Ask HN: How do I overcome a PiP at a startup? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How do I overcome a PiP at a startup?

I have been put on a performance improvement program at a venture funded SaaS startup. I would like to ask my fellow HN readers if they have any advice on how to overcome the stigma and what should I do that I come out of the PiP without getting fired and also more better and stronger.

I am in a business (non-tech) role and I really love this job and I also don't want to be fired. I am unable to find other jobs as surprisingly I am overqualified because of my age (35+) and work exp (15+). I am a manager but in IC role. I want to avoid taking a career break.

Any help and stories would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

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You don't. You leave. The die is cast, and the decision has been made. The bozo bit has been set. Those in charge want you gone, likely for some personal vendetta. So what? You fell in with the wrong people. Do not waste another minute of your precious life worrying about this situation.

As a wise taxi driver once said to me "It's not your Daddy's company." Fuck them. Do you really think that people are going to say "There's Stan. He was on a PiP, but now he's straightened out and flying right." Of course they aren't -- these are the narcissistic bullying types which put you in this position in the first place. Nobody likes drama, except these louses of people who foist it on innocent, well-meaning types like you. Engaging with this drama will drain your self-esteem. They have already got you in such a spin you are asking randoms on this site for help. Disengage quietly, and don't feed the beast.

A PiP is a tool used so that they can fire you "with cause" to reduce their liability.

Good luck, and remember: fuck 'em.

[follow-up after giving this some thought]

The "misalignment" that other people have mentioned stems from this: You nobly think you can work your way out of the situation, but the people with whom you are dealing are very much not acting in good faith as you are. Until the moment you see and acknowledge this fact, you will be in a state of confusion as to why, if you are working to improve things, that they aren't getting any better.

Ask yourself why they have chosen this route. If they were decent, and had your best interests at heart, surely a serious and collegiate discussion could have taken place before using this rather extreme "last-chance" option.

I hope you come to your senses very soon and see how they are behaving. Only then will you be able to assess your options in the cold light of day.

Once again, good luck.

> If they were decent, and had your best interests at heart, surely a serious and collegiate discussion could have taken place before

How do you know they haven’t and that OP hasn’t failed those as well?

> How do you know they haven’t and that OP hasn’t failed those as well?

Ah. You clever rascal, you. You got me there, you old fox.

Most management types (as many in positions of "authority") are insecure in themselves, in fear of their position, delight in punching down, or some combination of all the above. In other words, they are not to be trusted as far as they can be thrown.

I am overqualified

If you believe that's a negative and that belief colors your behavior, it might explain an out-the-door trajectory.

Nobody wants to work with a coworker who finds all the dirty work that the team needs to do beneath them.

Take it as a positive and it becomes an opportunity to lead by example. Good luck.

Hmm I was looking for the Dilbert frozen asteroid - team player cartoon, but I see the website is emptied/cleaned after the 'event'.

Found it!!: https://dilbert-viewer.herokuapp.com/1998-04-10

So the issue with the OP is: 1) he/she is right and this is unfair/unjust, but hey.. life is unfair/unjust. Find another job, move on. Go somewhere else and get the +10% raise and be happy

2) he/she is wrong and this is fair/just, but hey.. life is fair/just. Find another job, move on. Go somewhere else and get the +10% raise and be happy

(apologies for my cold heart - I've been studying the Stoics for some years now, so yeah.. there is that)

You and your employer are vastly misaligned. They want to fire you - they would have already fired you if HR had allowed them.

Try to understand why, learn from it; but get out, this isn't going to end well.

It's concerning that you say you love the job but also that your employer has put you on a PIP. That suggests a pretty big mismatch in expectations. Probably not the advice you want to hear, but your best bet is to apply for other jobs now.

I’d suggest you fire up LinkedIn and start applying for your next position.

A PIP in a startup sounds to me like a definite restructuring.

Good luck!

> I am in a business (non-tech) role and I really love this job and I also don't want to be fired. I am unable to find other jobs as surprisingly I am overqualified because of my age (35+) and work exp (15+). I am a manager but in IC role.

It sounds like you don't really know/understand what your job is, i.e. what your company expect you to deliver. Hopefully your PIP has very specific, actionable information in this.

If you're in a "business", "IC" role, how much business are you actually brining in?

Mid-career in tech is a tough period, try to use this as an opportunity to reflect and do some soul searching about exactly what your value proposition is. As you say, there is little demand for 15 years of work experience, and typically only management or highly specialized roles will see that as an advantage.

Are you already giving it 100%? I put someone on Pip once because they were completely half-assing it. If they had gotten into gear, I would have taken them off.

If you know you're slacking, then you might have a chance. But if you are already working hard and not delivering, then I'd bail.

If possible, have an honest conversation with your manager and try to get a feel whether it's just a case of them building a case to dismiss you or if the job is actually salvageable for you.

Either way it might be time to start looking elsewhere.

Is the pip clear about what you need to do to improve?

If the pip is clear, do what is specified and you should be good.

If the pip is unclear, find a new job.

As everyone has already said, start looking for your next gig and don’t give this place a second thought.

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