IC Role, Ambiguous Scope / Limited Training — PIP Risk & Timeline?

Looking for honest input from folks who’ve been through this.

I recently moved into a new individual contributor (IC) role. The onboarding/training has been very limited, and I’m still working to understand expectations and what “good” looks like.

A few complicating factors:

The scope of the role turned out to be significantly broader than expected (wasn’t fully visible upfront).
Deliverables and success criteria are somewhat ambiguous.
My current manager is still getting up to speed on the role as well.

Given that I already passed this year’s ranking and landed above NSI:

How quickly can someone realistically be put on a PIP after moving into a new IC role?
Is there typically a ramp-up period in situations like this, or can it happen fairly quickly if performance isn’t there?
In practice, how much do unclear scope / limited training factor into these decisions?

#PIP #PerformanceManagement #Training #IndividualContributor

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9 replies (most recent on top)

IC roles are the kiss of death ranking wise ... not sure if you're an Exec, but if you are that amplifies the downward movement. Fact is, the ranking system values 1) visibility, 2) responsibility and 3) support from management . I was chief engineering and experienced a ranking drop for the first time in decades. IF you have this position at the end of your career, it's not so bad, but if you get it early in your career, whoa, baby, watch out!

@OP troll. Rankings are not out yet for this year so how would you know you landed above NSI?

Liar liar pants on fire

@ck How quickly can someone realistically be put on a PIP after moving into a new IC role? Your first year may be NI or Good. If you don’t get with the new managers program in year 2 then PIP on the table.

Is there typically a ramp-up period in situations like this, or can it happen fairly quickly if performance isn’t there? Depends on manager and delivery date of project.

In practice, how much do unclear scope / limited training factor into these decisions?
The managers scope is never unclear, and you are expected to seek out training. Use onboarding to ask questions and build alliances to get you up to speed.

Best to make sure your supervisor has visibility into everything you're doing and make your results known to him or her. Of course this doesn't help when you change supers before the Oct 1 cutoff date.

More of an answer I got from a less complex issue. Plenty of views no suggestions.

Just wait until you have 2 or 3 ambiguous roles and 4 managers in the same assessment year.

All will be considered excuses... they can PIP you two cycles back to back

This depends 100% on your manager. Regardless of your performance, your ranking will depend entirely on how they represent you.

Your lack of experience will not be a factor, simple as that. Many talented people left the corp after getting a poor rank after a “broadening” assignment for this reason.

Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

IC Role, Ambiguous Scope / Limited Training — PIP Risk & Timeline?

9 replies (most recent on top)

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