Tell me about a performance rating that you disagreed with.

Question Analysis

This question is aimed at understanding how you handle feedback and disagreement, especially in situations where you may not see eye to eye with your supervisor or peers. The interviewer is interested in assessing your ability to remain professional, how you approach conflict resolution, and your self-awareness regarding your performance. They are also looking to see whether you can reflect on feedback constructively and what steps you take to address any performance issues.

Answer

Situation: During my annual performance review at my previous job, I received a rating that I felt did not accurately reflect my contributions over the year. The feedback indicated that I needed improvement in project management skills, which was surprising to me given the successful projects I had managed.

Task: I wanted to understand the reason behind this rating and address any misunderstandings. My goal was to ensure clear communication and align my performance with the company's expectations.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my supervisor to discuss the feedback in detail. I prepared for the meeting by gathering evidence of my performance, including emails, project reports, and feedback from clients and team members. During the meeting, I expressed my perspective respectfully and presented my evidence. I also asked for specific examples of where they saw room for improvement in my project management skills and sought advice on how I could improve.

Result: My supervisor appreciated my proactive approach and willingness to understand the feedback. Upon reviewing my evidence, we realized there was a miscommunication regarding the criteria used for the rating. We worked together to set clear expectations for future projects and identified opportunities for me to develop further skills through training. This experience not only helped me improve my performance but also strengthened my relationship with my supervisor and my ability to handle feedback constructively.