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Ryan
Ryan

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Do performance reviews have to suck?

Most developers universally agree that performance reviews (and the related salary negotiations) suck!

Do you have an example of a performance review process that does not suck? Personal anecdote? Links to blog posts/articles?

Top comments (5)

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niorad profile image
Antonio Radovcic

We don't have performance-reviews and salary-negotiations are usually tied to moving from junior to mid-level to senior, except the yearly few % organic salary-increase to balance inflation.

One that doesn't suck for me would be a constructive feedback-meeting, with your lead, where they try to get a good picture of your impact and behaviour within your team and company beforehand.

This of course goes both ways, so you as employee should also review your companies performance and give feedback accordingly. Is this a seller's market or what.

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ohryan profile image
Ryan

We don't have performance-reviews and salary-negotiations are usually tied to moving from junior to mid-level to senior, except the yearly few % organic salary-increase to balance inflation.

Interesting. What are the criteria for moving from junior to mid to senior?

This of course goes both ways, so you as employee should also review your companies performance and give feedback accordingly.

I like this a lot!

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phallstrom profile image
Philip Hallstrom

I don't have much to offer other than the review should happen all year long via 1:1's and quarterly discussions. This way there's no surprise at the end of the year. And both sides should keep notes throughout the year to remove any recency bias around the annual checkin.

 
ohryan profile image
Ryan

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

Is there something about the performance review process itself that can help it not suck?

I'm having a hard time explaining exactly what I mean... things like the criteria employees are reviewed on, the structure of the review documents/procedures, frequency of the review, etc. Sort of like, the nuts and bolts of the process itself. Or is it all about the reviewer's approach?

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ohryan profile image
Ryan

IYHO what makes those 1 in 10 performance reviews not suck?