I am actually struggling these days about the performance review, exact same situation that ChuanShang is experiencing. The only difference is that I am a new employee at a big company and have only been there for 9 months. I heard that my review is the lowest within the team, even though I am still meeting performance goals, not those "need improvement" ones...But I am worried about any possible 2009 layoffs.
The review came as a surprise as I thought I did everything that I was expected, there was no specific goals either when I joined, only communication betweem me and my boss. I actually also wrote down what he said and sent to him as well. The review criteria was the first time I saw them.
I am scheduling a meeting to talk to my boss about it in the next several days. My goal is to understand where he comes from, instead of chanllenging him. Do you have any advice for me?
Thanks!