You come in on a Wednesday and your manager wants to see you, or better yet, there is a calendar invite in your email titled “One-on-One.” You, of course, are shitting a brick because you know that you fell short on the sales goals from last month. You go into your manager’s office and ding ding ding, he/she slides you that good ole Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). After you sign the form and go back to your desk feeling defeated, you have a decision to make: Are you going to dust the cobwebs off your resume or are you going to fight like hell to keep your job?
I say, do both.
Before we move forward I will need to describe what a PIP is –
A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a document, usually generated by HR that describes specific instances of poor work performance while providing steps an employee can take to improve his or her performance. So in street terms, it is a professional way that your manager can tell you to get your shit together. The document will also explain how you can get your shit together, and if you do not/cannot get said shit together, they have “cause” to pack your cubicle up and send you on your way.
Follow me? Ok!
Back to what I was explaining before. I say do both: dust the cobwebs off of your resume and fight like hell to keep your job.
Heres why:
Dusting off your resume won’t hurt. Some companies use PIP’s as the start of paperwork that will eventually result in employment termination. After you have received your PIP read the details of the PIP, especially the goals. If the PIP entail goals that are measurable and reachable, that may mean your manager is truly wanting you to improve, as it is called a performance improvement plan after all.
If you really want to stay at your current job though, don’t pull back from your commitment there. Be very careful. If one of the areas of concern was you being unorganized, create spreadsheets with your tasks. You can continue to give your all at your current job while looking into other opportunities too. It won’t hurt anything to update your resume or do a little hunting while working your PIP.
Watch How You Move
The situation can result in many ways. Either you can stay with the organization or you all may part ways. Either way, keep it “cute” and professional. Don’t cause a scene. Don’t go around telling everyone that your PIP was unfair. Simply try your best to improve on the things that were addressed while simultaneously being prepared for a potential exit. If they decide to keep you, that’s great! If they don’t, keep it moving because another opportunity will come that hopefully will be better than the last.