As I write this, I’m thinking about a friend who received a poor job review six months into her very first “real” job at 23. This happened after earning an accelerated master’s degree at a top college. My friend is an extremely smart woman, but she was young and never had worked full time. So, as my friend silently read her review while her manager looked on, she was overcome by complete bewilderment. She then began internalizing poor feelings about herself and her abilities. This negative review was just the beginning of another year and a half of poor treatment by this supervisor.
One day, this manager even told her that she did not have the talent to shine in her job. My friend had come to this employer with such promise and high recommendations. She ended up washing out of her position. She then spent years thinking of herself as incapable of performing any job well.
The opportunities she later took on were largely below her capabilities and resulted in her earning well below what an individual with her skill level and talents should be putting away in the bank. But she had internalized the negative storyline her boss with huge issues had imposed on her. She was young and impressionable, yet sadly these circumstances can happen at any age.
In the larger scheme, it’s important to remember that our career journey is about having opportunities to explore and learn. As you continue or embark on your journey, be sure to research and find those employers and companies that can foster your growth. After all, we all deserve to work in a respectful professional environment that values who we are and what we bring to the organization.
That’s where work benchmarks can be immensely valuable. The benefits of requesting a list of benchmarks at the start of any job may help prevent painful and distressing situations from occurring in the first place.
Here are two key advantages to having work benchmarks:
- They allow you to know your manager’s expectations from the get-to. Before you even start your job, make sure your boss provides clearly defined work objectives and the timeline for each in writing. Having clear-cut objectives will help you understand the benchmarks you must meet in order to succeed in your position. They will also provide you with a fallback if your boss tries to say that you are not doing your job properly. If you have the objectives in writing and can clearly demonstrate how you’ve met them, the boss will not be in a strong position to deny you credit or recognition for a job well done.
- They help you track your work accomplishments. After you have your benchmarks in writing, be sure to document when and how well you have accomplished your assignments. Collect any proof of their positive impact on clients, other relevant entities, and/or your department’s bottom line. What’s more, this information is a great resource for updating your resume too!
So, whether you’ve started a new job or are continuing in the same position, consider reviewing and discussing work benchmarks with your manager.
