I got my first negative review in years, and it’s shaken my confidence. It wasn’t catastrophic, but it stung. How do you bounce back from critical feedback without letting it define you?

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Happened to me last year. Realized that getting pushed out would be a better life outcome than making partner. Chose to start billing my 8 hours and logging off instead of caring more. Haven’t been fired yet 🤷🏻‍♂️

likeuplifting

Depending on the actual feedback you either buckle down or you lateral.

like

Yeah. It can be incredibly hard to overcome a bad review, depending on the actual issues. It’ll stick with you for future reviews at the firm. Also, if they really wanted to make sure you would stay they wouldn’t have given a bad review at all, the decision to give a negative review in itself is a bad sign.

likehelpful

Wait a few days before doing anything or drawing any conclusions. For Type A people, any negative feedback is so wounding, give yourself some time to process and get some perspective. After a few good nights of sleep, think objectively about how negative the review really was, whether it was 1 person or several, how you really think it impacts your career and your goals.

likehelpful

Figure out whether the review had any actionable items or if it was just a poorly disguised attempt to push you out. If you think any of the feedback is valid, take it and improve, and ignore the rest. Ditto the above comment about them not giving you a bad review if they really cared about you staying. There are ways to frame a negative review constructively and you should be able to tell if/ when it’s coming from a good place. I’d also start exploring the market too just in case.

like

I’d start interviewing. Whether warranted or not, in my experience it’s unbelievably hard to come back from something like this. I’ve received two negative reviews. One was on my office attendance. I started abiding by the in-office mandate. I was out 6 months later. Another team was just on my performance. I improved, and thought everything was fine. I was out, three months later. Both times it was after a busy time where I successfully completed important projects.

My point is that realistically these things are often more about building a case against you and their mind is already made up, but they’re going to get the most out of you still. Even if they’re being genuine and haven’t already mentally gotten rid of you, a reputation sticks and you’d need to be twice as good to overcome it. It’s like going to a place where you got food poisoning. Even if you go back, you’ll always have it in your head as “the place where you got food poisoning.”

Just save yourself the problems that are coming and lateral.

like

Lateral. I had a negative review. The review itself stated problems I had fixed two months before the review. Ultimately in the second review they moved the ball and I am looking for a new job. Once they form an opinion it will never change. Reality be dammed.

like

Love the ending.

like

Was it an actual bad review or just constructive feedback? As a reference, I’ve been getting “bad” examples of performance like every other review since I was a second year and I’m generally considered to be top of my class, leadership is just really hard on me (been here ages and keep getting promoted / huge bonuses).

like

Definitely, I was just trying to point out that we aren’t all reliable narrators of our own experience and a review that stung isn’t the end of the world in all circumstances - people are saying to start looking for a new job.

like

You can begin with not placing all of your value and self respect in others opinions of you or your work.

like

It’s been my experience that keeping a job is more about how you play the office politics game than how well you perform your actual job. You can be great at your profession, but if the powers that be don’t like you for whatever reason, they will find something to push you out, even if it’s fabricated. Negative reviews are the first step. They build a false paper trail so when they kick you out, making it impossible to sue them. I would tell yourself you are good at what you do, despite their malicious intents, and look for a place to work where they appreciate your talents.

like

Yep. You are spot on. Lawyers tend to be asses.

like

I got a 2/5 rating last year from a partner, but another one gave me 5/5. Yet I obsessed over the criticism. Then I got a 24% raise which just confirmed Partner 1 was a b1tch. The firm moved me off her (I guess at her request) and I've been with others ever since. Much happier.

Always consider the source. If your work is good and your attitude is great, then it could just be mean person.

like

What was the feedback you received?

like

Ask for a follow-up discussion. Tell group chair that you haven’t had a bad review before and you are taking the constructive feedback to heart but you would like some help putting it in context. What will it take to overcome this bad review. Is it possible? Indicate you want to take it seriously and put yourself in the best position to fix the criticism and now that you’ve had a chance to reflect you’d like to talk specifically about how you do it / if it’s possible.

like

Depersonalize it. Look at it as a task list. Focus on the action items you can take from it and prioritize them.

like

F

Related Posts

like

Is Dallas very LGBT friendly? Is pride flyer/rainbow sign everywhere in Dallas & can I actively promote it?

likefunny

Hi Buddies ,

Any opening for Scrum Master/Agile Project manager roles

Please refer mine

Hardly looking for Job Change

Having PSM- 1,PSK - 1 certification and 8.6 YOE

Working Credit Risk Management Role across Portfolio 

Current Company : TCS

Regards
Rajesh

What would you choose and why? Core Tax, SALT, or International

like

Where can I exit after only working a year? (want to do investing and MBA in the long term)

like

Currently have chase sapphire but thinking of switching to Reserve. Should I?
Wife will also be authorized user, we do travel and will use this card for all our purchases

like

📌Sensedia is a Global Company and We are Hiring in the USA!!! We are Growing and We Want you to Grow with Us! 🚀

