Performance improvement plan at work

LegacyUser

I held my last job for five years. Sort of finance administration and customer service. A pretty standard office job with lots to know and learn. I got great reviews and when I handed in my notice my manager took me for a 90 minute meeting to see how they could keep me. My director wanted me to stay too.

I decided to leave for more money and also to be a supervisor. My new job is nothing like my old one! I'm expected to know accountancy and while I can learn and grasp stuff this is very complex. The job spec was completely inaccurate and didn't show accounting background needed. This was said to me in the interview and I was surprised to get an offer but I decided to try and take on the challenge.

I've performed poorly and stupid mistakes have been made. I also check others work as I am supervisor so I am responsible for their work too which is sometimes wrong and I didn't catch it.

I made the situation worse because instead of flagging and asking for help I tortured myself that I was slow and worked 14 hour days and came in weekends trying to learn but I'm still not getting there. I've lost sleep over this job many nights.

After 3 months I got a poor review and told I must improve which was fair. After 4 months I was told my probation was extended and I'm going on a performance improvement plan for 8 weeks. I have to do weekly meetings and also every two weeks they judge me against the plan. I never had this in my career before ever.

If I was a graduate new hire I would get a plan and time but I'm a supervisor so they expected me to hit the ground running. I admit my performance was not strong. I was super in my last job, enjoyed it, had the craic and now in this job I feel stupid and like a failure. I get flustered and don't answer questions so well or say silly things when I'm on the spot and then kick myself afterwards. In my last job I could give a 30 presentation on technical subjects and now I cannot answer questions.

I am job hunting, did one interview and hoping to line up others soon.

Google tells me a PIP is a death sentence. I think the best of people and I think my managers want me to succeed. The managers doing my PIP hired me so they must have wanted me at the time. Is there a way to recover from a PIP or is the decision already made?

MissShihTzu

Don't mind what Google tells you. It's bollox. The fact that you're on a PIP can be taken as a positive. Your company wants to keep you. If they didn't, you would have been shown the door by now...

When you were given the PIP, how detailed was it? Did you pinpoint any areas where you could improve? You yourself, have said you didn't flag issues or ask for help when you felt you needed it. Did/have you asked for a mentor? How about coaching- either inside or outside the company?

You've said in your OP that you like a challenge. So treat the the PIP like one. The company must have seen something in you to offer the role. Get stuck in!

Good luck - You got this!

Another day

Not being horrible but were you hired because you were cheap? Having gone for jobs previously for which it became clear I was under qualified for I realised I was offered the position because I was looking for less money than other applicants. If this is the case you can either use the next 8 weeks to get up to speed or look for other work.

Having said all of the above you need to decide whether you want to stay in this job. If you do, is there a colleague you think would mentor you and advise you? If you really feel the job requires qualifications you don't have I would highlight this to your boss and ask for proper training. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

Lastly....don't stress! Go in focused and with a determination to succeed. Take your breaks, go for walks at lunchtime, that will help to destress and re focus for the rest of the day. Best of luck!

LegacyUser

Another day wrote: »

Not being horrible but were you hired because you were cheap?

A million times this!

I'm also sorry to say that the PIP is most likely a death sentence A lot of companies try and skimp on certain roles that require real qualifications, especially in certain back office functions. I'll admit I have done it myself in a past role.

The only advice worth giving at this point is to try your best during the PIP, show a great attitude, but prepare to have to move on and get your story straight for why you are moving on so soon. Don't take this that you are personally somehow worthless, or that you have done anything wrong.. This is simply a case that the you were given a job that you are not qualified to do.

brutha

Odds are that you'll be shown the door at the end of the PIP.
Seems like the blame for this lies on the company for misrepresenting the job.
It's not your fault that experience you don't have is required to do this job.
I'd stop working 14 hour days and focus on job searching.

duffman13

brutha wrote: »

Odds are that you'll be shown the door at the end of the PIP.

I disagree on this point, your less than a year their, they could just give you a weeks notice and be done with you. They may see a hard worker who needs direction hence the PIP

Stonedpilot

brutha wrote: »

Odds are that you'll be shown the door at the end of the PIP.
Seems like the blame for this lies on the company for misrepresenting the job.
It's not your fault that experience you don't have is required to do this job.
I'd stop working 14 hour days and focus on job searching.

Unless you blow their minds its the door. Pips help avoid legal issues giving someone the boot.US company by any chance?.

MartyMcFly84

Have you discussed where you feel weak with your line manager?

