
Advice needed
Hello Grapeviners.
So I was put into Focus (coaching plan, pre-PIP) at Amazon. After the focus period ended I was given two options Leave with severance Go into PIP
I chose to leave. So I am currently serving notice period. My manager is trying to get some unfinished work done from me. I don't want to finish it. There are multiple reasons for it. Finishing this task will benefit him more than me.I am already stressed about looking for my next job
Here's the question: My manager says that I can provide his reference to my next recruiter/hiring manager and he will provide good feedback about me. (He said this so that I feel indebted to him and finish whatever task that he assigns me)
Do hiring managers/recruiters reach out to your previous manager? Can they reach out to your previous team members instead?
My teammates have seen me working on the frontlines and know everything about me from my work ethic to my abilities. They can vouch for me way better than my manaher ever could. My manager always underestimated me severely. He put me into focus all because of his blindedness (this came from my teammate not me)
I dont care about burning bridges with my manager because he was toxic af. Just wanted to know if recruiters will reach out to him or not? And can I instead provide a reference to my teammates
Talking product sense with Ridhi
9 min AI interview5 questions

To be very honest, in most large companies background checks are limited to just confirming whether or not you really worked at the last companies
At smaller companies/startups, sometimes they may reach out - but they can most likely check with you first before doing so (how will they know who your manager was in the first place)
Lastly, if the guy is toxic, chances are he will be his true self ultimately. Don't burn bridges intentionally, but don't feel unempowered either I guess.

Thanks for taking the time to write this out. If my next company is a startup, i would rather ask them to reach out to my team lead rather than the manager. Hope that works for them and is not seen as a red flag since I am being selective

This is a good thing todo since you can mention you interacted in more detail in the day to day work with the team lead and he'll be able to provide a good perspective. It's not usually seen as a red flag.

Just last week, my last manager and new manager had a 45 minute chat. Yes. Don't burn bridges, especially at Amazon. Kaam karle. Shanti se nikal ja. It's not worth it the hassle.

Did you fr tell your new manager the actual name of the previous manager ?!?!

Leadership level pe you can't hide behind your friends name :p they wanna know previous 3 direct managers. And they will have proper conversations about you. Highs, lows, ways to help you succeed. It's not an option, you have to give it if you want the process to go ahead.

I was in pip once, not working for amazon now. But lemme tell you how this works
But here whats happen in back end they will put a mark on your profile that you left because of PIP so if you want to apply amazon later in future and comeback it reflects on your profile
Nobody comes to your manager all he can do is write recommendation for future use for higher education
Next recruiter wont come to him.
Instead working for your toxic manager have a word with HR and tell him how this is going to work if you leave under PIP
And ask him whether he could keep you out of this when you leave.

Firstly, don't trust any word of your manager as he is responsible for putting you into pip. Secondly, very seldom does people reach out to candidate's previous manager. Background check just means having an experience letter.
We have hired multiple people at Uber from Amazon (or any other company for that matter) and I've never heard any HM/HR reaching out to previous managers.
Also, Amazon is a toxic place. Couldn't care less about burning bridges from folks in such organization.

OP what was the reason you were put in PIP? Were you not able to complete focus tasks?

I completed 4 out of 5 tasks. The 5th task was impossible to finish due to a blocker that needed more time to be fixed. And I was not given any more time at all.
I was at the end of my tether finishing those 4 tasks. My brain chemistry has been altered forever with the stress that I went through in those 2 months.
So I told my manager that I will take severance and leave.

I did not choose PIP. I resigned with severance. If I had chosen PIP, I would have been subjected to another month of toxicity (or may I say radioactivity?) and would also get way lower severance at the end of the PIP period

No one can check that who was your manager
In your last company
If someone asks for it , give the name of ppl who will good feedback.
I always gave my friends names whenever asked..
And know many ppl who are doing it.
Just tell your friend that if he/she receive a call from Recriuter asking for you , tell them you worked for me and was a rockstar, they are very sad that you are leaving the Organization.

If you're not in PIP and resigned already, then be confident enough to burn the damn bridge down with this guy.
Talk to HR and make it clear on the manager being incompetent and not being good at people management, it being a bad experience working with him but your teammates were great and got along fine and did good work.
If after a bad experience also he's still pressurizing you todo things as per his priority, it demonstrates his incompetence as a people manager.
Internally, in the team, tell the SM, team lead and or the manager on how you're pissed off with the unfair rating and are focused on your own priorities i.e. interviewing. There's not a damn thing any of them can do.

I don't get it u learnt DSA cracked the interview you should be able to do day to day job what was the reason for pip?