Decoding letters of reference

Dictionary of Evaluation Comments

Some of you might like to know what the supervisor is really saying in all those glowing employee work performance evaluations s/he keeps cranking out.

AVERAGE 

Not too bright.

EXCEPTIONALLY WELL QUALIFIED 

Has committed no major blunders to date.

ACTIVE SOCIALLY 

Drinks heavily.

ZEALOUS ATTITUDE 

Opinionated.

CHARACTER ABOVE REPROACH 

Still one step ahead of the law.

UNLIMITED POTENTIAL 

Will stick with us until retirement.

QUICK THINKING 

Offers plausible excuses for errors.

TAKES PRIDE IN WORK 

Conceited.

TAKES ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPERTUNITY TO PROGRESS 

Buys drinks for superiors.

INDIFFERENT TO INSTRUCTION 

Knows more than superiors.

STERN DISCIPLINARIAN 

A real jerk.

TACTFUL IN DEALING WITH SUPERIORS 

Knows when to keep mouth shut.

APPROACHES DIFFICULT PROBLEMS WITH LOGIC 

Finds someone else to do the job.

A KEEN ANALYST 

Thoroughly confused.

NOT A DESK PERSON 

Did not go to college.

EXPRESSES SELF WELL 

Can string two sentences together.

SPENDS EXTRA HOURS ON THE JOB 

Miserable home life.

CONSCIENTIOUS AND CAREFUL 

Scared.

METICULOUS IN ATTENTION TO DETAIL 

A nitpicker.

DEMONSTRATES QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP 

Has a loud voice.

JUDGEMENT IS USUALLY SOUND 

Lucky.

MAINTAINS PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE 

A snob.

KEEN SENSE OF HUMOR 

Knows lots of dirty jokes.

STRONG ADHERENCE TO PRINCIPLES 

Stubborn.

GETS ALONG EXTREMELY WELL WITH SUPERIORS AND SUBORDINATES ALIKE 

A coward.

SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE 

Stupid.

OF GREAT VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION 

Turns in work on time.

IS UNUSUALLY LOYAL 

Wanted by no-one else.

ALERT TO COMPANY DEVELOPMENTS 

An office gossip.

REQUIRES WORK-VALUE ATTITUDINAL READJUSTMENT 

Lazy and hard-headed.

HARD WORKER 

Usually does it the hard way.

ENJOYS JOB 

Needs more to do.

HAPPY 

Paid too much.

WELL ORGANIZED 

Does too much busywork.

COMPETENT 

Is still able to get work done if supervisor helps.

CONSULTS WITH SUPERVISOR OFTEN 

Pain in the ass.

WILL GO FAR 

Relative of management.

SHOULD GO FAR 

Please.

USES TIME EFFECTIVELY 

Clock watcher.

VERY CREATIVE 

Finds 22 reasons to do anything except original work.

USES RESOURSES WELL 

Delagates everything.

DESERVES PROMOTION 

Create new title to make h/h feel appreciated.