When preparing for a performance review, these self-evaluation examples can come in handy. Share these templates to help your team recognize their strengths
Self-evaluation is an important aspect of any appraisal process. Feedback on performance doesn’t come just from the manager; it also comes from the individual who is being assessed.
If your employees need some prompts or guidance in this process, this article is for you. In this guide, we’ve listed 50 self-evaluation examples for different job roles:
After each self-evaluation template, we’ll include a line or two explaining why it works.
You’ll also find examples of constructive self-assessments under each category. We tend to be our own harshest critics sometimes, so these are worded in an honest and constructive way.
HR professionals can share this guide with managers, team leads, and their direct reports to use in their own self-assessments.
The best customer services professionals are empathetic, efficient, resourceful, and focused on customer care. These self-evaluation examples highlight those qualities:
1. “I consistently show patience and empathy in handling customer inquiries. I do my best to create a positive experience for each customer.”
Why it works: This emphasizes self-awareness, empathy and customer focus. Empathy is an important hallmark of a customer services professional, and self-assessments should touch on this.
Self-awareness and empathy are two out of the five components of emotional intelligence (EI), according to Daniel Goleman. Read this article for more on using EI in the workplace.
2. “I manage challenging customer interactions calmly and focus on reaching a positive resolution.”
Why it works: Customer services practitioners encounter challenging clients all the time. What matters is how they handle these interactions.
3. “I proactively collect and act on customer feedback to improve our service standards.”
Why it works: The keyword here: proactive. Taking the initiative in improving service delivery is worth highlighting.
4. “I prioritize resolving issues on the first call, minimizing repeat calls for the same issue.”
Why it works: This statement shows efficiency in problem-solving and dedication to customer satisfaction.
5. “I actively seek out training opportunities to expand my product knowledge and better assist customers.”
Why it works: This shows dedication to self-improvement with the goal of becoming better at one’s job.
6. “I regularly review common customer issues to identify trends and suggest improvements.”
Why it works: Highlights analytical skills and a proactive approach to service enhancement. This type of self-evaluation could only come from an emerging customer services superstar!
7. “I contribute to a supportive team environment by sharing best practices with colleagues.”
Why it works: This statement emphasizes teamwork and knowledge-sharing, key for team success.
8. “I track my performance metrics and strive to meet or exceed targets each month.”
Why it works: This shows accountability and focus on meeting performance goals.
9. “While I handle most customer inquiries efficiently, I sometimes struggle with managing escalated cases. To improve, I’ve begun shadowing senior team members to learn advanced de-escalation techniques.”
Why it works: This reflects a high level of self-awareness and initiative in doing better. Seeking help from others is also worthy of praise.
10. “I noticed that my response time during peak hours could improve. I’m trying to prioritize better so that I can handle high-volume periods more effectively.”
Why it works: This shows a great deal of self-awareness. Knowing one’s weaknesses and working towards addressing them shows growth and learning.
Here’s a strategy employees can use when preparing their self-evaluation:
See how self-evaluation fits into the performance management process in this article on performance reviews.
Project management is all about meeting goals within a budget and set timelines. Managing relationships comes into play as well, and keeping stakeholders updated on project milestones is vital.
1. “I balance project timelines and resources to meet deadlines without affecting quality.”
Why it works: This demonstrates strong time management skills and efficient use of resources.
2. “I foster open communication among team members to make sure everyone is on the same page.”
Why it works: This self-evaluation example highlights communication skills crucial for project success.
3. “I adjust project plans as needed to stay on track and manage changing priorities.”
Why it works: This demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in managing projects.
4. “I regularly seek feedback from stakeholders to make sure that projects meet their expectations.”
Why it works: This phrase reflects the employee’s initiative and willingness to seek feedback – not easy to do, so their courage should be recognized!
Are managers ready to give feedback when asked? Here’s how to give staff honest feedback.
5. “I use project management tools to track progress and optimize resource allocation.”
Why it works: This highlights efficiency in using technology for project tracking.
6. “I promote a collaborative team environment that encourages open feedback and innovation.”
Why it works: This statement emphasizes team building and feedback culture as factors that lead to improvement.
7. “I consistently meet budgetary targets by monitoring expenses and optimizing resources.”
