291| Using Your Last Performance Review to Your Advantage

Following yesterday's episode on testimonials, Nichole shows how your last performance review, your own employer's words about you, can become some of your strongest proof. In this episode: Why a performance review is one of the most credible pieces of evidence you have, and why it shouldn't get filed away and forgotten How to reread your review like a detective, looking for strengths, growth areas, and goals Strengths: highlighting the strongest praise so you can say, "In my review, you noted that I do this well, and here's what I've done since to keep building on it" A tip for anyone who had a review in the last few months or so without getting a raise: use your strengths to reflect back on it Growth areas: why feedback is a gift, and how showing what has changed since shows you listen and follow through What to do if you haven't made progress on a growth area yet: start before you ask Goals: checking off which ones you hit, exceeded, or saw change, and why measuring against what your own company asked of you makes your case stronger Looking for language about the next level, which acts as a roadmap, and noting the date and overall rating to tell a clear story over time What to do if your review wasn't great: a personal note from Nichole that you're not alone, and why showing improvement can be just as compelling and often more memorable Why effort, determination, and grit to get better stand out Today's task: pull up your most recent review and highlight one strength you can quote, one growth area along with what you've done about it, and one goal you accomplished, then add them to your tracker with a date, and use AI to turn them into one-line talking points if you want help Download the 7 Days to Ask for a Raise Challenge to help you confidently ask for a raise here. Connect with Nichole on Instagram @nichole.harrop