A good self-evaluation shows your manager what you accomplished, what you learned and where you want to grow. It uses numbers, not just adjectives. It reads as honest and professional, not boastful.
Below are 5 self-evaluation examples for common jobs, followed by a free builder with three starting points. Make your own, then print it or copy it. This page is for people with work experience who are writing a performance review.
AdvertisementThe people, employers and numbers in these examples are fictional. Replace them with your own true results.
5 Self-Evaluation Examples
Quick jump: Retail salespersonRegistered nurseCustomer serviceOffice clerkGeneral managerFree self-evaluation builder
Self-Evaluation Example for a Retail Salesperson
Accomplishments: This year, my sales rose 20%, the best result on our team, and I trained 6 new hires. A display change I suggested lifted sales in the home category by 15%.
Learning from a mistake: I missed my goal for add-on sales in the spring, reaching 8% instead of 10%. I was rushing the offer, so I now ask about customer needs first. Add-on sales have climbed to 11% since.
Goals: Next year, I want to earn a retail management certificate and lead one team project. More coaching from my manager on scheduling and inventory would help me get ready for a team lead role.
Self-Evaluation Example for a Registered Nurse
Accomplishments: Patient satisfaction on my unit rose from 86% to 94% in 18 months. I built a shared handoff checklist that cut handoff delays by 30%, and I trained 4 new nurses.
Learning from a mistake: Early this year, I missed a medication timing update during a busy shift. A coworker caught it before it reached the patient. Since then, I double-check every update at the start of each hour.
Goals: Next year, I plan to earn a certification in medical-surgical nursing and join the unit’s quality committee. I would appreciate time for training and your feedback on my progress.
Self-Evaluation Example for a Customer Service Representative
Accomplishments: I solved 92% of issues on the first call this year. A call checklist I built cut repeat calls by 25% and saved the team 5 hours a week. I also coached 3 new representatives.
Learning from a mistake: In March, my average call time rose to 9 minutes because I skipped some system shortcuts. I took a refresher class and brought it back to 7 minutes within a month.
Goals: Next year, I want to earn a customer service certificate and move into a team lead role. Shadowing a supervisor for a day each month would help me prepare.
Self-Evaluation Example for an Office Clerk
Accomplishments: I cleaned up 3 years of old files, which cut the time it takes to find a record by half. I also wrote step-by-step guides for 4 daily reports, and 2 new coworkers learned the work from them.
Learning from a mistake: I entered one invoice twice in June, and it delayed a payment by 3 days. I now check the record list before each entry, and I have had no duplicates in the 5 months since.
Goals: Next year, I want to earn a Microsoft Excel certificate and take over the weekly billing report. A short training session with the finance team would help me get there.
Self-Evaluation Example for a General Manager
Strengths: Leadership, planning and clear communication are my strongest skills. I lead a team of 40 and hold weekly one-on-one check-ins with each supervisor.
Accomplishments: On-time delivery rose from 91% to 98% after I moved the team to daily route reviews. Annual sales grew 12%, and staff turnover fell 30% through better coaching and schedules.
Learning from a mistake: I took on too many projects in the spring, and two deadlines slipped. I now assign owners to each project and review progress every Friday, and every deadline has been met since.
Goals: Next year, I plan to complete a leadership program and prepare two supervisors for promotion. I would value your guidance on our budget plan and long-term growth.
Free Self-Evaluation Builder
Step 1. Which job fits you?
Step 2. What is your strongest skill?
Step 3. Tap the lines to add. Three to five is plenty.
Step 4. Click any text in the self-evaluation below and type or modify to make it yours.
Replace the numbers, skills and goals with your own true ones, and use only results you can show. Delete any line that does not fit.
Self-Evaluation: Annual Performance Review
Accomplishments and strengths
This year, I helped about 80 customers a day as a retail salesperson and kept a 4.8 out of 5 rating on customer surveys. My sales rose 20%, the best result on our team.
This year, I cared for 5 to 6 patients a shift as a registered nurse, and patient satisfaction on my unit rose from 86% to 94%. My charting error rate stayed under 1%.
This year, I handled about 60 calls a day as a customer service representative and solved 92% of issues on the first call. My customer satisfaction score reached 95%.
My strongest skill is clear, friendly service that keeps customers coming back. I back it with product knowledge and weekly sales reports that show what is working.
My strongest skill is teamwork. Clear handoffs and steady communication keep patients safe and help every shift run smoothly.
My strongest skill is staying calm and listening first. That habit turns upset callers into customers who stay with us.
Customers rate my service 4.8 out of 5 on average.
My sales rose 20% over two years.
I trained 6 new employees, and each reached full speed within a month.
