Performance Reviews
Performance reviews as a formal evaluation system are confirmed for the Q1 2026 roadmap in inZOI. The current Early Access version uses a career bar system to track promotion progress rather than formal reviews. Zois advance in their careers by completing workplace tasks, responding to chance card events, and reaching skill thresholds. When the career bar fills to 100%, the Zoi becomes eligible for promotion. The 2026 roadmap will add a structured performance evaluation system alongside the existing mechanics.
Current Promotion System
Career advancement in the current version is driven by a progress bar visible through the Career app on the smartphone. Open the Career icon to check how much progress remains until the next promotion.
Career Bar
Every career has a progress gauge that fills as your Zoi works. When the bar reaches 100%, your Zoi becomes eligible for promotion. The promotion is applied the next morning before heading to work, and you receive a text message confirming the advancement. In some cases, even with a full bar, your Zoi may need to wait for a vacancy in the next position before the promotion triggers.
What Fills the Career Bar
Three factors contribute to filling the career bar:
Factor | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
Task completion | Active careers display a task list in the top-left corner during work shifts. Tasks are organized by time of day (morning, afternoon). Complete them by interacting with workplace objects. | Primary driver of career progress. Completing tasks quickly fills the bar faster. |
Work events and chance cards | Random events and dilemmas appear during work shifts. You choose how your Zoi responds (e.g., console a teammate or step up to carry harder). | Successful responses add significant progress to the career bar. |
Attendance | Simply showing up to work on time and staying for the full shift contributes steady progress. | Base contribution. Shortening your workday reduces this. Extending hours does not increase it. |
Promotion Speed by Career Type
The two career types have significantly different promotion timelines:
Career Type | Promotion Speed | Working Days per Week | How Progress Works |
|---|---|---|---|
Active (on-site) | 3 to 4 working days (roughly 1 in-game week) | 4 days/week | Direct task completion and event responses. Player has full control. |
Rabbit hole (off-site) | 8 to 10 working days (roughly 3 in-game weeks) | 3 days/week | Progress based on attendance and periodic event choices. No direct task control. |
Active careers promote much faster because the player can directly complete tasks and respond to events in real time. Rabbit hole careers rely more on passive attendance, making advancement slower but requiring less active management.
Work Events and Chance Cards
During work shifts, Zois encounter random events and dilemmas that test their judgment. These appear as on-screen prompts with two or more response options. Your choice affects both the career bar and potentially your Zoi's relationships with coworkers.
Examples of workplace dilemmas include choosing between consoling a struggling teammate or stepping up to handle their workload yourself. The "right" answer varies by situation, and some choices carry risk: a bold response might yield more career progress on success but could backfire if the outcome is negative.
Chance cards appear randomly and are distinct from regular tasks. They ask how your Zoi should respond or act in a specific workplace scenario, with the outcome carrying a chance of significant job progression. Successfully navigating these events is one of the fastest ways to fill the career bar.
Skill Requirements for Promotion
Many careers have skill thresholds that must be met alongside the career bar to qualify for promotion. The career bar can be full at 100%, but if the required skill level has not been reached, the promotion will not trigger.
Career Field | Associated Skill |
|---|---|
Developer (DW Soft, Blue Moon Soft) | |
Lawyer (Justitia, Themis & Jones) | |
Reporter (Mirror of the Times, Bliss Bay Times) | |
Entertainment Planning (Adam Entertainment) | |
Building relevant skills before starting a career means faster promotions. Zois who begin a career with high skill levels can advance through early tiers very quickly, as the skill threshold is already met and only the career bar needs to fill.
Schedule and Attendance
Consistent attendance is essential for career advancement. Key attendance rules:
Rule | Details |
|---|---|
Three unexcused absences | result in termination. You receive a text message notification when fired. |
Shortening the workday | reduces career bar progress for that shift. Leaving early means less progress toward promotion. |
Extending hours | does not accelerate promotion progress. There is no benefit to staying past the scheduled end time. |
Autonomy setting | if Autonomy is enabled in your Zoi's settings, they automatically attend work when their shift starts. If disabled, you must manually click the Calendar icon below their portrait to send them to work. |
Career Promotion Tiers
Each career has between 2 and 5 promotion tiers. Higher tiers bring increased daily wages. The Firefighter career has the most promotion stages in the game with five tiers:
Example: Firefighter | Daily Wage (Meow) |
|---|---|
Trainee Firefighter | 297 |
Lieutenant | 594 |
Captain | 693 |
Battalion Chief | 1,197 |
Assistant Chief | 1,395 |
Top-tier wages vary significantly between careers. Partner Lawyers earn 2,040 Meow/day, while a Gang Boss earns 2,169 Meow/day. Part-time careers have only 1 to 2 tiers, with Manager positions typically capping at 918 Meow/day.
2026 Roadmap: Formal Performance Evaluation
The 2026 roadmap confirms that the career system will be enhanced with a formal performance evaluation system in Q1 2026. This is listed alongside several other career improvements:
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Performance evaluation | a structured review system that affects career progression, going beyond the current career bar mechanic. This could introduce periodic reviews where your Zoi's work quality, skill levels, and workplace behavior are formally assessed. |
Multiple jobs | the ability to hold more than one position, which would make performance tracking more complex across multiple employers. |
Job interviews | a pre-employment evaluation process. See Job Interviews. |
Remote work | the ability to work from home as part of a career. See Remote Work. |
The formal evaluation system is expected to add depth to the career experience by providing structured feedback on your Zoi's job performance. How this will interact with the existing career bar, chance card events, and skill requirements remains to be seen. As with all roadmap items, implementation details and timing may change during development.
Tips for Faster Promotions
Complete all tasks as quickly as possible during active career shifts. Task completion is the fastest way to fill the career bar.
Choose carefully during work event dilemmas. Bold responses can yield larger rewards but carry more risk.
Build relevant skills before or alongside your career. A full career bar without the required skill level will stall your promotion.
Do not shorten your workday. Staying for the full shift provides maximum attendance-based progress.
Active careers promote roughly three times faster than rabbit hole careers. Choose active careers if rapid advancement is your priority.
Monitor your career bar through the smartphone Career app to track your progress toward the next promotion.
Maintain a positive mood. Positive emotions can improve workplace performance, while negative states like Bored or Uncomfortable may hinder progress.