I was put on PIP at Amazon and offered to leave. I thought finding a new job would be easy — I was wrong.

• Nicholas Jenkins was put on a performance improvement plan while working at Amazon.

• He took a termination package in December 2024 and was surprised at how difficult it was to get hired.

• Moved home to Houston and leveraged his personal network to eventually land a job.

This essay is based on a conversation with Nicholas Jenkins, a 40-year-old market research analyst living in Texas. He previously worked as a program manager at Amazon until he left the company in December 2024 after being placed on a performance improvement plan. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I started working for Amazon in 2020.

Starting in 2022, it was felt that there was a change within the company, and some experimental projects were deprived. Downsizing and restructuring during this period also created an organizational crisis.

My role as a program manager based in Seattle still seemed very secure. However, I thought I might eventually be affected if the layoffs continued.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that anything other than layoffs would put my job at risk.

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When I was placed on PIP, the writing was on the wall

In 2024, I brought under new management through reorganization. It didn’t seem like a good fit, but I wasn’t too worried. I thought my work was critical and that, for the most part, the quality spoke for itself. I was also fighting for a promotion.

Around August 2024, there were some initial conversations about my performance, including my proficiency with the programming language SQL. I felt I was being evaluated on a standard that was outside the scope of my role. Regardless of how I felt, the writing was on the wall.

Around October, I was formally placed into Amazon’s “Focus” Performance Improvement Program (PIP).

I was like, I have to get out of here. It’s very stressful.

I viewed my departure from Amazon as a victory

I was eventually offered a severance package which included a few months worth of severance pay. Instead of taking it right away, I decided to move the PIP process forward so that I could buy time until my stock vested. Leaving early means leaving money on the table.

Then, in December, I accepted the package and left.

When I didn’t get promoted, I got there long enough for my stock vest. It was a win.

When I parted ways with Amazon, I was under the assumption that I would be taking on a new job. In the past, it seemed like all I had to do was apply for a role, and I would get it.

However, I underestimated how tough the job market would be. I couldn’t get nearly the same traction I had in the past, and companies were lining up talent but were hesitant to actually hire.

I did about two to three phone screenings in a month – including one after a recruiter with TikTok contacted me – but I couldn’t land an offer.

I developed a ‘last mile strategy’ to bring in the offer

After struggling to find a job for about five months, I realized I needed something called a “last mile strategy” to help me land not only an interview, but an offer. In today’s market, it’s key to building relationships and getting the inside track to that job.

My first step in implementing this strategy was moving from Seattle to my hometown of Houston in July 2025. I had a strong network there, which I hoped would benefit me.

Next, I upgraded my wardrobe and bought some new suits because Seattle had a more casual atmosphere than Houston.

I started attending job fairs and networking events. At one event, I spoke with a friend who worked at a credit union in Houston. The conversation helped me learn about credit unions, which came in handy about a month later, when I finally had success.

My advice: shake hands and kiss the babies

My mother is a dental assistant in the Houston area, and one of her practice’s clients owns a local credit union consulting firm. My mother referred me to the owner, who suggested we talk.

My previous conversation with my friend helped me talk intelligently about the industry in a meeting with the boss, who later offered me a job as a market research analyst.

About seven months after leaving Amazon, I landed a new job, which I started in August 2025. Over time, I feel that I have been able to demonstrate my abilities and make my own way within the company.

My advice to other job seekers is to focus less on job applications and more on your personal networks. You have to get out there, shake hands, kiss babies, and cultivate relationships to build your next opportunity.

Editor’s note: Amazon representatives declined to comment.

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