A software engineer shares their experience being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan at Google after underperforming for a year. Despite working 60-hour weeks and becoming a code owner for a gaming feature, they didn't complete the project within the two-month deadline and were let go. The experience taught them discipline, focus, and ownership that transformed their approach to engineering and career development. They now apply the same structured methodology to their job search, targeting smaller companies using open-source technologies.
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