my manager just "hinted" that I will be put on pivot as soon as next week, which comes as a huge surprise to me. Posting this i'm not arguing whether it is fair, or, badmouthing management for potential "shady" ways to handle this and basically finding reasons to pin a "under-performing" tag on me. I'm genuinely asking for advice for the situation i'm in. Everything is made worse since I'm an international student who just got H1B lottery this year (now waiting for next step). So pivot could really ruin lots of things and not just limited to career development. Has anyone been through this situation, especially with regard to H1B? Will it be withdrawn? Is there indeed a 60 day grace period for finding new employment for my case? Faced with all these immediate problems, I hardly find the time to feel betrayed, frustrated or even sad. It's just overwhelming now.
I would work from a place of trying to understand the issues your manager is trying to correct. The best you can do is really work to correct even if it’s just a perception the issues they are raising. I can’t speak to the H1B but I’ve been a manager at Amazon for many years and there is a road out from here but you need to really get clear on what corrective action looks like and assume this manager is actually wanting to help you.
thank you for the advice! This is something that I'm working on. I do believe that there is goodwill and my manager is trying to correct something (although i cannot really agree with the examples he gave). But as i mentioned in the earlier comment, the answer i got for whether it is possible to survive pivot was that "if i were you i will start immediate looking for position outside of amazon". Given that, I'm not sure if there is realistically a fighting chance at this.
You need to take the pivot positively, at least in the eye of management, and ride it out, given your circumstances that you can't just LC and GTFO. Number 1 rule: document everything, in writing. You need proof that you are performing well. Completed a Jira story? Document all your findings, enhancements and changes on the Jira. Touched some code? Write clear, well documented and tested code. Don't get blocked on anything, ask for help actively. You need to build a case for yourself that you are doing your best and it has benefit the business in XYZ ways. Number 2 rule: ask for frequent feedback. Set up 1-1 with your manager, their manager. Show that you are positively taking the Pivot and confidently that you will ride it out. Number 3 rule: make yourself known. Help your colleagues, run or join the internal tech activities. Let people know you, it'd be harder for them to fire you.
thanks for replying to this, much appreciate your advice. However, when i asked my manager yesterday regarding possibility of surviving pivot, the exact answer was "if i were you i will start immediately looking for position outside of amazon". From that point onward, I basically give up the attempt to ride out pivot. On the other hand, I'm still considering PiP although the end result might just be the same; but it could buy me time to find job and complete H1B. Does it make sense at all?
It sounds like the manager doesn't like you and not that you're underperforming. You need to figure out what is the real reason you're pivoted. What he said isn't professional or right. If he's determined to sabotage you then there's very little you can do except switching teams. It's very hard to do this on short notice and you may need to involve HR/your manager's manager in this. Now tread very carefully. We all know HR is not your friend but you need to play them to your advantage. Approach HR with professionalism, and with proof that you have been performing well, and tell them the truth about this manager and ask for their help to switch teams. The chance of this succeeding is small, so I'd rather have someone from Amazon comment on this.
Sucks big time.. I hope you get through this mess successfully.
thanks.. i honestly could use every encouragement now.
If you have any other manager in the same org willing to take you (because of your Goodwill or whatever), you will be able to move. They might still need some higher-up's approval but it's not as difficult as cross-org
What's the difference between a pivot and PIP?
so pivot is a program to "manage-out" employees. in pivot, you are given 2 options: 1. leave with severance 2. go into pip, during which you should meet some design goals. from what i heard, the end game is not much different
I’m curious, are you done with your PIP? What was the outcome?
How are you doing? What was the outcome?
How long have u been working for at amazon? Is it under the same or different manager?
Just 1yr and changed manager recently