Please tell me about a time when you disagreed with your performance rating.

Question Analysis

This question is assessing your ability to handle disagreements in a professional manner, especially in the context of performance evaluations. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you approach conflicts, your problem-solving skills, and your ability to communicate effectively. They want to see if you can remain calm and constructive, and whether you take initiative to seek resolution or improvement. This question also tests your self-awareness and how you perceive your own performance versus external evaluations.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project coordinator, I received an annual performance review that rated me lower than I had anticipated. The evaluation stated that I needed improvement in time management skills, which I found surprising given my track record of meeting deadlines.

Task: I felt it was important to address this discrepancy to understand the feedback better and to ensure it didn't hinder my professional growth.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss the performance rating. I approached the conversation with an open mind, expressing my desire to understand specific instances where my time management could have been improved. During the discussion, I presented data and examples of successful projects I managed in the past year where I consistently met or exceeded timelines. I also asked for constructive feedback and suggestions on how I could further improve.

Result: Through this conversation, I gained clarity on my manager's perspective. It turned out that the feedback was more about improving efficiency during peak project loads. I was able to develop a clear action plan with my manager, which included adopting new project management tools to better prioritize tasks. As a result, I improved my efficiency, and my subsequent performance review reflected this progress positively.