Has anyone been put on a PIP and successfully gotten through it? Seeking advice & support on how to navigate this. Please no jokes or jabs.

I almost got put on one, but I think I can offer some advice. Early on things were going bad for me. To the point where I got called into the office of a local partner to discuss how poorly things were going.

There are a few things stuck out for me:

1. I got put on a totally new project with completely new people. This gave me a relative fresh start so existing issues wouldn't be held against me.

2. I did work in a different area. At the time all project work was focused on early phase work which I just didn't have the skills to support. My breakout project was in a go live phase which gave me the opportunity to flex a different skillset.

3. I got lucky and had a good team on my breakout project and those people helped me save my career. This past year I got another promotion and 20+% raise.

A year after that initial call I got called to talk to the same partner about how good the turnaround was. And a few years down the line things are still going well. Core thing the remember is that you can absolutely turn it around.

It’s almost impossible to get out of. I was in hot water after being on a project with a sexist SM, and I had one bad meeting on my next project with a new SM that got me onto a PIP. Luckily that meeting preempted me creating a miracle solution for the client, so my new SM saw that I was a powerhouse and I was able to get off the PIP relatively quickly. However, I was still nervous for year end, and once I made it through layoff day, I thought I would be getting an average rating. But in the conversation about my performance, I was told I was getting a low rating and would be on another PIP (although I was crushing my project and performing beyond the next level). He was about to go into the details of the new PIP when I announced that I was resigning to go to a top business school and this was my two weeks notice. It was the most satisfying conversation since he had clearly underestimated me.

My advice: Figure out your exit. It’s very hard to recover at the same consulting firm.

I was on a PIP early in my career, while I was at Deloitte. In my case it was because I had an absolute asshat of a SM on my project who demonstrably and inexplicably hated me from day 1 and a counselor who was an utter waste of oxygen.

I got a new project and new counselor about a week after being PIPed and crushed it from there. The annoying this was that my performance didn't change, but the new counselor and manager appreciated my work and I got excellent ratings from then on.

It left a bad taste in my mouth and was one of the reasons (admittedly, one of many reasons) why I left Deloitte a couple years later.

If the PIP isn’t warranted, document everything going forward and walk away with a generous severance. Given the hot job market, you may have a lucrative exit strategy.

No jokes or jabs - this was my approach and it worked out well.

My brother is on the tax side of big 4 and I found out he was put on a 60 day pip last year. He met all of the requirements outlined but certainly left a bad taste in his mouth and he left shortly after for greener pastures. His coach left as well for the same firm (non big 4) and opened up about everything as it was very political and almost none of it actually had to do with his performance. His coach didn’t have the network with the partners making the decision (coach was not a partner) and tried his best, but was very happy my brother made a switch because it was going to be an uphill battle with his specific group if he stayed, target was always going to be on his back.

Document everything that has happened so far (from your side).

Pull together pings, emails - anything that you can find.

Ask for explicit examples of where your performance has not met required standards.
With dates, documented evidence rather than ‘opinions’ from others.


If you would like to stay & believe you are being unjustly being forced onto a PIP for something trivial (not moving a meeting) - then, stand up for yourself & seek external support (employment lawyer)..

If you don’t want a battle - then still stand up for yourself & dispute the claims BUT start looking elsewhere. Sounds like a toxic culture & unreasonable expectations from management.

In over 20 years at several firms, I have seen PIPs used as a way to give that person a paid opportunity to exit a firm gracefully. Also, I have exited multiple people on PIPs who have become surgeons(seriously), powerful industry executives, and even entrepreneurial CEOs. Maybe take it as an opportunity?

