How to Prepare for Performance Review

It’s only natural to be a little nervous, a bit anxious. The best advice I can give you is to devise a strategy for the meeting. Go to the meeting prepared with examples of your accomplishments and contributions and a plan for how you will continue making those and more accomplishments in the future. You should have a realistic idea of the size of the raise you want, based on company policies and what you’re worth in the marketplace.

Some other tips concerning asking for a raise:

• Always remember to focus on the idea that you deserve a raise (and why), not that you need a raise.
• Especially in this economy, be flexible and open to other options besides a big raise. There are any number of options or perks you may be able to get instead of a raise (or a larger raise).
• Be able to demonstrate your commitment to the department and organization by showing how you have taken on new projects, acquired new skills, etc.
• Always be professional. Don’t make ultimatums, whine, or beg.
• Raise your profile within the department and organization. We’re taught to be modest, but no one is really going to know your accomplishments and contributions unless you broadcast them.
• Remember that the rules of asking for a raise mirror that of salary negotiation — and always let the employer make the first raise offer.
• Find a mentor in senior management who can be your advocate for future raises and promotions.
• If you didn’t get the raise you wanted, ask for suggestions on how you can improve and how you can make more contributions to the department and the organization.

You find other strategies in an article published on Quintessential Careers: Getting the Raise You Deserve.