15 Tips to Pass the Probation For Fresh Grad
We all want a career that suits our capacity, passion, and goal. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to get the job that we want. We have to go through many challenges to achieve it.
Even after you got accepted and received an offering from a company, you need to pass the probation, which can take approximately three months. Your only requirement to be a full-time permanent employee is by passing the probationary period.
To guide you to pass the probationary period, here are some tips I can share with you. Hopefully, this will help you to get through the ups and downs of being a new hire.
#1 — Be an early bird
Being an early bird means that you come on time for the meeting. Let’s say the meeting starts at 10; then you must arrive in the meeting room or Google Meet at 9.30 or 9.45. Your leader and team members will appreciate you when you are on time. Besides, you can prepare your documents or materials in advance.
#2 — Learn…learn more…learn again.
During your probation period, make sure you learn many things. As many as possible! You can learn new things from your seniors or your manager. Learn how they do the work and the day-to-day activity. You can also ask them to be your mentor. You can learn how to face a fast-paced situation and keep up with the expectation.
#3 — Make sure to finish your assignment before the deadline
Next, if you’d like to be appreciated by your leaders and team members, just be who you are, act professionally, and do your job accordingly. That’s it! Impress your leader by showing him/her your work ethic and finish your assignment before the deadline.
When my manager asked me to write a video script, I said that I could get it done in six days. However, I’ll ensure that I wrapped up my task in five days. So I still have one spare day to review it before submitting the task to my manager.
Note: Each task has a different SLA, so make sure to allocate the time you need, so you can estimate the timeline better.
#4 — Work Hard and Work Smart
Most people think working smart is the only principle we need to succeed at work and tend to forget the importance of working hard. While working smart shows how well you manage your time and work efficiently, working hard means you put a lot of effort in doing your work, and it reflects how bad-ass you are at doing your job.
#5 — Negotiate. Do not Deny or Reject
When your manager asks you to do a new assignment, please avoid saying something like:
- “Oh, I am afraid I can’t do that.”
- “Oh, it seems quite hard for a newbie like me. Do you think I can do that?”
- “Oh, I am so sorry, but I still have many things on my plate.”
Those sentences sound like denial or rejection. Most people, especially managers, perceive that as an unwillingness to step out of your comfort zone.
Instead of giving a direct rejection, say something like this, that is meant to negotiate:
- “That’s interesting. Since this is new for me, would you please tell me how to do it first?”
- “That seems challenging. Let me do it, but since this is new for me, would you please supervise me doing this until it meets your expectation?”
- “That’s interesting, but I am doing the task you assigned yesterday, and I must submit it this afternoon. I will start working on the new one ASAP. Will it be okay?”
#6 — Do not be a “Mr. Know it All.”
You should confirm to your manager if you are still unsure about what they said. Do not act like a “Mr. Know it All” because it won’t do you any good.
Asking about something that you haven’t fully comprehend is understandable. But, you have to make sure the question that you ask is clear. Addressing questions must be on point and specific.
#7 — Assess yourself
Assessing yourself means you evaluate your work, attitude, and how you collaborate with others during probation. Make sure you meet the standard of the KPI metrics. On the other hand, you can ask your peers, seniors, or manager to evaluate your performance at work. Evaluation is important because it aims to discover the things that we need to improve, in the end, it will enhance your capacity and performance at work.
#8 — Avoid Office Drama
We cannot deny that there is a lot of gossips and teas behind every office. When you find out that there is any kind of inside rumors, it is better to avoid it. Focus on your main goal and just take care of yourself.
#9 — Set boundaries with your coworkers
I’m not saying that you can‘t befriend anyone at all; however, you must understand that not all people at work will be compatible with you or will give you a positive impact. Keep your professional relationship with everyone, but choose your close friends carefully.
#10 — Be Resourceful
Being resourceful means you can do your job or routine independently, without being micromanaged by your supervisor. However, don’t forget to maintain communication with your manager. Make sure to update each progress to your superior at the office to minimize miscommunication.
#11 — Be Nice
It doesn’t mean you have to smile every second to your peers or supervisor. Being nice here means not forgetting to say thank you, sorry, and help properly. When you approach other people at the office, please start by introducing yourself, and you may continue with your points.
During Work From Home, I experienced several things that bothered me, such as an intern or a junior who contacted me via chat impolitely. Some of them just say “Hi” and continue their point without giving a proper introduction at the beginning. This may not appear to be a big deal, but it’s a matter of attitude.
#12 — Know your limit
Doing your daily routine is a must, but you have to understand that your body and mind also need rest. You cannot push yourself at work. The quality of your work will be decreasing if you do not let your mind relax. According to many studies, a person who keeps working without taking any day off is prone to a bad health condition. When you feel exhausted, just take a break for a moment.
#13 — Do not blame yourself if….
Do not blame yourself when you make a mistake. Making mistakes is normal, and use it as a lesson to improve yourself; make sure that you are not repeating the same mistakes.
#14 — Understand your company’s vision
Even if you are still in the probationary period, you must keep up with the company goals. Get to know more about the company’s latest target and strategy. Why is this important? Because as a part of the organization, you must build a sense of belonging with the place you work at. When you understand the company’s vision, it’s easier for you to work or contribute by giving strategies and ideas for the business improvement.
#15 — Always be honest
Honesty in the workplace encourage us to build a sense of trust with our coworkers. Being honest here doesn’t mean that you have to tell your personal details but in a sense of being transparent of what you do.
Hope you get the ideas. Enjoy your probation, fellas!
About the Author
Rizko Fatra is a content marketing specialist with six years of experience in the tech industry. He is currently working as a content Lead at Pinhome. His passion for education led him to become a content marketing instructor on several platforms such as RevoU, Glints, and Tempat Belajar. As a content marketer, reading is something he does a lot to keep up with the latest trends. Thus, in 2019, he and his three friends built Kumpulbaca, a Jakarta-based reading community, which now has over 1,000 members around Indonesia. Another platform he is developing is Sobat Pena, a supporting system community for the non-content writer who loves blogging. If you enjoy his content, connect with him through:
- LinkedIn: Rizko Fatra
- Email: ikofatra@gmail.com
