---
title: Self Reviews
slug: self-reviews
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-10-15T15:29:14.224Z
---



# How to Configure a Self Review in ChartHop

**What is a Self Review?** A Self Review allows employees to evaluate their own performance. The responses are typically shared with their manager.

## Before You Start: Key Decisions

### Decision 1: Questions vs. Custom Fields

You have two options when building your form:

**Option A: Questions Only**

- Responses are stored only within the form
- Simpler to set up
- Query or report on responses across the platform using ID's rather than fields

**Option B: Questions Connected to Custom Fields**

- Responses are stored as custom fields in ChartHop
- Can be queried, filtered, and reported on across the platform
- Best for tracking performance data over time

**Need help deciding?** Contact your Customer Success Manager to discuss which approach fits your organization's needs.

### Decision 2: Who Can See Responses?

For Self Reviews, we recommend **Manager-Shared** access:

- The employee can see their own responses
- The employee's manager can see the responses
- Promotes transparency and enables better performance conversations

## Step 1: Build Your Form

**Navigate to: **People Ops Tools → Forms → Create Form → Self Review

### Add a Header (Optional but Recommended)

Add helpful context at the top of your form to guide employees. Examples:

- An image of your rating scale (e.g., 1-5 scale definitions)
- Links to your company values or competency framework
- Brief instructions on how to complete the review

### Add Your Questions

Choose the question type that fits what you're asking:

| Question Type   | Best Used For                           |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Long Text       | Open-ended responses, detailed examples |
| Short Text      | Brief answers, single sentences         |
| Single Select   | One choice from multiple options        |
| Multi-Select    | Multiple choices from a list            |
| Numeric Scale   | Rating questions (1-5, 1-10, etc.)      |
| Yes/No          | Binary questions                        |
| Number Value    | Numerical data (goals completed, etc.)  |
| Person Value    | Selecting a person from your org        |
| File Attachment | Supporting documents                    |

### If Using Custom Fields

For each question connected to a custom field, configure:

- **Applies to:** Select "People"
- **Track changes over time:** Check this box (preserves historical data)
- **Sensitivity:** Select "Manager-Shared"

## Step 2: Configure Form Settings

### Status

- **Start with:** "Inactive" (draft mode while building)
- **When ready to launch:** "Active"
- **When finished:** "Archived"

### Distribution Settings

**1. Who is this form about?**

- Select: "The person completing the form"

**2. Should this form automatically appear on profiles?**

Choose based on how you'll manage your review process:

- **Task-Based (Recommended):** Select "Only if there is a pending task" 
  - *Use this if you'll create review tasks for employees*
  - *Gives you control over who completes reviews and when*
- **Self-Guided:** Select "Yes, on everyone's profile" 
  - *Use this if employees should access reviews anytime*
  - *Reviews are always available without tasks*
- **Custom Group:** Select "Only specific people's profiles (Custom)" 
  - *Use this for specific teams or roles*
  - *Requires setting up a custom filter*

### Access & Anonymity

**1. How should the identity of the respondent be recorded?**

- Select: "Identified" (people know who completed the review)

**2. Who can see the identity of the respondent?**

- Select: "Anyone who can view the form response"

**3. Who can view the form responses?**

- Select: "Default"

### Form Completion

**1. Allow saving drafts?**

- Select: "Yes" (Recommended)
- *Employees can save progress and return later*

**2. Populate form with previous responses?**

- Select: "No, start with a blank form every time"
- *Ensures fresh reflection for each review cycle*

**3. How would you like your form to display?**

- **Pop-up:** Opens in a modal window
- **Standalone page:** Opens in a full page view
- *Choose based on your preference - both work well*

### After Submission Settings

**Approval**

- Decide if managers need to approve self reviews before they're finalized
- This is optional - choose based on your review process

**Editing**

- **Recommended:** Allow respondent to edit "Until it's approved" OR "For a period of time"
- *Gives employees flexibility to refine their responses*

**Export**

- Decide if employees can export their review as a PDF
- *Useful if employees want to keep personal copies*

### Notifications

**Email responses to:** (Recommended)

- ☑ The person who completed the form
- ☑ The manager of the person who completed the form

*This ensures both parties know when the self review is submitted*

## Step 3: Create the Profile Tab

Profile tabs display review responses on employee profiles. This makes it easy to view current and historical review data.

### Navigate to Profile Tabs

Navigate to **Admin → Profile Content**.

**To create a new tab:**

1. Click the + icon
2. Name the tab "Performance Reviews"
3. Name the column "Self Review"

**To add to an existing tab:**

1. Click into the existing tab
2. Add a new column
3. Name the column header "Self Review"

### Configure the Self Review Tab

**1. Display on the profile of:**

- If all employees complete this review: Select "Everyone in the org"
- If only specific employees: Use "Custom" and create a filter

**2. Visible to:**

- Select: "The person, and the person's managers" (Recommended)
- *Maintains transparency between employee and manager*

**3. Columns:**

- Under "Form Responses History," select your Self Review form
- *This pulls in the responses from your form*

## Step 4: Activate Everything

### Activate the Form

1. Set Status to "Active"
2. Test the form yourself before rolling out

### Activate the Profile Tab

1. Scroll to the top of the Profile Tab settings
2. Toggle the profile tab to "Active"

## Testing Your Self Review

Before launching to your organization:

1. **Complete the form yourself** - Check that all questions appear correctly
2. **Check the profile tab** - Verify responses display as expected
3. **Test notifications** - Confirm emails are sent properly
4. **Review with a colleague** - Get a second set of eyes on the setup

## Common Questions

**Can I edit the form after it's active?** Yes, but be careful. Changes will affect any in-progress reviews. If reviews are underway, consider creating a new version for the next cycle.

**What if I want different questions for different teams? **You have two options depending on your needs:

**Option 1: Completely different question sets** - Create separate Self Review forms for each team and use the "Custom" distribution option to target specific groups.

**Option 2: Mostly similar questions with a few differences** - Use conditional questions within a single form. Select "Conditional" on any question that should only appear for certain people, then add a filter to specify who should see it.

**Can employees see past self reviews?** Yes, if you've set up the Profile Tab. All historical responses will appear on their profile (visible to them and their managers).

**What happens if someone's manager changes mid-review?** The new manager will automatically have access to the review responses based on the current reporting structure.

##