Here’s what to do if you’re put on a PIP or think you’re going to be fired

If for whatever reason you’re put on a pip or your performance isn’t cutting it or you don’t see a fit in the group do not do anything to burn this bridge. You may think it’s not important and you can go recruit, but if you’re let go in a short span of time your reference will matter as investment banks will ask questions. If you feel that you will be fired soon, make sure that you are nice to your co workers, be the easiest guy to work with, and just try to be positive about everything. They know you’re not going to last but if you show them that you’re a good person you’d be surprised to see them go to arms for you after they fire you. I was recently laid off including a few other analysts from my group and some got a good reference, and some didn’t. I received one and it’s been super helpful during my recruitment process.

So to keep this short, if you feel that your time is running out, please try to be as positive as you can about the situation. Talk to your manager, be honest and up front about this. In a time where mass lay offs are occurring and companies can fire someone who’s not meeting performance easily, people are a bit more sympathetic about this.

If there is one thing I wouldn’t do is slack off at work, treat this PIP as an excuse to deliver shitty work because you know you’re going to be fired anyways. Treat this PIP as your cue to soften the blow in your reputation on your way out, or in other words improve it. If you leave them on a positive note, behave like a gentlemen, show class, even to the assholes who put you in that spot you’d be surprised to see how helpful people can be.

I hope this helps. Good luck!