How much do you hate writing the self-appraisal for your annual performance review? It's just such total crap. They're going to find some way to rob me of a quarter of my bonus no matter how good my work was. But I have to play this stupid game.

I absolutely HATE it!! It's so hard to write a self-appraisal about yourself. I never know what the hell to write, so I just make up something that sounds good.

Have fun with it!!

Genesia said:

How much do you hate writing the self-appraisal for your annual performance review? It's just such total crap. They're going to find some way to rob me of a quarter of my bonus no matter how good my work was. But I have to play this stupid game.

I think they should be illegal. Either that or everyone should get to write an appraisal of all their supervisors, too. That would change the process real quick, I bet.

Cerebus said:

Genesia said:

How much do you hate writing the self-appraisal for your annual performance review? It's just such total crap. They're going to find some way to rob me of a quarter of my bonus no matter how good my work was. But I have to play this stupid game.

I think they should be illegal. Either that or everyone should get to write an appraisal of all their supervisors, too. That would change the process real quick, I bet.

A place I worked at, a while back, had appraisals where everyone was given the opportunity to anonymously write an appraisal about their coworkers (bosses included). I didn't get one for my supervisor, who was a total bitch. But if I had, I would not have been shy about expressing my opinion of her. She was the worst!

psychodelicide said:

Cerebus said:

I think they should be illegal. Either that or everyone should get to write an appraisal of all their supervisors, too. That would change the process real quick, I bet.

A place I worked at, a while back, had appraisals where everyone was given the opportunity to anonymously write an appraisal about their coworkers (bosses included). I didn't get one for my supervisor, who was a total bitch. But if I had, I would not have been shy about expressing my opinion of her. She was the worst!

Nice. But I don't think they should be anonymous. That's the same as having self-appraisals, which takes a very important part of being a supervisor out of their hands. See, in my opinion, the supervisors job is to know the strength and weaknesses of each employee under his or her supervision. It's their job to know when to give compliment, direction, reprimands or words of encouragement. It's their job to know what is being done right and what needs to be improved upon. It's their job to know when an employee has maxed out their learning curve in a certain area and, if possible, to present them with new challenges or opportunities for professional growth. In the bigger picture its their job to know how their department and the people they supervise (with all their strengths and weaknesses) fits into the rest of the company and what affect they may be having on it. If they're not doing those things then they're just another employee, no different than anybody else beyond having a different title or office.

Cerebus said:

psychodelicide said:

A place I worked at, a while back, had appraisals where everyone was given the opportunity to anonymously write an appraisal about their coworkers (bosses included). I didn't get one for my supervisor, who was a total bitch. But if I had, I would not have been shy about expressing my opinion of her. She was the worst!

Nice. But I don't think they should be anonymous. That's the same as having self-appraisals, which takes a very important part of being a supervisor out of their hands. See, in my opinion, the supervisors job is to know the strength and weaknesses of each employee under his or her supervision. It's their job to know when to give compliment, direction, reprimands or words of encouragement. It's their job to know what is being done right and what needs to be improved upon. It's their job to know when an employee has maxed out their learning curve in a certain area and, if possible, to present them with new challenges or opportunities for professional growth. In the bigger picture its their job to know how their department and the people they supervise (with all their strengths and weaknesses) fits into the rest of the company and what affect they may be having on it. If they're not doing those things then they're just another employee, no different than anybody else beyond having a different title or office.

I agree with you 100% on what you've written. I don't think it's an employee's job to write a self appraisal. That should be the boss' job, and if they can't handle it, then they shouldn't be a boss. My honest opinion.

It's dumb as shit. What do they expect you to say about your own performance? "Yes, I have bilked the company for all that I could. I'm lazy, miss deadlines, take two hour lunches, and never complete assigned tasks." Sheesh.

Poiple said:

It's dumb as shit. What do they expect you to say about your own performance? "Yes, I have bilked the company for all that I could. I'm lazy, miss deadlines, take two hour lunches, and never complete assigned tasks." Sheesh.

The thing that really gets me is...at my mid-year review (which is more casual)...my supervisor invariably tells me my work was just stellar and they're ssssooooooo happy to have me as part of the team. Then, when the formal review rolls around, there's always one little thing that they manage to dig up (like a single person will say I was too forceful in dealing with them) - and I'll lose 25% of my bonus as a result. It's always, always some anonymous comment. And usually from months back. No opportunity to refute or explain anything. Just "fuck you very much."

Needless to say, I don't really twerk it on these self-appraisals anymore. They're gonna screw me over in any case.

Genesia said:

The thing that really gets me is...at my mid-year review (which is more casual)...my supervisor invariably tells me my work was just stellar and they're ssssooooooo happy to have me as part of the team. Then, when the formal review rolls around, there's always one little thing that they manage to dig up (like a single person will say I was too forceful in dealing with them) - and I'll lose 25% of my bonus as a result. It's always, always some anonymous comment. And usually from months back. No opportunity to refute or explain anything. Just "fuck you very much."

Needless to say, I don't really twerk it on these self-appraisals anymore. They're gonna screw me over in any case.

That sux!

