Why you should prepare for your annual review right now
Most people wait until the week before their annual review to think about what they’ve accomplished. Then they panic, try to remember everything, and end up underselling themselves. Don’t be most people.
January is perfect timing.
Many annual reviews happen in Q1. If yours is in March, you have eight weeks to prepare properly. If it’s not until later, you’re ahead of the game.
Plus, January is when you still remember what you accomplished in 2025. By March, you’ll have forgotten half of it.
Here’s what you need.
Your achievement list: Pull together 5-7 significant accomplishments from the past year. For each one, document:
What was the challenge or goal?
What specific actions did you take?
What was the measurable result?
What skills did you demonstrate?
Your growth areas: Identify 2-3 areas where you developed or improved. Be specific about what you learned and how you applied it.
Your forward vision: Come prepared with 2-3 goals for 2026 and what support you need to achieve them.
The conversation strategy: Don’t just respond to your manager’s feedback. Come with your own narrative.
Lead with impact: “ I want to highlight three major contributions from this year...”
Connect to business goals: “This directly supported our Q3 objective to...”
Be specific about support needed: “To take on more strategic projects, I would benefit from training in X and shadowing Y.”
Address compensation directly: “Based on my research and contributions, I’d like to discuss moving my salary to $X.”
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: Being too humble. Your manager doesn’t know everything you did. If you don’t tell them, they won’t know.
Mistake 2: No specifics." “I worked really hard” means nothing. “I reduced processing time by 40% means something.
Mistake 3: Not asking for what you want. Your manager can’t read your mind. If you want more responsibility, different projects, or a raise, you have to say it.
Mistake 4: Waiting until the meeting. Share your achievement list with your manager a week before. Let them digest it. The meeting should be a discussion, not a surprise.
If your review already happened…
Use this process for mid-year check-ins or start documenting now for next year. The achievement library approach from last week’s blog? This is exactly why it matters.
Start today.
Open a document. Title it “2025 Annual Review Prep”
Write down three things you accomplished last year that you’re proud of.
That’s it. That’s the start.
Next week, add three more. The week after, quantify the impact. By the end of February, you’ll have everything you need.
Most people wing it. You’ll be prepared.
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