Perhaps they could support you or you could study yourself. ACCA offer a Diploma in Accountancy and Business that you can get done in 6months - 1 year depending on how quickly you want to do the 3 exams. It really gives a good base knowledge and would stand to you in whatever office role you choose to do next. You also have the options of continuing studying in ACCA and who knows, you might end up being an accountant if you sit 13 exams.

At the foundation level (F1-F3) there is lots of flexibility with the exams and you can sit them whenever you want and get the result as soon as you finish the exam.

Dont kill yourself doing 14 hours days. That time could be spent improving yourself doing night courses that will lead to more knowledge and brighter days.

qwerty13

IMO you’re gone OP. They’re managing you out. I’ve never seen anyone recover from a PIP. It’s an arse-covering exercise in my experience, to prevent constructive dismissal proceedings.

However, don’t take this as being all on you. They could well have hired you at cheap. Or underplayed the role. I think you should just try to leave and move on. As soon as possible

LegacyUser

OP here, thanks for replies. This is a role in one of the American companies of which there are many in Ireland, huge company. I wouldn't say I'm cheap, I get the average pay for my grade. I was in another company for 5 years before in a different role which I enjoyed a lot and got a great send off from.

When I did my interview they remarked I didn't have an accountancy background and they would discuss with HR. I also said the same to my recruitment agent afterwards. We looked at the job spec in the interview and there is nothing on it about accountancy. After an awkward silence I talked and talked for 75 minutes and they must have liked me as I got an offer. I took it for the money and the chance to be a supervisor. I am a good people manager and work well with others, that was never an issue. It was more the technical side and stupid errors.

My PIP plan is very detailed and I think achievable. I do think my two managers who work with me on this wanted me to succeed, they keep saying they hired me and wanted me at the time.

But I'm not in a good place. Like I have a weekly task to do which is not so difficult. Just a team planner for the following week as I am supervisor and shows the team their tasks. I made an error, it was fixed in seconds but too late, my manager wrote paragraphs against my plan, I saw her. It's not an difficult task but I'm in a bad state, flustered and upset and confidence shot. Over my career I've done vastly more complex tasks than a simple weekly planner and now I messed it up. I must have checked it 15 times and still missed something small. I walked home feeling thick and worthless.

The fact there is a PIP comes from HR. Operational managers cannot just let staff go without working with HR. Well legally they can in Ireland but everything goes through HR. I entered the PIP very positively and fully engaged but barely a week and a half in it's not going well.

I am job hunting like mad and spinning this as a six month contract which would be quite common actually though I started permanent. thanks for reading.

gandalf

Unless its a very progressive firm being put on a PIP normally means they want to remove you from the organisation. Your best bet is to do what you are doing which is job hunting. I'd put my efforts into ensuring you don't have a break in employment. Good luck and I hope you get sorted with a new job quickly.

If its an option talk to your previous employer and see if they are open to taking you back as they appeared to value you.

suicide_circus

Except for one case I've only ever seen PIPs being used as a precursor to termination. Sorry but I'd start looking for a new job.

dudara

I’ve seen many people recover from a PIP and indeed go on to receive excellent ratings in later years. I’ve seen others that left when in a PIP. It depends on you and it depends on the person who is managing the PIP with you.

How much do you want to stay? How achievable are the goals laid out in the PIP?

BnB

qwerty13 wrote: »

IMO you’re gone OP. They’re managing you out. I’ve never seen anyone recover from a PIP. It’s an arse-covering exercise in my experience, to prevent constructive dismissal proceedings.

That is incorrect. The OP clearly stated that they are still on probation. So their employers have no need whatsoever to "Manage them out". If they wanted to show them them door they could do so with no fear of any legal repercussions at all.

That being the case, then you have to ask why did your employer go the PIP route instead of just showing you the door. And I would say it is because they have seen something in you that they like. So, despite the technical mistakes that you are making at the minute, there is something else that you are doing in your job that is really impressing your employer.

I would say similar RE why they hired you even though you did not have the qualification. Posters here are very quick to cynically say it is because you were cheap - That is one cynical way of looking at it. There is also the possibility that they hired you, again, because they saw something in you. For example, you said yourself you are a good people manager and that is a huge part of the job.

Personally, I would say give it a chance. You have said yourself that you feel the PIP is very achievable. Then why not go for it - Focus on the positives - look at what you are doing well in your job and get your head in a good place. Then take on the PIP. Pick out your weekly targets/goals/whatever and go for it.

No matter what happens though, remember it is just a job - You're not sick - You still have your friends/family whatever - The absolute worst case scenario is that you lose the job and you have to get another one - and that's not that bad - You sound like you are very employable and you'd be back on the horse in no time. Either way - Best of luck.