Senior Marketing Manager
lnkd.in/dX6QpuQQ

Presales Solutions Architect
lnkd.in/dwYmPMCm

Analyst Relations Manager
lnkd.in/dQD-_EMU

#usajobs #solutionsarchitect #solutionarchitectusa #usamarketingexecutive #marketingcareers #workwhereyoubelong #sensedia #marketing #hiring #architect

Post Photo
like

Guys please give likes to enable chat for me.

like

Anyone else work on Medicaid projects after coming from commercial and amazed at how dysfunctional the operations are?

likefunny

General consensus: Should national elections be national holidays?

like
likeuplifting

Jen Psaki is legitimately bad at her job

likefunny
like

Apple Watch or Fitbit? Does anyone have both? If you have both, do you use the Apple Watch as a regular watch and the Fitbit for working out? Just curious to see what people think. Thanks!

like

Hello Folks from TCS, I need your help, My visa process for Germany is already going on and it shall be completed by ending Feb or early march. I am now having an offer from IBM and I want to use this offer to further cement my onsite position
Should I resign and then talk with management or directly have a discussion stating that I have an offer and When can my travel request be raised post visa stamping

like
like

Any tips on assessing if the hiring manager will be a good manager and person to work with?

I’d be hoping to learn a lot from them, as they would be pretty much be all of my day-to-day interactions and team. I’ve received an offer but have asked for another convo as I’m still unsure on culture, WLB and training etc as it’s a new team so no other people in comparable roles to talk to.

like

Additional Posts in Law

Is there a market for lawyers to add expertise In crisis management or reputation management? My goal is to counsel clients on how to respond to media inquiries without saying or posting something detrimental to a potential litigation while still maintaining communication with their client base. If so, how to break into that industry? Courses? Books? Certifications?

like

Is 150 billable hours per month little/average/a lot?

like

What do partners generally expect from third-year litigation associates (smaller firm) as far as legal, professional, and/or case management skills go?
I still feel like I can’t (or don’t know how to) manage or push cases forward and like I’m constantly behind on everything—is this normal?

like

What is the expectation at your firms about coming into work after making your billable hours requirement? Asking especially for those who do not get a bonus per extra hour billed over the minimum.

like

Any thoughts on Phillips Lytle? If you could please provide insight on culture/billable requirements? Thank you.

like

Workout before (4:30 am) or after (6:30ish) work?

like

Any financial services/ banking/ fin reg attorneys out there? How are you feeling in your practice area and what are your long term goals?

likesmart

I'm a junior associate. A couple people have left my small firm and I'm now the lone associate at our main office. I've now been told I am "temporary senior associate or permanent or partner whatever that results in." Please send help. I'm just a baby attorney still.

like

Mid-senior level transactional folks: how do you originate deals? The only deals I originate come from when one of my corporate clients randomly decides to sell a business. There has to be another way to land more deals, right?

like

What is the most “do as I say, not as I do” thing you’ve been told or punished/reprimaded for as an associate?

like

Does anyone know sports arbitration or general arbitration well? Have been a figure skating fan my entire life and am curious whether the judgement of recent Valieva case makes sense to you.

like

Am 2 months in to a new job with billable hours and I am miserable. How do I seamlessly go back to my old firm? Is this move a career killer?

like

Has anyone taken  ACAMS Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS)? Any comments/ reviews? How has it enhanced your employability? Why did you take the CGSS?

like

Has anyone been admitted to Massachusetts by transfer of UBE score? I submitted my application in July and took and passed the state law exam today. How long after this were you admitted? Thanks!

like

Well I learned my lesson. Never work with Wells Fargo. Any good banks I should switch to?

like

Parental leave: do you have to be at a company or firm for a year before being eligible to take parental leave? Are there any companies/firms that don't have this requirement?

like

I am concerned with fulfilling billable hours requirement. I’m required to hit 2100 hours yearly and I’m at ~1,500 hours and I think I’ll hit 150-180hours this month. What will happen if I don’t hit my targeted amount by the end of my year.

likehelpful

Has anyone transitioned from litigation to corporate counsel/contracts type work? If so, how’d you like the change?

like

I’m my partners only associate and I went on parental leave two weeks ago. I feel horrible for leaving him to handle our cases alone, but am trying to focus on my wife and new baby. That being said, should I still offer to handle minor matters that come in to ease the workload off my boss? He’s been super cool during my entire leave, so I don’t feel pressured to one bit.

like

Any non-US lawyers who have been hired by an Am100 firm without having sat the bar? Looking for an opportunity in the US, if possible DC or NYC, and currently working for Big Law in Europe.

Would like some tips re hiring process + visa from those who have succeeded. Looking for a 1-2 year stay and open for longer term

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal