Performance review template with self and manager views

Updated 2026-10-30

Reviews go wrong when the manager writes from memory and the employee first sees it in the room. I like to ask both people the same questions beforehand. This performance review template does that, and it doubles as an employee evaluation form.

Looking back. Name, review period and who is filling it in. Then which goals were met, and how. This sets the facts before the opinions.

Ratings. Short scores for progress on goals, quality of work, teamwork and initiative. Same scale and same words for everyone, so the two views compare.

Looking ahead. Up to three strengths, one skill to build and the support needed, such as training or mentoring. This part drives the conversation.

Who fills it and who reads it

The employee fills in one response and the manager fills in another. HR or the manager reads both in the CSV. An employee's AI might ask: "Which goals did you meet this period?" Then "How would you rate your teamwork, from 1 to 5?" Then "Which skill do you want to build next?" It shows the answers and sends them only after a yes. See agent-fillable forms.

A tip

Compare each pair of rows before the meeting. A gap of two points between self and manager is the first thing to talk about. Agreed a course? Use a training registration form, and check it worked with a training feedback form. More in forms for HR and recruiting.

Questions

Can employees use it as a self evaluation form?

Yes. One question asks whether the person filling it in is the employee or the manager. Send the link to both and compare the two rows in the CSV.

Is the rating scale fixed?

Each rating runs from 1 to 5. You can change the labels or add a rating before you share the link. Keep the same scale for everyone in a review round.

Should the form make the final decision?

No. Use it to prepare the conversation, not replace it. Talk through the answers together, and keep final ratings and records in your own HR process.

Try the form

Live demo ยท nothing is saved

Review time: how has it gone?

Answer honestly and give examples where you can. We will talk it through together afterwards.

For example: January to June 2026.

Who is filling this in? (required)
Progress against agreed goals

1 is well behind, 5 is well ahead.

Quality of work
Working with others
Starting things without being asked
Strengths that stood out

Pick up to three.

What support would help?
Use this templateAll templates

Or paste the JSON

Give this to your AI. It needs the AI Form API MCP server or an API key. It makes the form and sends you the link.

text
Create this form with the AI Form API create_form tool (or POST https://aiformapi.com/v1/forms with my API key). Then reply with the public_url.

{
  "title": "Review time: how has it gone?",
  "description": "Answer honestly and give examples where you can. We will talk it through together afterwards.",
  "fields": [
    {
      "id": "employee_name",
      "label": "Name of the person being reviewed",
      "type": "short_text",
      "required": true,
      "max_length": 150
    },
    {
      "id": "review_period",
      "label": "Review period",
      "type": "short_text",
      "required": true,
      "help": "For example: January to June 2026.",
      "max_length": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "filled_by",
      "label": "Who is filling this in?",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "required": true,
      "options": [
        "The employee (self evaluation)",
        "The manager"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "goals_met",
      "label": "Which goals were met, and how?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 2000
    },
    {
      "id": "goals_progress",
      "label": "Progress against agreed goals",
      "type": "rating",
      "help": "1 is well behind, 5 is well ahead.",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "work_quality",
      "label": "Quality of work",
      "type": "rating",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "teamwork_score",
      "label": "Working with others",
      "type": "rating",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "initiative_score",
      "label": "Starting things without being asked",
      "type": "rating",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "top_strengths",
      "label": "Strengths that stood out",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "help": "Pick up to three.",
      "options": [
        "Reliability",
        "Communication",
        "Problem solving",
        "Leadership",
        "Creativity",
        "Customer care",
        "Technical skill"
      ],
      "max": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "skill_to_build",
      "label": "One skill to build next period",
      "type": "short_text",
      "max_length": 300
    },
    {
      "id": "support_needed",
      "label": "What support would help?",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "options": [
        "A training course",
        "Mentoring",
        "More responsibility",
        "Clearer priorities",
        "A different project",
        "More frequent feedback"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "talking_points",
      "label": "Anything else for the review conversation?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 2000
    }
  ]
}

Or call the API

bash
curl -X POST https://aiformapi.com/v1/forms \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AIFORMAPI_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"title":"Review time: how has it gone?","description":"Answer honestly and give examples where you can. We will talk it through together afterwards.","fields":[{"id":"employee_name","label":"Name of the person being reviewed","type":"short_text","required":true,"max_length":150},{"id":"review_period","label":"Review period","type":"short_text","required":true,"help":"For example: January to June 2026.","max_length":100},{"id":"filled_by","label":"Who is filling this in?","type":"single_choice","required":true,"options":["The employee (self evaluation)","The manager"]},{"id":"goals_met","label":"Which goals were met, and how?","type":"long_text","max_length":2000},{"id":"goals_progress","label":"Progress against agreed goals","type":"rating","help":"1 is well behind, 5 is well ahead.","min":1,"max":5},{"id":"work_quality","label":"Quality of work","type":"rating","min":1,"max":5},{"id":"teamwork_score","label":"Working with others","type":"rating","min":1,"max":5},{"id":"initiative_score","label":"Starting things without being asked","type":"rating","min":1,"max":5},{"id":"top_strengths","label":"Strengths that stood out","type":"multi_choice","help":"Pick up to three.","options":["Reliability","Communication","Problem solving","Leadership","Creativity","Customer care","Technical skill"],"max":3},{"id":"skill_to_build","label":"One skill to build next period","type":"short_text","max_length":300},{"id":"support_needed","label":"What support would help?","type":"multi_choice","options":["A training course","Mentoring","More responsibility","Clearer priorities","A different project","More frequent feedback"]},{"id":"talking_points","label":"Anything else for the review conversation?","type":"long_text","max_length":2000}]}'

JSON definition

json
{
  "title": "Review time: how has it gone?",
  "description": "Answer honestly and give examples where you can. We will talk it through together afterwards.",
  "fields": [
    {
      "id": "employee_name",
      "label": "Name of the person being reviewed",
      "type": "short_text",
      "required": true,
      "max_length": 150
    },
    {
      "id": "review_period",
      "label": "Review period",
      "type": "short_text",
      "required": true,
      "help": "For example: January to June 2026.",
      "max_length": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "filled_by",
      "label": "Who is filling this in?",
      "type": "single_choice",
      "required": true,
      "options": [
        "The employee (self evaluation)",
        "The manager"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "goals_met",
      "label": "Which goals were met, and how?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 2000
    },
    {
      "id": "goals_progress",
      "label": "Progress against agreed goals",
      "type": "rating",
      "help": "1 is well behind, 5 is well ahead.",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "work_quality",
      "label": "Quality of work",
      "type": "rating",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "teamwork_score",
      "label": "Working with others",
      "type": "rating",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "initiative_score",
      "label": "Starting things without being asked",
      "type": "rating",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "top_strengths",
      "label": "Strengths that stood out",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "help": "Pick up to three.",
      "options": [
        "Reliability",
        "Communication",
        "Problem solving",
        "Leadership",
        "Creativity",
        "Customer care",
        "Technical skill"
      ],
      "max": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "skill_to_build",
      "label": "One skill to build next period",
      "type": "short_text",
      "max_length": 300
    },
    {
      "id": "support_needed",
      "label": "What support would help?",
      "type": "multi_choice",
      "options": [
        "A training course",
        "Mentoring",
        "More responsibility",
        "Clearer priorities",
        "A different project",
        "More frequent feedback"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "talking_points",
      "label": "Anything else for the review conversation?",
      "type": "long_text",
      "max_length": 2000
    }
  ]
}