Pass your probation with flying colours

The good news is you got the job you really wanted. The bad news is you now have a six-month probationary period.

If the statistics are to be believed, getting a new post from jobs24.com may be the easy bit; the real challenge is passing your probation.

That’s because it’s reckoned one in five fail to get through this vital part of the new start process.

Poor performance is the most common reason followed by absence, lateness and gross misconduct. The last one begs a question: what grossness do new starters indulge in to get fired?

Probationary periods typically last three to six months and only then are you officially able to ditch the ‘L’ plates.

It’s in both the new start’s and employer’s interest that this period is a success and so managers play their part in supporting, training and advising newcomers. The rest is up to you.

Here are our top tips on how to give yourself the best possible chance of passing your probation with flying colours:

1. Get a watch

Don’t become one of the statistics and fail due to bad timekeeping. We all know public transport can be awful as can motorway traffic so don’t hit that snooze button and leave the house earlier.

2. Go the extra mile

We’re not suggesting you stay at work until the cleaners come in but doing a little more here and there can impress. Asking your boss for extra responsibilities can also earn Brownie points.

3. Follow workplace codes

Dress code, personal hygiene, phone use and brew rules all need to be adhered to. Turning up in a grubby tour T-shirt from 1995, your phone clamped to your ear, then using somebody else’s mug isn’t going to endear you to new colleagues.

4. Don’t be a know-it-all

There’s eagerness and there’s downright annoying so pick your strategy carefully. Bulldozing your way through the day won’t win friends but asking for guidance shows you’re being proactive. Most people remember what it’s like to be a newbie and will happily help a workmate.

5. Don’t commit career sabotage

We shouldn’t really have to say this but please don’t behave badly. Leaving a vital project report on the train or turning up to work hungover are reasons for getting the boot. Remember it’s not just losing the job, it’s missing out on that vital reference when back searching on jobs24.com.

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Posted on February 9, 2018