9/16    we're doing annual performace reviews at work, and everyone has to
        fill out a personal evaluation (same as the peer evaluations). This
        is the first time I've done this. Any advice? Should I be confident?
        modest? self-critical? I mean, I know everyone will say "be truthful",
        which I will try to be, but is it better to err on the side of
        over-confidence or over-critical? I'm finding this very difficult
        to do.
        \_ Always toot your own horn.  Never play yourself down.  If you don't
           play yourself up, who will?  This is the time to fluff up your role
           and achievements and ignore any failings.  People never remember
           your successes, only your failures.  Do *not* be truthful.
           \_ As an aside, you really cannot afford to be modest here. You
              know what projects you've done and to what extent you were
              invovled. You can't trust your manager to remember. Brag like
              you're on a reality dating show, because no one else will do
              it for you.
        \_ Don't brag.  Don't be modest.  Say what you did, why it was
           special, and why it mattered to the company.  -John
           \_ listen to John here. Actually it depends on your boss. My natural
              inclination is to be uncomfortable with the horn over-tooting
              but my new boss is like these guys are saying, he only remembers
              problems not successes and has no idea of the difficulty level of
              different tasks. If I get it done with no hitch, it was easy in
              his mind and it doesn't register.
        \_ out of curiosity, how big is your company?
           \_ about 700 people total, about 200 programmers. Its a
              financial software company... essentially a data
              integrator/reseller
        \_ The first time I had to do one of these, when I was done the
           company would be out of business without me.  Manager signed off on
           it without any comment.  Later when raises came up I threw the
           thing back in his face and got double the raise he was originally
           offering because afterall, without me the whole company would go
           under, right?
        \_ So does anyone DISagree with the "toot your own horn"
           philosophy? -op
           \_ That path leads only to madness.  Seriously, this must be your
              first job or close to it, right?  TOOT THAT HORN, SON!  TOOT!
                \_ People who brag are pretty easy to spot in the long run.
                   And it doesn't earn you any self-respect.  So brag away
                   if you must, but there is no substitute for learning to
                   communicate (not b.s.) with management--they are usually
                   frightened and clueless because nobody will or knows how
                   to talk to them in terms that matter to them.  -John
        \_ I filled out one, expecting my boss to take some points and merge
           them with his own. To my surprise, when my final evaluation came
           out, it was entirely in my words. Some bosses are truly lazy.
        \_ Don't exaggerate on your evaluations.  Work hard and make yourself
           truly invaluable.  Short term, this may be disadvantageous to you,
           but long term, it's good for everyone.       - the christian way
           \_ Now that's why I vote Republican!
           \_ 1) No one said to exaggerate.  2) No one is truly invaluable.
              3) No one knows your value as much as you do so you better let
              them know just how valuable you are because no one will toot your
              horn for you.  I don't recall Christ ever saying you should
              humbly play down your accomplishments and be more critical of
              yourself than necessary.  Reevaluate at your next bible study.
              \_ The accurate self-evaluator shall inherit the earth.
              \_ The way you phrase (3b), I don't disagree with you, but
                 people should try http://www.biblegateway.com and look for "truth",
                 "humility", "boastful", "honesty", etc.
              \_ how is listing everything you did, down to not picking
                your ass in front of a meeting considered lying? just
                write everything you did down and let the dice roll.
           \_ You could say he doesn't want to micromanage you.