Author Topic: How to handle burnout and evaluations  (Read 2535 times)

zenath

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How to handle burnout and evaluations
« on: March 11, 2019, 03:41:56 PM »
I have an upcoming evaluation with a new manager. He's extremely green and expressed excitement that he could have my evaluation (I've been at my job longer than he has). I'm not afraid of having a meeting with him, but I struggle with the typical evaluation questions: "Where do you see yourself in 6 mo./1 year", "What skills are you looking to acquire", "What opportunity are you looking forward to", etc. As the title to this post reveals, my answers would be something like "Spending more time with my kids and starting my garden", "PHP and mySQL for a NextCloud app idea", "Part time work for more time on the aforementioned goals".

However, my burnout is different from the other stories I hear about. Most of them center around grueling hours toiling for a job that doesn't provide any sense of purpose or value. I do feel that my job has value and purpose and does help others. My burnout stems from a 4 month experience a little over a year ago where failure seemed to abound from every corner and I was on a project that tested my limits. At the end of it I moved to a different department and have even hoped around within this department to avoid degradation due to complacency. Even at my laziest and most despondent, I seem to get a passing grade.

All this is to provide background for the following: how do I honestly fill out this evaluation without explicitly stating this? I've tried to skirt around it in the past and it just ended up being awkward conversations with my previous manager about growth areas and adding new opportunities. At this point I just want to do my job and go home. When I have enough FU money, I'll give them the full story (5 years by rough estimate). Until then I want to just lay low.

PDXTabs

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Re: How to handle burnout and evaluations
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2019, 03:58:17 PM »
I think that it is okay to write very tactfully that you want to be a slightly better version of yourself with the same role and responsibilities. If you are experienced I don't think that anyone will care too much.

asauer

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Re: How to handle burnout and evaluations
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2019, 09:07:45 AM »
I'm asked to answer the same questions and here's my standard answer to the first one:
1. Working on an exciting project with people who are smart and passionate (totally true, doesn't mean that it's at my company)

Valvore

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Re: How to handle burnout and evaluations
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2019, 10:40:04 AM »
All this is to provide background for the following: how do I honestly fill out this evaluation without explicitly stating this? I've tried to skirt around it in the past and it just ended up being awkward conversations with my previous manager about growth areas and adding new opportunities. At this point I just want to do my job and go home. When I have enough FU money, I'll give them the full story (5 years by rough estimate). Until then I want to just lay low.

My advice is this: Don't honestly fill out your evaluation. I see evaluations as mini job interviews. You're there to sell yourself. You shouldn't highlight your faults because you don't want them documented in anyway as an excuse for an employer or a boss to hold against you in the future (could prevent raises, lead to justification for firing, etc.). Is this immoral? I say no. If you have issues or areas to improve on or fix, you should have a verbal discussion with your boss. Don't put negative on paper OR phrase it in a way that's positive.

I'm with you. My ideal work schedule would be 25hrs/week. I would rather be with my family or working out (gardening sounds great too!) but be careful how much of this you share with your boss or coworkers. For some crazy reason, when they hear you want to do your hours and go home, you're seen as "unmotivated" or "not a team player." You do your job, you do it well (even at minimal effort) that's what you should highlight. Don't let your work failures define you because it doesn't. In 5 -10 years when you FIRE, you won't even think about your supposed failures..  Hang in there!

Just Joe

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Re: How to handle burnout and evaluations
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2019, 10:02:05 AM »
I agree with FireryFIRE. Just did my "self-evaluation". Nobody gonna rah-rahs for me but me. So I use evaluation for this. Not using it to complain or tear anyone down. Not providing anyone with a written record of what could be construed as a bad attitude. How did I do? I met or exceeded expectations. I did point out that I'm a fan of kaizen and working to improve my game even further bit by bit as I see areas that require attention. I talked about how this past year I spent alot of time improving my skillset (software, lab equipment, shop equipment). None of it was a lie but I did toot my own horn some. I have to b/c my boss knows very little about what I do and how I meet my goals. Boss goes to meetings and sits behind a closed door. He isn't touring our workspaces trying to understand what we are working on.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2019, 10:04:01 AM by Just Joe »

albireo13

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Re: How to handle burnout and evaluations
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2019, 05:16:56 AM »
At this stage (1 yr left) worrying about my self-evaluations is laughable.
I just don't care.  I just want all the corporate BS to go away so I can actually do the work, and solve problems, that I was hired to do.