How to Write a Self Assessment

Writing a self assessment can help you determine what type of career best suits you. By determining what values are important to you, what interests and motivates you, and what personality traits and skills you possess, you can consider positions that fit.

Writing a self assessment can help your supervisor determine job-related information about you, such as whether you are receiving adequate support and training, if your workload is appropriate, and whether you are the right person for a new position or promotion.

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If you are finishing school or considering a career change, writing a self assessment can help you figure out what type of job would best utilize your abilities and help you feel happy and fulfilled. There are several points you should address as thoroughly as possible when writing this type of self assessment.

List any skills that you can think of. This can include specific job-related skills, such as experience with a certain software program or type of machinery, but it can also include talents such as being a good listener or a self-starter.

Write down all of your interests, as these can be a great indicator of what job will make you happiest. Think about the activities you gravitate toward, the books you read, and the movies or TV shows you watch.

Describe your values. What makes you feel proud and fulfilled? What pushes you to keep going, even when it would be much easier to quit?

Write about your personality. Are you practical and logical or a creative, free thinker? Are you curious, methodical or personable? Write down all of the traits you recognize in yourself, and ask those closest to you for their input as well.

There are no wrong answers for this type of self assessment. The purpose is for you to become more self-aware so that you can decide which career is perfect for you.

If you are writing a self assessment as part of your performance evaluation at work, you will write it differently than you would for personal reasons.

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Begin by writing your perspective of the objective for your current position. Do not simply copy and paste the objectives from the job description provided by your employer or use a thesaurus to mix up the words a bit. Rather, from your personal point of view, list what you believe the goals and purposes are for your current position. This will help your supervisor determine whether you have a clear understanding of what is expected of you. This can also clue your superiors in if you are picking up slack for another employee or department, which could mean a pay increase, promotion or more assistance for you.

List any noteworthy achievements you have made since your last review or assessment. If you think that you have not accomplished anything significant, consider your daily habits and you are sure to come up with something. You might have saved the business money by recycling copy paper, for example, or perhaps you increased the company's visibility by proposing the sponsorship of a local school.

Write down reasons that the business is faring better because of the position you hold. You do not have to sound arrogant or boastful. Simply list factual benefits that you've offered. This might be the way you mentored an intern or how, as a member of the support staff, you meet the needs of others in a timely manner.

Talk about the goals you set in your last evaluation. Explain what steps you have taken to meet those goals and how you have grown professionally during the process.

Write about hurdles you have had to overcome since your last review and how you did so. Discuss the type of support you received from supervisors and colleagues, as well as what might have helped you even more.

Finally, round out the self assessment by including goals for the next period. Make sure your goals are measurable. This means your goals should state specifically what you want to accomplish, how you will do so, and by when. Rather than stating, "I will learn to type faster," a measurable goal might be, "I will increase my typing speed to 75 wpm by the end of June using typing software."

By providing a thorough, well thought out self assessment, you can show your superiors what you have to offer as well as what you hope to gain.

1. Mug of tea: sxc.hu/Julia Freeman-Woolpert
2. Thinking: sxc.hu/Martin Boose