I wrote a
long answer about this subject about a year ago. Everything I wrote there applies to your situation, too.
I've had some bad experiences with performance reviews (employers blaming me for things that weren't my fault) so they make me really anxious. My current job is alright but I'm a contractor so my company that is doing the review has very little communication with the company that I work for day to day.
Also the person reviewing my review is an in house recruiter, who knows virtually nothing about my field of accounting. And of course, being mustachian I really don't give a so and so about either of these companies and I'm terrible at writing BS.
First, read
this post about why visibility is important. Does it suck that working world works like this? Yup. But either play the game or accept that you will do worse than those that do. This translates to being undervalued or having things blamed on you unfairly.
Also I have to use SMART goals.
Here are the questions:
Establish goals to improve your knowledge, skills and abilities and to attain your career objective. List your plans for achievement also.
I will take X training by 8/1/15 to allow me to better perform <ect>. In addition, I will spend Y hours independently researching and learning about Z by 12/1/15.
(note that these are easily quantifiable and easily overachieved)
In what personal and professional areas do you believe you need improvement, and what can you do to facilitate and measure improvement?
I believe I need to be better at X. In order to accomplish this, I will increase my ability to do Y from A to Z by 12/31/15. I will accomplish this through B, C, and D actions [maybe insert dates here too].
What is your long-term career objective (four years or more) within the firm?
I would like to become an expert in X, potentially allowing me to become a Y. This will enable me to better impact our customers.
Any suggestions on what I should write? I don't think my answers will work :-)
As much as you enjoy complaining about this, writing goals which can be achieved is the
easiest way to write yourself a golden performance review. If you have attainable goals in your performance goals then you can quantifiably meet or exceed expectations.
Those problems you had with perception? Those go away if you quantify your objectives. If you want to be an all-star try reading
this post about knocking your goals out of the park for a raise.
I also have to answer a self evaluation questionnaire. One of the questions is how much do I help them develop their business. They've never asked me to do that so what should I say? Another question is "do I find work for myself during slow times?" I've never understood that question. I do make up work and then the lead tells me not to do but she won't give me another task and then is upset I'm not doing work. Argh!
If you can't think of a single reason you develop your companies business I'd be pretty worried you'll stay employed. Obviously someone thinks you are furthering their business so they keep giving you a paycheck.... ;)