Why it works: The ability to stick to set budgets is a cornerstone of project management skills. This shows financial responsibility and commitment.
8. “I take lessons learned from each project to improve processes and outcomes for future initiatives.”
Why it works: Every project, whether successful or not, should have a “lessons learned” exercise. This statement demonstrates commitment to improvement and learning.
9. “I recognize that I could improve my skills in project risk management, especially in identifying potential delays early. I plan to take a course on risk assessment to strengthen this area.”
Why it works: This shows accountability and dedication to building essential project management skills.
Building a learning culture is one of the seven ways to build a healthy company culture. Find out more in the article.
10. “While I strive to stay on top of multiple projects, I sometimes feel stretched thin during intense periods. I plan to delegate better to improve workflow and maintain project quality.”
Why it works: This shows insight into personal workload management – admitting where one fell short is a sign of courage. Taking positive action to address the issue shows maturity.
Embrace the power of Reflection:
— Michael Neuer (@only40proof) November 10, 2024
At the end of each week, take 15 minutes to review your work, goals, and progress.
• What did you accomplish?
• What setbacks did you face?
• How can you improve next week?
Consistent reflection leads to consistent growth.
Software development emphasizes innovation, efficiency, and keeping up with breakthroughs. These technical skills are featured in these self-evaluation examples:
1. “I produce clean, efficient code that's functional and easy to update.”
Why it works: This highlights technical skill and focuses on long-term product quality.
2. “I stay up to date with industry best practices to keep improve my coding techniques.”
Why it works: This statement shows a desire for professional growth.
3. “I work closely with designers and product managers to ensure high-quality project outcomes.”
Why it works: It emphasizes teamwork as a factor in producing excellent output.
4. “I proactively debug and optimize code to improve system performance.”
Why it works: This reflects problem-solving skills and a focus on managing efficient systems.
5. “I quickly adopt new frameworks and tools that improve efficiency.”
Why it works: This shows adaptability to technological changes, an important aspect in software development.
6. “I write unit tests to ensure the quality and reliability of my code.”
Why it works: This emphasizes the importance of an eye for detail and dedication to testing and quality.
7. “I contribute to code reviews, offering constructive feedback to enhance team quality.”
Why it works: Software engineers don’t work in isolation! This shows a commitment to team improvement and code quality.
8. “I document my work to support knowledge-sharing and easier maintenance.”
Why it works: This reflects attention to detail and a focus on long-term project sustainability.
9. “I sometimes get caught up in detail, which can impact my efficiency on larger projects. To address this, I’m focusing on taking a wider perspective and setting clear time limits for each task.”
Why it works: Admitting one’s weakness is a strength. Talking about how to address this highlights self-awareness and a positive mindset.
10. “I’d like to improve my proficiency in using some of the newer development frameworks. To address this, I’m dedicating time each week to self-study.”
Why it works: This shows a proactive approach to technical skill-building and adaptability.
A career in sales involves meeting targets, nurturing relationships, and keeping a close eye on market trends. Here are some phrases that feature these skills:
1. “I set clear and achievable sales targets, motivating my team to exceed expectations.”
Why it works: This demonstrates skills in leadership, setting goals, and meeting targets.
2. “I analyze market trends to refine our sales strategies and identify new opportunities.”
Why it works: It highlights strategic thinking in sales planning.
3. “I build strong client relationships to drive repeat business and increase customer loyalty.”
Why it works: This statement points to customer relationship skills as crucial to sales success.
4. “I collaborate with marketing to align our campaigns with customer needs.”
Why it works: This shows collaboration across teams for better sales outcomes.
5. “I consistently meet or exceed sales targets through effective time and resource management.”
Why it could work: This statement demonstrates results-oriented performance but needs to be backed up with data.
6. “I prioritize customer satisfaction, resulting in high client retention rates.”
Why it could work: While it highlights a commitment to customer service in sales, this could be strengthened with some data as a measure of success.
7. “I regularly attend industry events to expand my network and stay updated on trends.”
Why it works: This shows initiative in staying connected and informed.
8. “I mentor junior sales team members, helping them develop key skills and meet their targets.”