My work stays accurate, with errors under 1%.
I arrived on time for 98% of my shifts this year.
I worked with 3 teams and covered 12 extra shifts when we were short-staffed.
A checklist I built cut repeat problems by 25% and saved the team 5 hours a week.
A process change I suggested saved the team about $12,000 this year.
I learned our new system quickly and now help coworkers use it.
I led a team of 8 and met every weekly goal for a quarter.
Next year, I want to earn a certificate that builds my skills for a team lead role.
More coaching from my manager on planning and reporting would help me reach that goal.
Learning from a mistake
I missed one goal this year, and I learned from it. I now plan my work earlier in the week, which has kept me on target since.
Goals for next year
Next year, I will keep building my skills and take on one team project. I appreciate your support and feedback.
To save your self-evaluation: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the self-evaluation prints. To copy it, select the text inside the self-evaluation and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Which Starting Point Fits You?
| Your situation | Builder choice | What to highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Retail, sales or store work | Retail salesperson | Customer ratings, sales growth and training others |
| Nursing or health care | Registered nurse | Patient satisfaction, safety and teamwork |
| Call center or service desk | Customer service representative | First-call resolution, satisfaction and speed |
How to Write a Self-Evaluation in 4 Steps
| Step | What to write | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Strengths | Name your key strengths, such as work ethic, problem solving or leadership, and describe how you show each one at work | Indeed |
| 2. Accomplishments | Lead with facts and figures, explain how you got each result and connect it to a team or company goal | Indeed |
| 3. Mistakes | Present weaknesses as opportunities for improvement: what went wrong, what you learned and what you do differently | Indeed |
| 4. Growth | Describe the development you want, such as a certification, degree or promotion, and how your role supports it | Indeed |
Numbers You Can Use From Your Own Work
| Area | Number to use |
|---|---|
| Customers | Customers served, ratings and surveys, concerns resolved |
| Sales or output | Percent growth, orders filled, projects finished |
| Accuracy | Error rate, records entered, audits passed |
| Time and money | Hours saved, costs cut, budget managed |
| People | People trained, coached or led |
Stronger Wording for Your Self-Evaluation
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| I am a hard worker. | I arrived on time for 98% of my shifts this year. |
| I work well with others. | I worked with 3 teams and covered 12 extra shifts. |
| I improved customer service. | Customer satisfaction on my unit rose from 86% to 94%. |
| I made a mistake once. | I missed a goal in the spring, learned why and fixed it within a month. |
| I want to grow. | I plan to earn a certificate and lead one team project next year. |
Mistakes to Avoid
- Using only adjectives. Show results with numbers.
- Hiding every weakness. Name one, what you learned and what you changed.
- Listing duties. Show results and tie them to team goals.
- Skipping goals. End with growth and the support you need.
- Typos. Proofread twice.
Self-Evaluation Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. Your self-evaluation is ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a self-evaluation?
Follow Indeed’s four steps: list your strengths, document your accomplishments with numbers, address your mistakes as opportunities for improvement and close with the growth you want. Review your job description first so you can measure your work against it.
How long should a self-evaluation be?
Indeed gives no length rule. Its sample answers run about three to five sentences per prompt, so keep each section short and specific.
Should I include numbers?
Yes. Indeed advises specific figures, such as orders handled, percent increases or time saved. Any concrete measure is stronger than a general claim.
How do I talk about weaknesses?
Be honest and give yourself some grace. Explain the cause of the missed goal, what you learned and the specific steps you are taking. The STAR method (situation, task, action, result) helps.
What goals should I include?
Concrete goals for the next period, such as a certification, a new project or a promotion, plus the support you need from your manager.
What tone should I use?
Professional. Support each point with an example and avoid both unnecessary criticism and flattery.
Should I compare myself to my job description?
Yes. Indeed suggests reviewing your job description first so you can measure your performance against your duties.
What if I did not meet my goals?
Say so plainly, explain what got in the way, what you learned and what you changed. A clear plan shows maturity.
Can I use the same self-evaluation every year?
No. Update the results, numbers and goals each year, and keep the format.
What should I do if I have little to report?
List smaller wins, such as errors avoided, customers helped or tasks you took on. Ask your manager for feedback to remind you of recent results.
Conclusion
A strong self-evaluation is short, honest and full of results. Share your strengths and wins with numbers, own one mistake and set clear goals for the year ahead. Use the builder above to write yours today.
Related Reading
- List of analytical skills for resume
- Examples of communication skills for resume
- Good interpersonal skills examples
- Positive attitude interview questions and answers
Sources: Indeed Career Guide, Self-Performance Review (With Template and Examples). The example evaluations, people and numbers are fictional.