Self evaluation template and examples for any job
Reviewed Oct 3, 2026 O*NET® 31.0 job tasks and skills (U.S. Department of Labor) and InterObservers example sentences How we verify
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A self evaluation is your own written review of your work for the period; this free template builds one for any job from its O*NET tasks and skills.
Tasks and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), latest release as checked Sep 29, 2026, 923 occupations, 910 with rated core tasks, from the U.S. Department of Labor. Each job shows up to 10 core tasks, up to 8 skills and up to 8 work activities, the top items by O*NET importance rating, not every item.
Build your self evaluation
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. InterObservers has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET database license · CC BY 4.0 license text · What InterObservers changed
Your self evaluation is ready
Open the file, fill anything still in [brackets], and give it to your manager before the review meeting. Keep a copy for your own records.
Next, see what your manager fills in:
What is a self evaluation?
A self evaluation, also called a self assessment or self appraisal, is the part of a performance review that the employee writes. You rate your own work against the duties of your job, name your main results, say where you want to improve and what support would help.
Your manager reads it before the review meeting and compares it with their own view of the period, so the meeting can focus on where you agree and where you see the period differently.
Your manager writes the other half: see the performance review template for managers, which uses the same tasks, skills and rating levels.
How to write a self evaluation
Write it a few days before the review meeting, with your notes from the whole period at hand.
- Gather your evidence. Go through your calendar, finished work, thank you messages and notes from the period. A rating you can back with an example is easier to discuss.
- Rate the duties of your job. Use the tasks and skills your manager will rate. Choose the level that matches what you did over most of the period, not your best or worst week.
- Lead with results. For each accomplishment, say what you did and what it changed for customers, the team or the business.
- Be honest about gaps. Name one or two areas to improve and the step you will take for each. A gap you name yourself lets the meeting focus on the fix.
- Ask for what you need. Say which training, tools or support would help, so your manager can plan for it.
- Set goals for the next period. Write goals you can check, each with a date, and agree on them with your manager in the meeting.
The full self evaluation template
This is the whole self evaluation as it downloads, with the fields in [brackets]. In the generator, the tasks and skills you rate appear under their heading, one line each with your rating and your comment.
Self evaluation
Overall self rating
[Overall self rating]
My accomplishments
[My accomplishments]
Goals from the last period
[Goals from the last period]
My ratings on the tasks and skills of my job
- [Task or skill of my job]. My rating: [Rating level]. [Comment]
Areas I want to improve
[Areas I want to improve]
Support I need
[Support I need]
My goals for the next period
[My goals for the next period]
Notes from the review meeting
Space for notes during the meeting with your manager.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Signature
Signing confirms that this self evaluation is my own view of my work for the period.
______________________ Date: __________
[Your name]
Rating levels, prompts and example sentences: InterObservers wording, not from the O*NET database.
This document includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. InterObservers has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Questions and example sentences for each section
Each written section of the template comes with questions to answer and example sentences you can tick in the generator and then edit. The questions and sentences are InterObservers wording.
My accomplishments
Questions to answer:
- What were the most important results of your work this period?
- Which project or task are you most proud of, and what did it change?
- What did customers, colleagues or your manager thank you for?
- Where did you go beyond your usual duties?
Example sentences (InterObservers wording):
- “I finished the main projects assigned to me this period on time and to the agreed standard.”
- “I took over an urgent task when a colleague moved to another team and finished it without delays.”
- “I set up a simpler way to track open requests, and the team now uses it every day.”
- “I trained a new colleague on our core tasks, and that colleague now handles them without help.”
Goals from the last period
Questions to answer:
- Which goals from your last review did you meet, and how?
- Which goals did you not meet, and what got in the way?
- Did any goal change during the period, and why?
Example sentences (InterObservers wording):
- “I met my goal to finish the system training and now use the new system for all my work.”
- “I reached my goal to clear the backlog of open requests by handling the longest waiting items first.”
- “I did not meet my goal on response times because priorities changed mid period, so I moved it to the next period.”
Areas I want to improve
Questions to answer:
- Which part of your work would you most like to do better?
- What feedback did you hear more than once this period?
- What would you do differently if you could repeat this period?
Example sentences (InterObservers wording):
- “I want to plan my week earlier so that urgent requests do not push other work past its deadline.”
- “I need to check my own work more carefully before I pass it on, to cut down on corrections.”
- “I want to speak up sooner when I see a problem, instead of waiting for the next meeting.”
Support I need
Questions to answer:
- What training, tools or resources would help you do your job better?
- What could your manager do more of, or less of, to help you?
- What gets in the way of your work, and who could help remove it?
