Tell me about a time when you got a performance rating you disagreed with.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess how you handle feedback and disagreement, especially when it comes to performance evaluations. The interviewer wants to understand your ability to remain professional, seek constructive solutions, and improve your work. It’s crucial to demonstrate self-awareness, communication skills, and a proactive approach to resolving differences. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help you structure your response effectively.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job, during an annual performance review, I received a rating that was lower than I had expected. The feedback indicated that I needed to improve my project management skills, which came as a surprise because I believed I had successfully managed several projects.

Task: My objective was to understand the feedback clearly and identify any areas for improvement, while also ensuring my contributions and successes were recognized.

Action: I scheduled a follow-up meeting with my manager to discuss the evaluation in detail. During the meeting, I calmly expressed my perspective and asked for specific examples of where my performance fell short. I also highlighted instances where I believed I had excelled. Together, we reviewed my projects, and I asked for advice on how I could improve my project management techniques. Additionally, I requested regular feedback sessions to monitor my progress.

Result: The discussion clarified the expectations and provided me with actionable insights to enhance my skills. Over the next few months, I focused on improving my time management and organizational skills, which were key areas highlighted during our discussion. As a result, my performance in subsequent projects improved significantly, and during the next review cycle, I received a higher rating, coupled with commendations for my progress and adaptability.