Why it works: It emphasizes leadership and knowledge-sharing. Here are other ways your employees can master their leadership style.
9. “Sometimes I focus too much on high-priority clients, leaving smaller accounts less supported. I’m working on balancing my attention across all client types to build stronger overall relationships.”
Why it works: This reflects a commitment to providing consistent support to all clients, regardless of account size.
10. “While I often hit my sales targets, I sometimes rely on tried-and-true methods rather than exploring new techniques. I’m challenging myself to test innovative sales strategies to drive even better results.”
Why it works: This highlights an openness to change and a willingness to adjust sales approaches.
We’ve saved the best for last! Human resources professionals are experts in active listening and compliance in various labor laws. These spiels help highlight those strengths and point out areas for improvement:
1. “I stay current with HR regulations to ensure all company practices remain compliant.”
Why it works: This demonstrates commitment to legal knowledge and risk mitigation, valuable tools in an HR professional’s toolkit.
2. “I guide employees on HR policies to promote understanding and uniform application.”
Why it works: This shows knowledge of HR policy, strong communication skills, and a desire for transparency.
3. “I develop employee engagement initiatives that have led to higher satisfaction rates.”
Why it works: This highlights a proactive approach to building a workplace culture.
4. “I analyze HR metrics to shape strategies for retention and workforce planning.”
Why it works: This statement shows a data-driven approach to addressing HR challenges. (Does your employee use HR tools like the ones on our best HR software and technology page?)
5. “I prioritize diversity and inclusion initiatives to support a positive, inclusive culture.”
Why it works: It reflects commitment to D&I, aligning with modern organizational values.
6. “I lead recruitment processes to attract high-quality candidates who fit our culture.”
Why it works: This demonstrates strategic hiring practices aligned with company goals.
7. “I foster a collaborative relationship with department heads to align HR initiatives with business needs.”
Why it works: This emphasizes teamwork and alignment with broader company objectives.
8. “I maintain accurate records and documentation, ensuring easy access and compliance with regulations.”
Why it works: This shows attention to detail and organizational skills.
9. “I recognize that my onboarding sessions could be more interactive. I’m actively exploring new methods, like incorporating group activities, to make the experience more engaging and welcoming for new hires.”
Why it works: This emphasizes a desire to improve the employee experience by making onboarding a peak moment for new hires.
10. “I sometimes focus too heavily on compliance. It gets challenging to address employee engagement initiatives with the same attention. I’m working on creating a better balance between these areas to strengthen overall HR impact.”
Why it works: This shows a positive approach to balancing multiple HR responsibilities.
That rounds up our 50 self-evaluation examples for employees. For managers who are preparing appraisals for their direct reports, read our article on performance review phrases for similar tips.
Self-evaluations are part of every good performance review process. This practice fosters these skills among your employees:
This is the most practical reason for employees to do self-evaluations. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for a performance review with their manager. Reflecting on their goals, strengths and weaknesses using the self-evaluation examples we shared here puts them a step ahead.
Managers might not always be on top of their team members’ goals and successes, especially in big teams. Self-reviews give employees the chance to go over past milestones and wins.
Self-evaluations lead employees to look inward. In time and with practice, these self-reflections will make them aware of their thoughts, actions, and reactions in the workplace.
Prioritizing self-awareness, reflecting, and taking time to think are qualities of intentional leaders. Foster these skills, and you could have a rising star on your team!
End-of-Day Reflection
— Monill Parikh (@MonillParikh) November 6, 2024
Conclude your workday with a reflection. What went well? What could improve? This practice helps in letting go of work stress and setting intentions for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/vz97NmmJgl
Reflecting on their progress makes employees more focused on their goals. Self-evaluations give them the time and space to review their goals and deliverables over the reporting period.
Through consistent self-evaluation, employees organize their thoughts better. They are able to present evidence and facts to back up their self-evaluation examples. As a result, they become the best advocates for their own performance and development needs.
Encourage your team to use these evaluation templates to prepare for their next performance review. Allow them to advocate for themselves and take charge of their goals. After all, isn’t that what learning and growth are all about?
Read more: Performance review phrases that actually help your employees
What are some of your favorite self-evaluation examples? Let us know in the comments below.