Example sentences (InterObservers wording):
- “Training on the reporting tool would help me prepare reports faster and with fewer errors.”
- “A regular short check in with my manager would help me set the right priorities.”
- “Clearer handoffs from the team before mine would help me start my tasks on time.”
My goals for the next period
Questions to answer:
- What do you want to achieve by your next review?
- How will you and your manager know each goal is met?
- What skill do you want to build next?
Example sentences (InterObservers wording):
- “By my next review, I want to handle the full range of customer requests without passing any of them on.”
- “I want to complete the advanced training for my role and use it in my daily work by the end of the next quarter.”
- “I want to lead an improvement project for the team and agree on its result with my manager.”
The five rating levels
The generator uses the same five levels as the InterObservers performance review template, so your self evaluation and your manager's review line up. The labels, definitions and example sentences are InterObservers wording, not from the O*NET database.
| Level | What it means | Example sentence (InterObservers wording) |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeds expectations | Work on this item is consistently well beyond what the role requires and raises the standard for others. | “My work on this task is well beyond what my role requires, and colleagues often use it as a reference.” |
| Above expectations | Work on this item fully meets what the role requires and often goes beyond it. | “I perform this task well and often go beyond what my role requires in quality or speed.” |
| Meets expectations | Work on this item is solid and reliable, and fully meets what the role requires. | “I carry out this task correctly, on schedule and at the level my role requires.” |
| Needs improvement | Work on this item meets some requirements of the role, and a specific change is needed. | “I get this task right some of the time, but I need to get it right every time.” |
| Below expectations | Work on this item does not yet meet the requirements of the role, and a clear change is needed. | “I did not reach the required standard on this task this period, and I need clear steps and support to get there.” |
Self evaluation phrases by skill
Example sentences for common skills, taken from the library the generator uses. The skill names are O*NET skills; the sentences are InterObservers wording. For more wording ideas, see these communication phrases for performance reviews.
| Skill (O*NET skill name) | Above expectations | Meets expectations | Needs improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication: Speaking | “I regularly give updates that are short, clear and complete, and people act on them without follow-up questions.” | “I pass on information clearly and accurately when I speak with colleagues and customers.” | “My spoken updates are sometimes unclear; I want to prepare the key points before meetings and calls.” |
| Communication: Writing | “My written work is clear and accurate the first time, and I regularly adjust the tone to the reader.” | “I write emails and documents that are accurate, clear and complete, so readers can act on them without correction.” | “Some of my messages need a second explanation; I want to plan the main point before I write and check it afterward.” |
| Communication: Active Listening | “I regularly confirm what people need by repeating their main points back, so requests are right the first time.” | “I give people my full attention in meetings and calls and check that I understood their requests correctly.” | “I sometimes start answering before people finish; I need to let them finish and confirm their point before I respond.” |
| Teamwork: Coordination | “I regularly adjust my plans to fit what colleagues are doing, and I flag conflicts early.” | “I fit my work to the timing of my colleagues and keep handoffs on schedule.” | “My work sometimes holds up colleagues; I need to tell people earlier when my timing changes.” |
| Time management: Time Management | “I regularly finish work early and plan my week so that urgent requests fit without delays.” | “I plan my work, meet my deadlines and tell people early if a date is at risk, as expected.” | “Some of my work arrives after the agreed date; I need to plan my week and flag delays earlier.” |
| Problem solving: Complex Problem Solving | “I regularly break complex problems into parts, test options and put a working fix in place early.” | “I gather the facts on a problem, choose a sound option and put the fix in place correctly.” | “I sometimes fix only the visible part of a problem; I need to check the cause before I act.” |
| Problem solving: Critical Thinking | “I regularly weigh the pros and cons of different approaches and recommend the one that works best.” | “I weigh the options before I choose an approach, and my choices consistently hold up.” | “I sometimes choose an approach without comparing it to others; I need to list the options before I decide.” |
| Customer focus: Service Orientation | “I regularly go out of my way to solve problems for people fully instead of passing them on.” | “I answer requests for help promptly and follow through until the problem is solved, as expected.” | “I sometimes pass requests on without solving them; I want to take ownership of each request until it is closed.” |
Self evaluation examples by job
Each example uses real O*NET items of a well-known job, ordered by O*NET importance rating, with a self rating and one of our example sentences for that rating. The ratings and texts are invented to show the format; they say nothing about people who do these jobs. Names and dates stay in [brackets]. Rating levels, comments and section texts: InterObservers wording, not from the O*NET database.
Customer Service Representatives: annual review self evaluation example
Customer Service Representatives (O*NET-SOC 43-4051.00): the first three core tasks, the top two skills and the top work activity, ordered by O*NET importance rating. Overall self rating in this example: above expectations.