Powerfairy

Hi OP

I am sorry you are going through this, i would look for another job to be honest. Start off fresh somewhere else. You don't need this stress in your life. Life is too short. Keep the head down, and apply to loads of places, and state that you are changing jobs as contract came to an end. Use the references from your previous job. Keep your head held high, and try not to feel bad about yourself ok. It's not your fault they didn't explain how technical the role was going to be. Onwards and upwards, I wouldn't want to stay in a job if they put me on a PIP. This is just my opinion. best of luck for your future.

LuckyLloyd

I'd leave the specifics of this situation - the PIP, the uncertainty, the small mistake on the Team Planner, the job hunting - and ask yourself why you would ever allow a job to make you feel "thick and worthless"? Yes, we all have career goals but unfortunately most of us will get stuck somewhere along the way that is lower than we might once have imagined was possible. And so what. You absolutely cannot let success / failure at work define you or own how you feel about yourself.

I have often seen people thrive in one place and struggle in another; or even in a different project within the same competency in the same company. We are humans and are heavily dependent on the context of human interactions and what we're being asked to do. The bottom line here is that if this doesn't work out and they let you go, so what? The take away is that you aren't an accountant. It's not a correct conclusion to reach that you are stupid or lacking or whatever else. You're a hard worker with good qualities and you'll move on somewhere else and do well.

But whatever happens, you need to learn how to park work the minute you leave in the evening / night. There has to be more. No job should ever make you feel too high or low.

It's a tough period but you'll come through it. Best of luck.

callaway92

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I'd leave the specifics of this situation - the PIP, the uncertainty, the small mistake on the Team Planner, the job hunting - and ask yourself why you would ever allow a job to make you feel "thick and worthless"? Yes, we all have career goals but unfortunately most of us will get stuck somewhere along the way that is lower than we might once have imagined was possible. And so what. You absolutely cannot let success / failure at work define you or own how you feel about yourself.

I have often seen people thrive in one place and struggle in another; or even in a different project within the same competency in the same company. We are humans and are heavily dependent on the context of human interactions and what we're being asked to do. The bottom line here is that if this doesn't work out and they let you go, so what? The take away is that you aren't an accountant. It's not a correct conclusion to reach that you are stupid or lacking or whatever else. You're a hard worker with good qualities and you'll move on somewhere else and do well.

But whatever happens, you need to learn how to park work the minute you leave in the evening / night. There has to be more. No job should ever make you feel too high or low.

It's a tough period but you'll come through it. Best of luck.

Nice post

Mr. Incognito

Hi there

It appears that you are in a role for which you are not qualified.

However, no-one is ever qualified. You have the capacity to learn. Before you can lead you need to know. As a consequence you should not be supervising. I would ask for a supervisor at an equivelant level to be assigned to you as a mentor for a few weeks so that you have someone you can go to with technical queries.

This should ensure you are not isolated and that you have someone to double check and bounce things off of.

gandalf

gandalf wrote: »

If its an option talk to your previous employer and see if they are open to taking you back as they appeared to value you.

This would be my advice too
Do it while you are currently employed
Your previous employer won’t require a reference
You can just tell them the new job isn’t as advertised, as they already know you, this won’t be as big deal as if you were trying to explain to a potential new employer

I’ve had to go back with my tail between my legs before
It was great, everyone happy to see me back and everyone just got on with things

Good luck, hope things improve for you

power pants

Pip is just a tool hr use to get rid of you. That is fact

LegacyUser

OP here, I'll just give a update and we can close out this issue

Just to say I do genuinely believe the PIP was started with intentions to help me though of course there is termination at the end if not successful. My two managers hired me and give me training and keep saying they want me to succeed. They could have given me a weeks notice and sent me out the door but instead spent so much time with me on all areas I need to improve. I'm sure many companies use it as tick the box exercise for HR but not this place

However my confidence was shot so badly I'm struggling with even basic stuff and it's just not a good place to be in. Thanks LuckyLloyd for your post on that

Went for lunch with a friend in the old job, spilled my story and nervously asked any openings. As it happened my old job was advertised that morning!!

She emailed me the job spec, I read on my phone and I rang my former VP. I said it's not working out, didn't give much details. I said I was going to apply to HR for that job and all I asked was could I be considered as a candidate

He proceded to laugh at me and said early in his career he left a job and was back 7 months later and he's seen it happen lots of times over the years so don't be embarrassed. He also said I left on very good terms which was true.

He's gonna watch for my CV when HR in UK office send to Dublin office and was unofficially told I would be hired back but would take time for contracts n'such. As soon as I get a start date I'll be resigning and taking a few weeks off for a break between roles.

Oh I'm in for some banter and slagging if I return but so be it ha!!

thanks all for replies