> > > One can be objective about anything but
> > oneself.
> >
> > I think this is true, and so I wonder why so
> > often employers have you fill out those
> > self-evaluation things when you apply for a
> > job. How can they possibly trust the results,
> > when they are so obviously skewed in favor of
> > the person filling out the application?
>
>
> Erm. I disagree. Isn't there a possibility that people might be harder on themselves than their boss might, maybe even subconciously to beat the boss to the punch?
>
> Mou"pretty sure that's how and why I do it"sie

Specifically towards job performance reviews, I've used self-evaluation forms to see if the employee has noticed the same areas that need improvement that I have noticed.

Other managers, those whose duties don't allow them to have enough contact with an employee to make an accurate and independent review, will use the self-evaluation as a basis for the official review. You give yourself a 4 or 5 in just about everything but give a 3 for one or two items and the reviewer takes that (plus a little discreet questioning of your co-workers).

-FP