Self evaluation
Overall self rating
Above expectations: “My work this period fully met what my role requires and often went beyond it in quality or timeliness.”
My accomplishments
“I handled customer questions on every channel this year and closed most cases on the first contact.” “I also wrote short answer notes for the questions we hear most, and the team now uses them.”
Goals from the last period
“I met my goal to finish the billing system training and now handle billing questions without passing them on.”
My ratings on the tasks and skills of my job
Core tasks
- Confer with customers by telephone or in person to provide information about products or services, take or enter orders, cancel accounts, or obtain details of complaints. My rating: Above expectations. “I perform this task well and often go beyond what my role requires in quality or speed.”
- Keep records of customer interactions or transactions, recording details of inquiries, complaints, or comments, as well as actions taken. My rating: Meets expectations. “I carry out this task correctly, on schedule and at the level my role requires.”
- Check to ensure that appropriate changes were made to resolve customers' problems. My rating: Above expectations. “I perform this task well and often go beyond what my role requires in quality or speed.”
Skills
- Active Listening. My rating: Meets expectations. “I give people my full attention in meetings and calls and check that I understood their requests correctly.”
- Service Orientation. My rating: Above expectations. “I regularly go out of my way to solve problems for people fully instead of passing them on.”
Work activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates. My rating: Meets expectations. “I keep my manager and colleagues informed about my work accurately and on time.”
Areas I want to improve
“My account notes are sometimes short.” “I want to record the action taken on every case before I move to the next one.”
Support I need
“Access to the knowledge base of the billing team would help me answer more questions on the first call.”
My goals for the next period
“By my next review, I want to handle refund requests from start to finish and help train new colleagues on our answer notes.”
Notes from the review meeting
Space for notes during the meeting with your manager.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Signature
Signing confirms that this self evaluation is my own view of my work for the period.
______________________ Date: __________
[Your name]
O*NET importance of the rated items, in order, on the O*NET scale of 1 to 5: 4.67, 4.53, 4.39, 4.00, 4.00 and 4.59.
Software Developers: mid-year review self evaluation example
Software Developers (O*NET-SOC 15-1252.00): the first three core tasks, the top two skills and the top work activity, ordered by O*NET importance rating. Overall self rating in this example: meets expectations.
Self evaluation
Overall self rating
Meets expectations: “My work this period was solid and reliable, and it consistently met what my role requires.”
My accomplishments
“I delivered the features planned for my part of the release on schedule, with tests for each change.” “I also fixed a slow report that users had raised several times.”
Goals from the last period
“I met my goal to take part in code reviews every week and now review changes from other developers.”
My ratings on the tasks and skills of my job
Core tasks
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints. My rating: Meets expectations. “I carry out this task correctly, on schedule and at the level my role requires.”
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation. My rating: Meets expectations. “I carry out this task correctly, on schedule and at the level my role requires.”
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces. My rating: Above expectations. “I perform this task well and often go beyond what my role requires in quality or speed.”
Skills
- Programming. My rating: Meets expectations. “I write working code that meets the requirements and follows the team standards, on schedule.”
- Critical Thinking. My rating: Meets expectations. “I weigh the options before I choose an approach, and my choices consistently hold up.”
Work activities
- Working with Computers. My rating: Meets expectations. “I use the computer systems my job requires correctly and enter data accurately.”
Areas I want to improve
“I want to write clearer notes on my changes so that reviewers can follow them without asking me.”
Support I need
“Time with an experienced developer on system design would help me take on larger features.”
My goals for the next period
“By the end of the year, I want to design and deliver a feature on my own, from the first plan to release.”
Notes from the review meeting
Space for notes during the meeting with your manager.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Signature
Signing confirms that this self evaluation is my own view of my work for the period.
______________________ Date: __________
[Your name]
O*NET importance of the rated items, in order, on the O*NET scale of 1 to 5: 4.08, 3.90, 3.75, 4.00, 3.88 and 4.61.
Retail Salespersons: 90-day review self evaluation example
Retail Salespersons (O*NET-SOC 41-2031.00): the first three core tasks, the top two skills and the top work activity, ordered by O*NET importance rating. Overall self rating in this example: needs improvement.
Self evaluation
Overall self rating
Needs improvement: “I met some requirements of my role this period, and I need specific changes in a few areas to meet all of them.”
My accomplishments
“I learned the store layout and our main product lines in my first months and now help most customers without asking a colleague.”
Goals from the last period
“I met my goal to complete the register training, but I still make some errors when I count the drawer.”
My ratings on the tasks and skills of my job
Core tasks
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs. My rating: Meets expectations. “I carry out this task correctly, on schedule and at the level my role requires.”
