How to Set Up a Performance Review Cycle in HiBob

Learn how to configure and set up a performance review cycle in HiBob, including participant conditions, form selection, timelines, and review settings.

June 26, 2026 By Simon Hoyle

This guide walks you through setting up a performance review cycle in HiBob. The goal is to successfully configure a structured performance evaluation period by defining who participates, which feedback forms to use, and the schedule for self, peer, and manager reviews.

This guide is intended for HR administrators or performance cycle owners responsible for managing talent development events. You will use this workflow during the preparatory phase of any mid-year or end-of-year performance review before officially launching it to the company.

Creating a New Cycle

Step #1: Click Performance within the Talent navigation menu. — Click **Performance** within the Talent navigation menu.

Step #2: Click Manage cycles. — Click **Manage cycles**.

Step #3: Click + Create cycle. — Click **+ Create cycle**.

Type a name for your cycle, such as "FY26 EOY Review Cycle Draft".

Defining Participants

Step #5: Click Edit next to Select by condition to filter which employees will be included. — Click **Edit** next to Select by condition to filter which employees will be included.

Step #6: Click the first dropdown menu to select the data field. — Click the first dropdown menu to select the data field.

Step #7: Expand the Employment category. — Expand the **Employment** category.

Step #8: Select Employment type. — Select **Employment type**.

Step #9: Set the operator to equals. — Set the operator to **equals**.

Step #10: Click the value dropdown and select the relevant employment types (e.g., Permanent, Intern, Fixed-term Contract). — Click the value dropdown and select the relevant employment types (e.g., Permanent, Intern, Fixed-term Contract).

Step #11: Click Apply. — Click **Apply**.

Step #12: Click + Add condition to filter out employees who haven't worked at the company long enough. — Click **+ Add condition** to filter out employees who haven't worked at the company long enough.

Step #13: Click By field. — Click **By field**.

Search for and select Start date.

Step #15: Set the operator to less than. — Set the operator to **less than**.

Step #16: Click the date field and pick your cutoff date (e.g., three months prior to the cycle start). — Click the date field and pick your cutoff date (e.g., three months prior to the cycle start).

Step #17: Click Apply. — Click **Apply**.

Selecting Review Types

Step #18: Click + Add review type. — Click **+ Add review type**.

Step #19: Select Self to include self-reviews. — Select **Self** to include self-reviews.

Step #20: Click + Add review type again. — Click **+ Add review type** again.

Step #21: Select Peer to include peer evaluations. — Select **Peer** to include peer evaluations.

Step #22: Click Next to proceed to Form Setup. — Click **Next** to proceed to Form Setup.

Assigning Form Templates

Step #23: Click Set up form for the Self review. — Click **Set up form** for the Self review.

Step #24: Select Use a template. — Select **Use a template**.

Step #25: Locate your Self-Review template and click Select. — Locate your Self-Review template and click **Select**.

Step #26: Review the form details to ensure there are no typos, then click Done. — Review the form details to ensure there are no typos, then click **Done**.

Step #27: Click Use a template under the Manager review section. — Click **Use a template** under the Manager review section.

Step #28: Select your Manager Review template and click Select. — Select your Manager Review template and click **Select**.

Step #29: Review the form and click Done. — Review the form and click **Done**.

Step #30: Click Set up form for the Peer review. — Click **Set up form** for the Peer review.

Step #31: Select Use a template. — Select **Use a template**.

Step #32: Choose your Peer Feedback template and click Select. — Choose your Peer Feedback template and click **Select**.

Step #33: Review the questions and click Done. — Review the questions and click **Done**.

Step #34: Click Next to proceed to Review Settings. — Click **Next** to proceed to Review Settings.

Configuring Review Settings and Ratings

Step #35: Check Allow managers to access self review before completing so managers have appropriate context. — Check **Allow managers to access self review before completing** so managers have appropriate context.

Step #36: Check Automatically share manager reviews with reviewees when the whole cycle ends to limit visibility until ratings are finalized. — Check **Automatically share manager reviews with reviewees when the whole cycle ends** to limit visibility until ratings are finalized.

Leave the notification box unticked to avoid receiving hundreds of emails in your inbox when reviews are completed.

Step #38: Toggle the switch to combine scores into an overall rating, if your cycle uses combined evaluation scores. — Toggle the switch to combine scores into an overall rating, if your cycle uses combined evaluation scores.

Step #39: Click + Add questions. — Click **+ Add questions**.

Step #40: Select the goal and performance rating questions from the manager review you want calculated. — Select the goal and performance rating questions from the manager review you want calculated.

Step #42: Click Next to proceed to the Timeline setup. — Click **Next** to proceed to the Timeline setup.

Establishing Timelines

Step #43: Select the primary Planned cycle start date and Cycle end date for the entire review event. — Select the primary **Planned cycle start date** and **Cycle end date** for the entire review event.

Step #44: Toggle Set specific dates for each review type if you require a staggered timeline. — Toggle **Set specific dates for each review type** if you require a staggered timeline.

Review Type	Start Date	End Date
Self Review	Cycle start date	Custom close date
Peer Review	Cycle start date	Custom close date
Manager Review	Follows Self/Peer close	Custom close date

Step #45: Configure the custom dates for each review type using the calendar fields. — Configure the custom dates for each review type using the calendar fields.

Leave "Allow reviewers to submit their reviews anytime in the cycle" unticked so specific timeline stages close off appropriately. Extensions can be manually provided later.

Finalizing Setup

Step #47: Review the default reminder settings and click Next. — Review the default reminder settings and click **Next**.

Step #48: Review the invitation emails and click Finish setup. — Review the invitation emails and click **Finish setup**.

Step #49: To manually add an individual who did not meet your condition filters, click the Add Person icon on the summary page. — To manually add an individual who did not meet your condition filters, click the **Add Person** icon on the summary page.

Step #50: To modify the cycle before launch, click Actions and select Edit. — To modify the cycle before launch, click **Actions** and select **Edit**.

Q: Can I manually add employees to the cycle if they don't match the condition filters?

A: Yes, you can manually add individuals to the cycle using the Add Person icon after finishing the setup, provided they are active employees and have a manager assigned in the system.

Q: Will managers receive an email every time a direct report completes a review?

A: If the notification box under Review Settings is left unticked, the cycle owner will not receive emails for every completion. If enabled, expect a high volume of notifications.

Q: Can reviewers submit their feedback after the specific review period ends?

A: Only if the "Allow reviewers to submit their reviews anytime in the cycle" box is ticked. Otherwise, the cycle strictly closes on the specified end date, though administrators can manually grant individual extensions.

Q: Can I change timeline dates after the cycle has launched?

A: You can extend a specific custom review period (like the self-review) as long as that specific period is still running. Once a custom period closes, you cannot automatically reopen it.

Term	Definition
Performance Cycle	A structured, company-wide event where employees, peers, and managers evaluate performance over a set timeframe.
Cycle Owner	The administrative user responsible for setting up, adjusting, and officially launching the performance cycle within the HR platform.
Calibration Activity	The process where leaders discuss and adjust proposed performance ratings to ensure consistent standards across the business.
Goal Cycle	A set period used to track individual and company objectives, which can be pulled into a performance review to evaluate achievements.