I’m a new grad software engineer at a top tech company, and I just received a bad overall rating in my mid-year performance review. This means I’ll likely be put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) next week. Normally, I’d opt-out and start looking for a new role, but I’m considering sticking with it for one key reason: if I pass, I’ll have 2 years of experience by the next review cycle, which could open up more job opportunities.
Having 2 years of experience can be a significant milestone in the tech industry. It’s often seen as a threshold that separates junior from senior engineers, and having it on my resume could give me a competitive edge when applying for jobs. Plus, my manager has been advocating for me, and the pass rates for PIPs at my company seem to be higher than at other companies.
Of course, there’s still a risk that I won’t pass the PIP, and my time would be better spent looking for a new role. But given the current state of the job market, I’m wondering if it’s worth taking the chance. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Is it worth opting-in to a PIP to reach 2 years of experience?