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires. My rating: Needs improvement. “I get this task right some of the time, but I need to get it right every time.”
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment. My rating: Meets expectations. “I carry out this task correctly, on schedule and at the level my role requires.”
Skills
- Persuasion. My rating: Meets expectations. “I explain my reasons clearly and gain agreement on my proposals as expected.”
- Service Orientation. My rating: Needs improvement. “I sometimes pass requests on without solving them; I want to take ownership of each request until it is closed.”
Work activities
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public. My rating: Meets expectations. “I greet and serve customers and guests correctly and promptly, as expected.”
Areas I want to improve
“I want to cut my register errors by counting each drawer carefully and asking for a check when a count is off.”
Support I need
“A short refresher on the register with my supervisor would help me get every count right.”
My goals for the next period
“By my next review, I want to close every register count without errors and learn the stock system.”
Notes from the review meeting
Space for notes during the meeting with your manager.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Signature
Signing confirms that this self evaluation is my own view of my work for the period.
______________________ Date: __________
[Your name]
O*NET importance of the rated items, in order, on the O*NET scale of 1 to 5: 4.84, 4.68, 4.56, 3.88, 3.75 and 4.71.
Where the tasks and skills come from
The tasks, skills and work activities are items of the O*NET 31.0 database (August 2026) as published, with their O*NET importance rating on a scale of 1 to 5, ranked and capped the same way as in the InterObservers performance review data. The template shows up to 10 core tasks, up to 8 skills and up to 8 work activities per job, the top items, not every item the O*NET data rates. For 12 occupations, such as Legislators and Taxi Drivers, the O*NET data has task statements but no importance ratings, skills or work activities. For these jobs the template lists the first 10 task statements in the O*NET data order, not ranked, and says so. Each of these jobs has more task statements than that; the rest stay one click away under a button that gives their number, never dropped (for Legislators: “Show the other 20 task statements”). For 1 occupation with task ratings (Slaughterers and Meat Packers), the O*NET data has no core task; the template shows its skills and work activities and says so in the tool. For 1 occupation with task ratings (Calibration Technologists and Technicians), the O*NET data has no skill ratings; the template shows its tasks and work activities and says so in the tool.
The rating levels, prompts and example sentences are InterObservers wording, not from the O*NET database. The data status is checked against the O*NET database page: O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), latest release as checked Sep 29, 2026.
Questions people ask
What should I write in a self evaluation?
Your main results for the period with examples, how well you did the core tasks of your job, one or two areas to improve with a next step, the support you need and your goals for the next period. The generator lists the O*NET tasks and skills of your job and offers first person example sentences for each rating level that you can edit.
How do I rate myself without overrating or underrating?
Use the definition of each level, not a feeling, and back each rating with an example. Meets expectations means solid, reliable work at the level of the job; keep the top level for work that clearly went beyond what the role requires.
Should I give myself the top rating?
Only where you can show results well beyond what your role requires. A top rating with clear examples is easy to discuss; a top rating on everything without examples is easy to question.
What is the difference between a self evaluation and a performance review?
The self evaluation is your own view of your work for the period. The performance review is your manager's written review of the same period. The InterObservers performance review template uses the same O*NET tasks, skills and five rating levels, so both documents line up item by item.
What if I rate myself below expectations?
Say so, with the reason and the step you will take: an honest rating with a plan is easier to discuss than a high rating without examples. When a gap is serious, an employer may set a written performance improvement plan with goals, support and a review date. See how employers put an employee on a PIP.
Is a self evaluation the same as a self assessment?
Most employers use both names for the same document: your written view of your own work before a performance review. Some call it a self appraisal or a self review.
What makes a good self evaluation example?
A good example names a specific result and its effect, such as a project finished early or a problem that stopped coming back, not a label such as hard worker. The filled examples on this page show complete self evaluations for real O*NET occupations.
How long should a self evaluation be?
Short enough to read together in the meeting: a few lines of results, one line with a rating and a comment for each task or skill you rate, one or two areas to improve, the support you need and your goals. Leave out what you did not do; the template drops every item left as "Not rated".
Where do the tasks and skills in the template come from?
From the O*NET 31.0 database, the occupational database of the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. For each job, the template shows up to 10 core tasks, up to 8 skills and up to 8 work activities, ranked by O*NET importance rating: the top items, not every item in the O*NET database. The rating levels and example sentences are InterObservers wording.
Sources (5)
- O*NET 31.0 Database (O*NET Resource Center)
- O*NET Database license
- Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
- O*NET 31.0 Data Dictionary
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. InterObservers has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET database license · CC BY 4.0 license text
General information, not legal advice. Not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. For a question about your own job, talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Report an error