Here's how you can use performance evaluations to secure better career opportunities.

2 Set Smart Goals

Setting SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—is an essential outcome of performance evaluations. These goals give you a clear direction and milestones to strive for in your career. By setting and achieving SMART goals, you demonstrate your ability to plan, execute, and deliver results. This track record of success can be a powerful tool when seeking promotions or negotiating for better positions within or outside your current organization.

4 Seek Opportunities

Performance evaluations can also reveal opportunities for advancement within your current organization. By discussing your career aspirations with your manager, you can identify potential paths or training that align with your goals. Show initiative by asking about additional responsibilities or projects that could position you for the next step in your career. Managers often appreciate this forward-thinking mindset and may provide support or mentorship to help you reach those objectives.

5 Network Internally

Use your performance evaluation as a catalyst for internal networking . When you receive positive feedback or recognition for your work, it's an opportune time to reach out to other departments or teams that might benefit from your skills. Building relationships across the organization can open doors to new challenges and roles that you may not have considered. It also increases your visibility and reputation as a high-performing employee, which can be advantageous when new opportunities arise.

6 Plan Strategically

Lastly, take a strategic approach to your career development post-evaluation. Use the insights gained to refine your professional brand and ensure it aligns with where you want to go in your career. Consider the long-term implications of the feedback and goals discussed during your evaluation and how they fit into your broader career aspirations. By doing so, you position yourself not just as an employee who meets expectations but as one who has a clear vision for their career trajectory and is actively working towards it.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?