How to Handle Adverse Employment Reviews
An adverse employment review can be devastating, particularly if you didn't see it coming. An employment review is an assessment of how you have handled the responsibilities of your position over a certain period of time. Your confidence and ego can sustain quite a blow when your review is negative and attack your sense of stability in your job. However, there are some ways in which you can better handle adverse reviews and even use them to greatly improve in your position.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Read your review in explicit detail a few times. Using your copy, highlight the areas in which your supervisor pointed out negative actions. Pay particular attention to those items that were within your control, such as less-than-stellar attendance, missed project deadlines or generally sloppy work. These negative aspects should be the cornerstone for a new set of goals.
-
2
Ask for an explanation of each of the adverse components of your review. It is only fair that your boss explain why he noted each of the negative items in your review, which is generally the purpose of a specific meeting to go over this document. Take notes as he explains each aspect so that you have a point of reference when you reread your review at a later date.
-
-
3
Set goals together. Your boss might have some great ideas on how you can improve and likely will offer to set up a goal-oriented time line for improvement. Depending on how bad the review is and the basis of your past reviews, your job -- as it currently stands -- might depend on your ability to improve. Therefore, get as many details as you can and don't refuse your supervisor's offer of assistance.
-
4
Collect facts and make a rebuttal, if necessary. Some things on your review might not be accurate, and there is nothing wrong with doing some fact-finding to find out one way or another. If there is an erroneous piece of information, such as a missed deadline, bring proof and ask to have it removed from your review. This is important because your performance reviews become part of your permanent personnel file, so it needs be accurate.
-
5
Stick with your job and avoid hopping to a new position because of an adverse review. No one is perfect and every employee is subject to constructive criticism; how you handle it is what shows your ability to overcome challenges. Adverse reviews spur improvement, which positively can affect your career overall.
-
1
