9.3 Performance Evaluation/Supervisory Evaluation
Some internships include formal evaluations for your supervisor to fill out before you finish at the site. They may even play a part in the grade you will receive for the course. Few people like being assessed by others, so it is essential that during this process, you remain flexible and open to the supervisor’s opinions. If the supervisor does not initiate a meeting to discuss the results, you may want to suggest one.
Whether you have a formal or informal performance evaluation, some disagreements at this point are common because no two people will see a situation in the same way. Understanding the reasoning behind the supervisor’s assessment of your performance will provide valuable information and probably peace of mind as well. You should expect that criticisms are a part of the process, and knowing that possibility in advance can help.
Some individuals find it more difficult to deal with criticism than others. You might want to keep in mind that the site supervisor is trying to help you improve in the areas you are weak. Just remember that the evaluation is not the end of the world. Take a deep breath and listen to what the supervisor has to say. While being critiqued by others can be difficult, it is an effective way to gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses from the point of view of someone with significant field experience.
Seeing how others perceive you can be a valuable source of information, but it is important to remember that many outside factors can influence a supervisor’s evaluation, too. For example, supervisors may have a style that clashes with yours. Like you, they can have a busy or a bad day. Moreover, some students have “A-itis,” which is to say that they think they must always do exceptionally well or something is wrong with them.
Even if your agency does not do formal evaluations, you will need to complete whatever process is required for your college or university. Whether this includes being graded on your specific learning outcomes, creating a portfolio, or another type of evaluation, there are certain activities that will help you prepare.
Using information from your self-reflection, make a list of what you feel are your biggest accomplishments over your time at the agency. Give concrete examples to support your list. Be sure to write down some of the challenges you faced along the way as well, and not only how you dealt with them, but what you learned from that situation. You might also want to review your learning objectives and list examples of how you have accomplished each of them. If there were barriers to completing an objective, note what happened. Finally, include how you will take this experience with you into the future. How has your internship influenced your future plans?
By planning ahead, you should feel comfortable and confident going into your final evaluation. You won’t have to try to remember everything that happened during your time at th