For most tech companies, this time of year marks the delightful season of annual performance evaluations. While some may be gearing up to apply for p

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2025-01-20 15:30:05

For most tech companies, this time of year marks the delightful season of annual performance evaluations. While some may be gearing up to apply for promotions, for most people, it’s about receiving performance ratings and finding out how their bonuses stack up.

If writing self-assessments is part of your evaluation process and you want to avoid the most common pitfalls, you’re in the right place.

The tips in this article are drawn from my firsthand experience reviewing tens—if not hundreds—of self-assessments during my time at Google and Uber. So, if you’re ready to learn how to craft an assessment that maximizes your impact and makes it easier for your manager to support you, keep reading!

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Why it’s a problem: Managers can’t see everything, especially collaboration, mentoring, or smaller wins. Assuming they remember or have full visibility of your work sets you up for disappointment. Even if they had access to all the information, they likely don’t have time to piece it together. This could result in your contributions being overlooked or undervalued, which will only hinder your career.