Free HR template
Performance Review Template
A performance review template is a form managers use to evaluate an employee’s work over a review period and plan what comes next. Catapult’s free Word template covers the past year’s goals, competencies, and development, then sets goals for the year ahead and an individual development plan, with signature lines for the manager and employee.
- Word (.docx)
- Performance
- Annual review
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What’s included
What’s in the Performance Review template
The form opens with employee details, then has three sections: a look back at the past year, a plan for the year ahead, and approvals.
Employee details
Name, position, department, supervisor, hire date, and review period.
Section 1, part I: Performance goals
Four rows for goals set last year, with results and comments.
Section 1, part II: Competencies
Results Orientation, Customer Focus, Collaboration, Problem Solving, and Building Talent (managers only), with comments, examples, and improvement areas.
Section 1, part III: Professional development
Progress on last year’s development activities.
Summary
Other accomplishments, areas needing attention, and a summary of overall performance.
Section 2: Current year planning
Performance period dates, four goals with target metrics, and an individual development plan with target dates, estimated cost, and action steps.
Section 3: Approval and comments
Supervisor and employee signatures, an acknowledgment that signing confirms receipt, not agreement, and space for employee comments.
Situations it covers
- Individual contributors and managers (Building Talent is rated for managers only)
- A look back at the past period and planning for the next one, in one form
Checklist
What to include in a performance review
- Employee, position, supervisor, and review period
- Results against each goal for the period
- Competency ratings backed by examples
- Progress on development activities
- Areas needing attention
- Overall performance summary
- Goals and target metrics for the year ahead
- Development plan with dates and costs
- Manager and employee signatures and comments
When to use it
What the Performance Review template helps with
Use it for an annual review, or adapt it for a probationary or mid-cycle check-in.
It helps you
- Run annual reviews the same way across managers and departments.
- Tie feedback to specific goals and examples rather than general impressions.
- Carry improvement areas straight into the goals for the year ahead and development plan.
- Keep a signed record of what was discussed.
Who should use it
Managers and supervisors who run reviews, and HR teams setting up or refreshing a review process.
How to use it
How to use the Performance Review template
- Fill in the employee details and review period.
- Before the meeting, record results against last year’s goals and add examples for each competency.
- Hold the conversation and complete the summary of overall performance.
- Set goals for the year ahead with target metrics and agree on development activities.
- Sign, invite the employee to sign and comment, and file the form.
Common mistakes
Mistakes to avoid
No examples
Ratings without specific examples are hard to explain and hard to act on.
Surprises at review time
Problems should be raised when they happen, not saved for the annual meeting.
Different standards by manager
Apply the same expectations to everyone in the same role.
Dropping improvement areas
Carry them into the goals and development plan for the year ahead.
Compliance notes
What to check before you use it
Employment laws vary by state and change over time. These notes are general and point to the official sources.
Consistency
Reviews often feed pay, promotion, and discipline decisions. Federal law prohibits discrimination in hiring, firing, promotions, pay, and every other term or condition of employment, so apply the same standards to every employee in a role.
Source: U.S. EEOC, Prohibited employment policies and practices
Signatures
The template’s acknowledgment makes clear that signing confirms the employee received the review, not that they agree with it, and the employee can add comments.
Not legal advice. This page and the template are general information, not legal advice. For your situation, talk to an employment attorney or HR advisor. Catapult members can bring employment law questions to our advisors as part of their membership.
FAQ
Performance Review template questions
What should a performance review include?
Results against the goals set for the period, how the employee showed key competencies with examples, progress on development, an overall summary, goals for the year ahead, a development plan, and signatures. Catapult’s template includes each of these.
How do you write a performance review?
Gather results and examples before the meeting. Rate progress on each goal, comment on each competency with specific examples, name areas that need attention, write an overall summary, then agree on goals and development activities for the year ahead.
Does an employee’s signature mean they agree with the review?
No. The acknowledgment on this form makes clear that signing confirms the employee received the review, not that they agree with it, and the employee can add comments.
How often should performance reviews be done?
This template is built for an annual cycle, with a look back at the past year and a plan for the year ahead. You can use the goals and development sections for shorter check-ins during the year.
Which competencies does the template cover?
Results Orientation, Customer Focus, Collaboration, Problem Solving, and Building Talent for managers. You can rename or replace them to match your own competency model.
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