You can definitely get through pip but you have to change the mindset (not just yours but your manager) through addressing real issues you were put on pip for. I am sure it’s not just performance related as in you are not the worst worker ever hired by your firm but most likely it’s either your relationship with the manager/team, communication with them or may be it’s just not a good fit for you. Whatever it is, you have to figure it out what you have been asked for/expected of and not you were not able to deliver. So take a deep breath and think what’s the actual root cause, draft a plan, talk to your manager, get his/her feedback on it, thank him/her while acknowledging the input and figure out how you are going to come out of it. As someone who has been put on one and came out of it successfully, trust me YOU can do it. Just trust yourself and work hard on it (again not necessarily work wise but other things I mentioned earlier). Good luck Op. ✌️

The consensus on here (so far as I’ve seen) is that no one survives even if they markedly improve performance / double effort.
Better off using the time to find something that is a better fit. You’re a talented and bright individual, the fact that this is even being placed upon you shows that it’s not a good fit and should leave a bad taste in your mouth for the firm anyway. I was once threatened with one because someone left me a personally motivated review that stuck and I will never forget / forgive

I eventually got laid off during Covid after a PIP but then went to FAANG for 2x the pay and a way better WLB.

To be clear, when you put someone on a PIP, you have to make the plan achievable, and you have to tell them it's for their benefit. I know you say it is over a single incident, but it is incredibly hard to get someone on a PIP without multiple documented incidents - HR and legal need to sign off.

I'm my experience, it *is* possible to recover, but it's incredibly difficult. You need to inspire enough confidence that you'll get staffed, and that can be hard to do. I've never personally seen someone come back from PIP, however that's been because they have not addressed the underlying behavior.

If I were you, I'd focus less on your performance and more on how you handle criticism. If you are told to do something a certain way, make a serious attempt to do it.

I have not been put on one myself, but as someone who has been part of discussions of placing others on them, it’s very hard to recover. Is it possible if you really turn things around? Sure, but even if you survive in the short term, your long term prospects may be affected. I would suggest trying to work with a partner you haven’t before and hope they keep an open mind and make their own decision because working with the same people who put you on PIP is likely a lost cause.

Sorry you're experiencing this. Did the PIP come with a very clear set of things you need to demonstrate and a game plan for doing so in order for you to come out of it? If so and if you think those are all reasonable things you can achieve in the stated timeline and you have solid leadership support, then yes there's a good chance of you coming out of the PIP. If the reason for the PIP was vague, there aren't clear KPIs, and/or you don't have strong leadership support, then the chances are much lower. Either way, you should start brushing up your resume - it's much better to leave on your own terms than to reach the point that you're asked to leave.

Honestly given the white hot job market, this may be a blessing in disguise. I would honestly spend the time prepping for interviews and applying for jobs.

They are leaving a trail and building a case to legally terminate with cause. Most likely you've been given (potentially multiple) verbal and written warnings and things haven't improved so you are where you are. If you haven't had multiple warnings then what you've done is pretty severe. I'd use the time to find another job. They may want you to beat it but you've obviously worked yourself into this situation and won't be helped out of it.

I had a colleague who turned a PIP around, won a promotion in the subsequent cycle, then left the Firm on his own terms. Absolute legend.

My coachee was put on a PIP due to a poor SM. I worked with them to get them off that project and away from the SM and they crushed it to the point that they got their promotion the same year

I was put on a PIP after my first year as an Analyst due to an accidental breach of client confidentiality. Looking back it was completely an accident but still something I could have been fired for. The PIP messed me up mentally for a while because I was always a top performer in school and hadn’t ever really failed before. I switched offices (unrelated to PIP) and was given a new coach who made all the difference. She knew how to navigate the firm and was very explicit in telling me I could overcome the PIP. I got a top rating the next year and went on to get MBA sponsorship. Now I’m back at the firm and no one I work with has any idea I was ever on a PIP and I continue to get top ratings. I’m sure evidence of my PIP is in some HR file somewhere but I can confidently say I have overcome that and it hasn’t followed me like I fear it would. Other than the emotional trauma of it of course… 🙃

I have never seen anyone get through a PIP. Perhaps asking in the BCG bowl may yield better answers as it can differ from firm to firm.

Sorry this happened, on the bright side it’s the best possible time to look for jobs as everyone is hiring and I’m sure you’ll have no shortage of suitors given your current employer. You’ll likely come out earning more than you do now.

Succeed and was promoted that year. B!tchy director was close with my coach. A partner called me after the first meeting and made it clear they disagreed. Still had to go through the 3 months but it was very hands off.

Would have loved to be on the call the partner made to my coach (assuming there was one)