (Exit Evaluation)
During the offboarding process, self-evaluation can be used to reflect on the employee’s overall experience and contributions to the company.
It helps employees transition with clarity about their achievements and growth.
Why It’s Effective:
Offers valuable feedback for improving the company’s processes.
Remember💡 Regular professional self-evaluations help ensure alignment with organizational goals and personal career aspirations.
Using a framework turns self-evaluation into more than just looking back—it becomes a tool for planning your next steps and making meaningful progress in your career.
Self-Evaluation Template for Employees
Below is a ready-to-use template employers can provide to employees to guide them through a professional self-evaluation. The questions are structured to encourage honest reflection, foster growth, and align employee performance with organizational goals.
Employee Information
- Name:
- Job Title:
- Department:
- Evaluation Period:
- Date:
1. Key Achievements
Reflect on your accomplishments during this evaluation period. Be specific and include measurable results where possible.
- What are your most significant achievements during this period?
- How have your contributions supported your team or the company’s goals?
- Are there any milestones or objectives you’re especially proud of?
2. Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement
Identify areas where you faced challenges and consider how you can improve.
- What challenges did you encounter, and how did you address them?
- Are there areas in your role where you feel you could improve?
- What resources, training, or support would help you overcome these challenges?
3. Skills and Development
Evaluate your current skills and identify areas for growth.
- What new skills or knowledge have you gained, and how have they benefited your work?
- Are there skills you’d like to develop further or new ones you’d like to acquire?
- How can the company support your professional development?
4. Collaboration and Teamwork
Consider your role in supporting teamwork and collaboration.
- How have you contributed to your team’s success?
- Are there specific examples of how you’ve supported your colleagues or team projects?
- How could communication or collaboration within your team be improved?
5. Work Impact and Contributions
Reflect on the impact of your work on the company and your team.
- How has your work contributed to the success of your team, department, or company?
- Can you provide examples of how your efforts created positive outcomes or measurable results?
- Are there areas where you feel your contributions aren’t fully utilized?
6. Goals for the Future
Define your objectives and aspirations for the next evaluation period.
- What goals would you like to achieve in the coming months?
- Are there specific projects or responsibilities you’d like to take on?
- How do you see your role evolving within the company?
7. Feedback for the Company
Provide constructive feedback to help improve the work environment or processes.
- What do you feel the company is doing well to support you in your role?
- Are there areas where the company could improve to help you succeed?
- Is there any additional feedback you’d like to provide?