It's that time of the year again: the time to prove you're worth everything the company pays you — and more.

        To showcase your achievements, you'll want to present your accomplishments in a well organized, thoughtful way. Your evidence should demonstrate you have excelled at your job in the past year without bragging or making empty claims. Know your strengths and highlight them well.

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        “You really need to blow your own horn — gently and persistently — because no one else will blow it for you,” says Patrick Lennahan, a career counselor and organizational consultant in Rhode Island. “Don't expect your boss to know anything that you haven't told him or her.”

        Gather your evidence

        You can quantify your accomplishments with a one- to two-page “professional accomplishments” summary. List your major accomplishments and show how you reduced costs, increased sales or improved the company, says Patti Hathaway, author of “Managing Upward: Strategies for Succeeding with Your Boss.”

        Before you start your list, find a copy of your job description or last year's review. Match your successes with your job requirements, your boss' priorities and the organization's mission.

        Don't forget: Getting positive PR for the company, serving on community boards or participating in volunteer activities that attract attention to the company might not be quantifiable, but they're worth mentioning.

        The more concrete examples you have to back up your achievements the better. Lin Grensing-Pophal, author of “Human Resource Essentials,” gives an example of a graphic designer who came to her annual review with samples of her work and showed how the direct-mail pieces she designed had improved sales for the company.

        But remember to keep your accomplishments list short. You're highlighting your successes, not the everyday duties you've performed over the last year.

        Present your case

        Once you have your list, prepare for your sit-down review as you would for a job interview. “Conduct your own self-appraisal or evaluation, and be objective,” says David Dunken, CEO of a professional staffing company in Atlanta.

        Practicing for a review with a friend or family member also can help prepare you for the boss' questions. After all, you'll want to be able to speak to your accomplishments clearly and confidently.

        When you talk to your supervisor, convey your drive and commitment to the company.

        “What I want to see in a self-review more than anything else is energy and enthusiasm,” says Kathleen Myers, a corporate trainer in Iowa. “Everything else will be read with much more good will and optimism if the employee tells his or her story with the vitality of an employee who is determined to contribute and confident that they can find more and better ways to be of value to the company.”

        Although you may be prepared to make a case for superior performance that deserves a raise or a promotion, it's also important to listen to feedback from your boss.

        “Confidently accept responsibility for mistakes — even those of subordinates — and describe what you learned from them,” Myers says. “Managers know all too well that mistakes happen; your response is more important than the mistake itself.”

        Throughout your review, show how you're a team player. Giving credit to your colleagues where it's due won't overshadow your achievements; instead, it shows that you understand the benefits of collaboration.

        Getting a raise

        When the conversation turns to money, be prepared. Know in advance how much you will ask for and what you'll settle for. Expect to compromise.

        “If you want a raise or a promotion, this is the time to put the suggestion into motion with a solid foundation of information,” Lennahan says.

        Do research on a salary calculator to find out what others in your position in your region are paid. Knowing your worth shows your supervisor you are aware of the professional market. If you're being paid less than others in your profession, you have grounds to ask for a raise.

        The easiest way to ask for more money is to couch your request in the context of your achievements. Start with your high appraisal marks and successes, emphasizing your contributions and worth to the organization.

        If you don't get the raise you want, find out why and what you need to do next time to get it.

        “Ask for specific information about what you can do between now and your next review to improve your rating,” Grensing-Pophal says. “Then, follow up with your boss at certain points in the year to see whether you've improved your performance.”

        If a raise isn't possible, think about other perks that would make your work life more enjoyable, such as flex time, telecommuting or more vacation days, says Steven Rothberg, CEO of CollegeRecruiter.com.

        Lastly, if your review doesn't go as you had hoped, now is the time to start preparing for next year's. Sharpen your skills and apply your boss' suggestions. Use this review to understand what you need to do to get an excellent review next year — and the raise you want.

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