Many junior software engineers hate writing self reviews.
It’s counterintuitive, but I have seen folks postponing until the last day of the deadline.
When they write it, their write-up is focused on what work they did, and what projects they completed.
But here’s the thing: when you write a review, you need to focus on what impact you created instead of just listing out the work done.
If you only write about the work you did, you are relying on your manager to figure out the impact of your efforts.
Sure, your managers need to know about the impact, but why not make it easy for them and explicitly mention what matters?
Take the time to keep a log of the impact you created through projects, meetings, mentoring, and partnerships. Don’t forget to also list out your areas of improvement.
Self reviews have a direct impact on your career growth and compensation. So don’t take it lightly. It’s your chance to be your own advocate.
