How can you use your annual review to advance your career?

My annual review is a tool that I can use to further my career by emphasizing my accomplishments and pinpointing areas that need improvement. I can work with my manager to establish specific performance feedback and to create attainable goals. I can talk about the organization's prospects for professional growth and skill development.

Thorough preparation for your annual review is essential. Gather evidence of your achievements, highlight key projects, and quantify your contributions. Being well-prepared demonstrates your commitment and provides a strong foundation for meaningful discussions about your performance, helping you make a compelling case for your career advancement.

Use your annual review to set clear, actionable goals for the coming year. Align these goals with the company’s objectives and your career aspirations. Clear goals provide a roadmap for your professional development, ensuring you stay focused and motivated to achieve your career milestones.

When you ask for feedback try and ensure you get specifics about your behaviours/actions and also about the impact of those actions. Sometimes to fully understand the feedback we need a deeper understanding on the impact of that behaviour

Actively seek constructive feedback during your review. Understand your strengths and areas for improvement. This feedback is invaluable for your professional growth, as it offers insights into how you can enhance your performance and better align with your career goals, ultimately advancing your career.

Engage in discussions about your professional development. Identify opportunities for training, mentorship, or new responsibilities that align with your career objectives. Demonstrating a proactive approach to your development shows your commitment to growth and can lead to new opportunities within the organisation.

Collaborating closely with your manager to develop a strategic plan each year is essential for career advancement. I learned this lesson when a KPI I emphasized wasn’t aligned with my manager’s strategic priorities. This experience underscored the importance of aligning our objectives closely. By establishing clear goals, milestones, and metrics, we ensured that our efforts were not only coordinated but also contributing effectively to the overall strategy. Regular check-ins and adjustments to our plan were key in maintaining this alignment and achieving our shared goals.

Collaborate with your manager to create a detailed action plan for the upcoming year. This plan should include specific goals, milestones, and timelines. Working together ensures that your career development is supported by your manager, fostering a sense of partnership and shared commitment to your progress.

After your review, follow up regularly on the discussed points and action plan. Schedule periodic check-ins to track your progress and address any challenges. Continuous follow-up demonstrates your dedication and helps keep your career advancement on track, ensuring you stay aligned with your goals.

Annual reviews are an opportunity for you to focus on where you want to be and get input on how to get there. Be vocal about your goals and aspirations, if your manager does not know where you want be, they can't help you get there. At times they give you insights into development areas you have not even considered.

Annual reviews are your time to focus on YOU! Do fall asleep at the wheel during this time. To prepare: - Have key successes from the year to demonstrate. - Have a clear ask you want. (if it's salary, expanded role, career path, etc...) - Be ready to define steps to get there. You should be having recurring discussions about your path during the year, but this one is often the big one. So be ready for it!