Describe a time when you disagreed with a performance evaluation.
"I received a mediocre review early in my career. I'd been working my tail off and been going above and beyond. Then, when I received my review every category fell in the 'meets expectations' category and I did not receive the score I felt I deserved. I then broke down all the things I'd done, but my boss said no one knew, and labeled me a stealth worker. He said that I needed to make others more aware of my accomplishments and that perception is reality. So, I started keeping a journal in my pocket where I detailed all the ways I was going above and beyond. I composed a weekly report of all of my accomplishments to my boss and when the next review came, all of my scores fell in the 'always going above and beyond' category. My boss kept complimenting me on how far I've come along and how incredibly my performance improved. I told them the only thing that changed was how I documented my accomplishments and made them aware of them to which they replied that perception is reality. I get that now."
They frame this behavioral question to see how you cope with feedback, to glimpse your outlook/attitude, and to see how important self-improvement is to you. This will help them evaluate how you deal with those in positions of authority. How you frame your answer will clue them into your receptiveness to feedback, whether you're defensive or proactive, and what you learned from that feedback if anything at all.
Consider your example before offering it. Be humble in your answer. The key is to present yourself as calm and professional, with the goal of striving to improve your performance by learning and growing from your experiences on the job. Offering examples where you felt victimized, if justified, may not present in the same context you're trying to relay. Your answer should communicate how well you get along with others. Steer clear of examples where you felt a supervisor was victimizing you or singling you out. Even if a supervisor's actions were misguided or inappropriate, this is not the goal of the question.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I had a new manager and she had only been in place about 3 months prior to completing my evaluation. The evaluation was very limited and did not include things I had done all year long. We sat down and discussed it and I provided her with examples of things I had done over the course of the year. She changed the information and I was pleased.
Jaymie's Feedback
Good example! It sounds like you were able to use effective communication and approach your manager professionally and constructively to express why you disagreed with the evaluation.
Unlock all 30 Department of Veterans Affairs questions
Prepare for questions about serving those who served our nation.
Get Started