Genesia said:

The thing that really gets me is...at my mid-year review (which is more casual)...my supervisor invariably tells me my work was just stellar and they're ssssooooooo happy to have me as part of the team. Then, when the formal review rolls around, there's always one little thing that they manage to dig up (like a single person will say I was too forceful in dealing with them) - and I'll lose 25% of my bonus as a result. It's always, always some anonymous comment. And usually from months back. No opportunity to refute or explain anything. Just "fuck you very much."

Needless to say, I don't really twerk it on these self-appraisals anymore. They're gonna screw me over in any case.

I would just write up a 5000 word Cerebus style essay explaining why I think their system of review is flawed and cc it to all senior management.

I agree with G. Unless one is kissing the boss's ass, there's always going to be "just one area we need to work on" or some other nonsensical bullshit. When I did receive job reviews, they always seemed to be aimed at telling me what my weaknesses were rather than what I had accomplished or how I had saved the boss's ass numerous times. They wanted to dwell on the negative; consequently, I summed them up as consummate bullshit.

omg, I used to hate that shit. Like you said, it's such a fucking act in itself.

Cerebus said:

Genesia said:

The thing that really gets me is...at my mid-year review (which is more casual)...my supervisor invariably tells me my work was just stellar and they're ssssooooooo happy to have me as part of the team. Then, when the formal review rolls around, there's always one little thing that they manage to dig up (like a single person will say I was too forceful in dealing with them) - and I'll lose 25% of my bonus as a result. It's always, always some anonymous comment. And usually from months back. No opportunity to refute or explain anything. Just "fuck you very much."

Needless to say, I don't really twerk it on these self-appraisals anymore. They're gonna screw me over in any case.

I would just write up a 5000 word Cerebus style essay explaining why I think their system of review is flawed and cc it to all senior management.

The first time it happened, I came "this close" to refusing to sign the review and insisting that I be allowed to submit a rebuttal for my file. I was persuaded by my manager to just suck it up and sign.

Probably a good thing. About nine months later, they laid a bunch of people off. I was not one of them. The fact that they keep me on - despite the fact that I'm allegedly a big meanie-head - tells me the whole thing is trumped-up horseshit.

Shyra said:

I agree with G. Unless one is kissing the boss's ass, there's always going to be "just one area we need to work on" or some other nonsensical bullshit. When I did receive job reviews, they always seemed to be aimed at telling me what my weaknesses were rather than what I had accomplished or how I had saved the boss's ass numerous times. They wanted to dwell on the negative; consequently, I summed them up as consummate bullshit.

Exactly!! Which is why I dislike Corporate America. It seems to *kill* them to give you a compliment, and to tell you what you did *right*. They seem to be more happy to point out the negatives, and the "you need to work on this!" things. To me, it's a power trip.

Genesia said:

How much do you hate writing the self-appraisal for your annual performance review? It's just such total crap. They're going to find some way to rob me of a quarter of my bonus no matter how good my work was. But I have to play this stupid game.

No, you don't. I left a very lucrative position at Ford Motor Company in 2002 because I was sick of playing the stupid games and never looked back.

Figure out what you're really good at, how to get people to pay you for it and start your own company.

The work is definitely a whole lot harder but life itself...is much better on the other side.

Genesia said:

Cerebus said:

I would just write up a 5000 word Cerebus style essay explaining why I think their system of review is flawed and cc it to all senior management.

The first time it happened, I came "this close" to refusing to sign the review and insisting that I be allowed to submit a rebuttal for my file. I was persuaded by my manager to just suck it up and sign.

Probably a good thing. About nine months later, they laid a bunch of people off. I was not one of them. The fact that they keep me on - despite the fact that I'm allegedly a big meanie-head - tells me the whole thing is trumped-up horseshit.

Since you like your job, yeah, probably a good thing. But wouldn't you have felt better if you had stood your ground? I know you have no problem standing up for yourself, so this surprises me a little. At the very least I would have signed it with a permanent addendum in my file stating that it was under protest due to lack of an ability to rebute or refute the anonymous claims.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Genesia said:

How much do you hate writing the self-appraisal for your annual performance review? It's just such total crap. They're going to find some way to rob me of a quarter of my bonus no matter how good my work was. But I have to play this stupid game.

No, you don't. I left a very lucrative position at Ford Motor Company in 2002 because I was sick of playing the stupid games and never looked back.

Figure out what you're really good at, how to get people to pay you for it and start your own company.

The work is definitely a whole lot harder but life itself...is much better on the other side.

You have your own company? What do you do (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm curious.

If there is a just God, HR departments around the world will have much to answer for in the next life. The idiotic things they would come with in order to justify their existence used to drive me batty.

psychodelicide said:

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

No, you don't. I left a very lucrative position at Ford Motor Company in 2002 because I was sick of playing the stupid games and never looked back.

Figure out what you're really good at, how to get people to pay you for it and start your own company.

The work is definitely a whole lot harder but life itself...is much better on the other side.

You have your own company? What do you do (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm curious.

I'm a multimedia producer. Videos and websites, mostly. My specialty is 3D animation.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

psychodelicide said:

You have your own company? What do you do (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm curious.

I'm a multimedia producer. Videos and websites, mostly. My specialty is 3D animation.

That's awesome!