Probation & Appraisal Calendar, Review Form and Manager Guide
A year-round calendar, a one-page review form and a manager guide that makes appraisals fair and documented.
I wanted one visible review cycle so expectations, evidence and confirmation decisions are documented rather than left to memory.
I designed the calendar, review form and manager guide as a self-initiated portfolio project. I have not run an appraisal cycle in a live organisation.
I linked an April–March review cycle to regular evidence collection, anchored ratings and a separate probation track.
Calendar
FY April–March
Apr: outcome letters and increments
Probation track
- Day 1 goals
- Day 30, 60, 90 check-ins
- Month 5 pre-confirmation review
- Month 6 confirmation decision (probation length follows company policy)
One-page review form
Blank review template. Use employee IDs rather than names; do not enter real personal or confidential information in this portfolio demo.
Goals (max 5)
| Goal | Measure | Weight | Rating | Evidence for score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Goal weights should total 100%. 0%
Competencies
| Criterion | Behavioural example |
|---|---|
| communication | |
| ownership | |
| collaboration | |
| quality |
Sign-off
Rating anchors
1 · Below expectations
Misses an agreed deadline or quality measure without flagging the risk.
3 · Meets
Delivers the agreed measure on time with the expected quality.
5 · Exceeds
Exceeds the agreed measure with documented improvements and no loss of quality.
Manager guide
Five steps
- 01set goals early
- 02collect evidence monthly
- 03give feedback using Situation–Behaviour–Impact
- 04rate against anchors, not against peers
- 05document and calibrate
Bias traps to avoid
Keep a monthly evidence log across the full review period.
Score each goal and competency separately before assigning an overall rating.
Use role-based evidence rather than shared interests or backgrounds.
Compare evidence with the agreed rating anchors during calibration.
Use the full rating scale when the evidence supports it, rather than defaulting to the middle.
Probation-specific
share expectations on Day 1, document check-ins, give written notice of concerns early, decide on time.
This is a proposed calendar and review form, not a tested appraisal system. Probation length follows company policy. Rating examples are illustrative and must be agreed for each role.
I would test the form with a mock review, check that goal weights total 100%, and refine the anchors with reviewer feedback.