The Day of the Appraisal

Arif had been working at BrightSpark Electronics for almost a year. Fresh out of college, this was his first real job, and he had poured his energy into every task—whether it was answering customer calls, troubleshooting devices, or arranging stock shelves. Now, it was the day he had been both waiting for and dreading: his first annual job appraisal.

The email from HR the previous week had been polite but vague—

> “Please attend your appraisal meeting with Mr. Khan on Monday at 10:00 a.m.”



All weekend, Arif’s mind had been a restless storm. Did I meet all my targets? Did I mess up that big client order in March? Will they offer a raise? Or worse… will they say I’m not good enough?

That Monday morning, Arif arrived earlier than usual. His shirt was freshly ironed, shoes polished, and his hair neatly combed. Still, his hands trembled slightly as he clutched his notebook.

Mr. Khan’s office door was open. Inside, the manager was seated at his desk, reviewing a file. He looked up and gave Arif a small smile.
“Ah, Arif. Come in, have a seat.”

Arif sat down, feeling as though every second was being weighed. Mr. Khan closed the file and folded his hands.
“So, Arif, how do you think your first year went?”

The question caught Arif off guard. He had prepared to listen, not to speak first.
“Well, sir,” Arif began cautiously, “I’ve tried to give my best in every task. I learned a lot—especially about handling customers patiently. I… I hope I’ve met your expectations.”

Mr. Khan’s expression didn’t change, but he nodded for him to continue.
“I know I made a few mistakes, like the order mix-up in March, but I made sure it didn’t happen again. I also trained the new interns during the summer, which was a good experience for me.”

When Arif stopped, the silence felt heavy. Mr. Khan leaned back and finally spoke.
“Arif, I’ve been observing you closely this year. You’re diligent, reliable, and willing to learn. These are rare qualities. But I’ll be honest—your communication skills need polishing. Sometimes you get too caught up in the technical side and forget to explain things in a simple way to customers.”

Arif’s heart sank a little, but he nodded. “I understand, sir. I’ll work on that.”

Mr. Khan’s tone softened.
“That’s why we do these appraisals—not to list mistakes, but to help you grow. Now, let’s talk about the positives. You handled over 400 customer requests this year, with a 95% satisfaction rating. That’s impressive for a first-year employee. You also suggested rearranging the stock system, which saved us hours of work each week.”

Arif felt warmth spread through him. He hadn’t realized anyone had noticed those efforts.

“Because of this,” Mr. Khan continued, “we’re increasing your salary by 12% and moving you to a more customer-facing role. This will challenge your communication skills while giving you more responsibility.”

For a moment, Arif couldn’t speak. Relief, pride, and gratitude mixed in his chest. “Thank you, sir. I won’t disappoint you.”

Mr. Khan smiled. “I believe you won’t. Remember, Arif, a job isn’t just about doing tasks—it’s about growing as a professional and as a person.”

The meeting ended, but as Arif walked back to his desk, the office seemed brighter. His coworkers glanced up with curious smiles, and though he didn’t announce anything, they could see the spring in his step.

Later that day, as he handled a tricky customer call, he remembered Mr. Khan’s words about clear communication. This time, instead of using technical jargon, he explained the issue in simple terms. The customer laughed and said, “I finally understand! Thanks.”

That small success felt like a victory. Arif realized that the appraisal wasn’t the end of a chapter—it was the beginning of a new one. He now had the confidence of knowing his work mattered and the determination to improve where he needed to.

That night, he told his parents about the raise. His mother’s eyes shone with pride, and his father clapped him on the back. “See? Hard work pays off,” his father said.

Lying in bed later, Arif thought about how far he’d come from the nervous boy who had first walked into BrightSpark Electronics. The road ahead was still long, but now he walked it with steadier steps, knowing that growth wasn’t just about promotions or paychecks—it was about becoming the best version of himself.