How to Conduct a Self-Review That'll Revolutionize Your Professional Progress

Do you want to put yourself in a better position to get promoted at your job and increase your chances of getting a raise at some point in the near future?

One effective way to do it is by performing a self-review from time to time.

Your job may or may not require you to do this already. But either way, conducting a self-review will allow you to see your strengths and weaknesses clearly so that you can improve the way you work.

Once you start to show signs of improvement at your job, you'll have a leg to stand on when it comes to asking for promotions and raises. You'll also feel more fulfilled on a professional level and find that you enjoy getting up and going to work each and every day.

Here's how to conduct a self-review that'll revolutionize your professional progress.

Start by Listing the Projects You've Worked On Since Your Last Review

The first thing you want to do when putting together a self-review is to list all the projects that you've worked on since your last review.

Ideally, you should keep track of those projects in between reviews so that you don't leave any out when it's time to look back at them. Try to include both large-scale projects that spanned over the course of weeks and even months as well as daily projects that you were responsible for.

Your goal here should be to generate a list that shows exactly what you've done to benefit your company over the last year or so.

Point Out How the Projects Benefitted Your Company

Once you have a running list of all the projects you've completed for your company, take a closer look at each project and note how each one benefitted your company.

Maybe you took part in a big project six months ago that led to your company bringing in $1 million in sales. Or maybe you take part in a smaller project once a week that allows your company to connect with the local community more effectively.

Whatever the case, you should strive to see how the projects that you've worked on have benefitted your company. If you find that some of them didn't benefit your company much at all, note that, too.

Analyze the Roles You Played in the Projects

At this point, you have a list of the projects that you've worked on for your company and a list of the ways in which your company benefitted from them. Next, it'll be time to start the tough part of a self-review.

Go through all the projects that you have on your list and write down what role you played in bringing those projects to fruition. Be as specific as possible while explaining what you did to help the projects come together.

Not everyone feels comfortable tooting their own horn. But this is the time for you to take credit for the things you did to make the projects a reality.

Think About Things You Could Have Done Differently During the Projects

Once you're finished tooting your own horn, a good self-review will call for you to bring yourself back down to earth.

Chances are, most of the projects you worked on probably didn't go according to plan. Some of them could have benefitted your company even more than they did if you would have done certain things differently.

Write down some things you could have done to make each of your projects more successful than it was. For example, maybe a better marketing plan would have helped your company bring in $1.2 million on that aforementioned project instead of $1 million.

It can be difficult to call out your weaknesses. But it's important to do it during a self-review. It'll show you the things you need to improve upon to be a better employee.

Set Goals for Yourself for Future Projects

Listing your weaknesses during a self-review might seem like it would be counterintuitive if you're chasing a promotion or raise. But you can actually use it to your advantage if you play your cards right.

Rather than just listing your weaknesses and leaving it at that, come up with goals for yourself for future projects. Make sure these goals will allow you to avoid making any mistakes you've made in the past.

By setting goals, you'll show both yourself and your employer that you're ready to take your career to the next level.

Consider What Your Company Can Do to Help You Reach Your Goals

How can your company help you reach the goals that you've set for yourself?

That's a very important question for you to consider. Your goals might end up being unattainable if your company isn't as committed to them as you are.

In some cases, this might be where a promotion or raise comes in. You can speak with your employer about taking on a new job title so that you can play a bigger part in projects in the future.

But even if you don't get a promotion or raise right now, you should still think about what you need from your company to do a better job. Your employer will be happy to hear that you're exploring all avenues for the purposes of self-improvement.

Continue to Take Part in Self-Reviews Every Few Months

Most people don't love taking part in self-reviews. But if you're going to make professional progress, they're an absolute necessity.

They'll highlight your strengths and weaknesses and allow you to learn from both your successes and your failures on the job. They'll also get you thinking more about what you can do to earn promotions and raises in the future.

This company can tell you more about the value of a self-review.

Perform a Self-Review Today

Now that you know how easy it is to perform a self-review, what are you waiting for? Review yourself right now if it's been a while since you've done it.

It can be a little bit difficult admitting your shortcomings to yourself. But it'll be well worth it in the end when you're a better employee six months or a year from now.

Read our blog for more advice on professional development.