How to make the most of your Annual review

"What would you say... you do here?" - Office Space (1999)

It's everyone's favourite time of the year, Annual review season, but how should you approach your review as a Software Engineer to get the best out of it?

First we need to be honest with where you are and what you'd like to get from the process:

• Career progression & future road map
• Salary to reflect current skills
• Opportunity to grow and up-skill

So before you sit down to discuss the year past, you should have a good idea where you stand currently and have a plan for where you want to be over the next 12 months and beyond.

Achievements

First thing you want to do it write down a list of your achievements in the last 12 months.

• What projects have you played a key role in?
• What new skills / technologies have you picked up?
• What leadership / mentorship responsibilities have you taken on?

Don't be shy, this is one occasion where you need to blow your own trumpet!

Progression

Next up we need to have some questions prepared, knowing what's expected of you is crucial to measuring progress:

• What are the company goals this year?
• What opportunity is there for you to progress within them?
• How will you know when you've reached those objectives?

Now we need to lay out your objectives for the coming year, this allows your manager to plan the support they need to put in place for you:

• Do you want to progress to a more senior position?
• Do you think your salary is still representative of the market?
• Do you want to take on more responsibility?
• Do you want to focus more on one aspect of the role or make a change of direction?

How can an IT Recruiter help?

You might be thinking, how do Recruiters fit into all this?

The simple answer is market perspective.

If you're not sure where exactly you are in your career in relation to the market then what better way to find out that chatting to someone who specialises in that market?

• How does your skill-set compare to other similar candidates?
• How in demand is your skill-set in the market?
• What opportunities are there to progress & up-skill?
• How does your salary and benefits package compare to the market?
• What is reasonable to ask for / expect from this review?

Being armed with this information can be key is getting your objectives from a review and if you don't, opening the opportunities to do so elsewhere!

Final word - Feedback

Reviews are of course a two way street. Be prepared for feedback and constructive criticism. Being able to take feedback in a constructive way and use it to refine your approach is absolutely invaluable.

It can be hard to do as negative feedback can feel personal but it rarely is, being mentally prepared to be open and frank about potential shortcomings is essential in overcoming them and moving forwards.

Listen carefully, try not to make excuses or get defensive, even if it's delivered in a way that seems direct. Thank them for their honesty and where possible ask for specific examples of how you could improve.

"Managing up" is a difficult skill to master, but knowing what your managers think and how they measure success is vital to meeting those expectations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your annual review is a great opportunity to engage with your managers, clarify both your expectations and having all the information decide if you're on the right career path or if it's time to consider your options.

If you're preparing for a review or maybe you've had a review already and would like to have a 100% confidential chat to help you prepare or discuss the market and opportunities out there, please get in touch.