How To Impress Your Boss During The Probation Period

If you have just landed the job of your dreams, you’re probably over the moon with happiness. You get to meet a whole lot of new people and work alongside them for the next few months. But what exactly should you do to get through the probation period unscathed and become a permanent member of this amazing workplace? First, you should impress your supervisor.

A probation period is kind of a trial where your employer assesses your skills and work ethic to decide whether you should continue working for them afterward. Usually, a probation period is between one and six months. Probation periods are not only for new employees of a company. Sometimes, employers choose to put newly promoted workers under probation to see whether they’re cut out for the role.

Having a probation period is beneficial to both you and your employer. Most employers use this time to work out whether you have the potential they need. They can choose to let you go if you don’t perform up to their expectations. This helps businesses avoid hiring underqualified staff. From your side, you get to explore the new workplace as an insider and decide whether you really want to work there for a few years. You can see how well your job role matches what was advertised. You also get some valuable training and work experience out of it for professional development.

Let’s say you really like this new job and want to make sure you get selected as a team member permanently. There are many things you can do as an employee to impress your employer during the probation period. Here’s how you can use this time productively:

Learn all you can about their expectations

Your supervisor or manager has a set of qualities and skills they expect from someone of your position. It’s always good to check into what the job entails before you start. Get your hands on every detail about the job and the company. You can request a meeting with your boss to discuss expectations when you first go in. If you have any doubts or questions about the job role, you can get answers for those too.

Prepare a work plan for your probation duration

Get a list of the projects that you’ll be a part of and find out your role in them. Once you know what tasks are expected from you, you can start planning. Make yourself work plans for the week or month. Break down bigger projects into small goals and tasks. You can also prepare a to-do list for everyday work. This helps you be more organized and productive. You also get to work out a timeline for your tasks so that you don’t fall behind deadlines.

Proactively seek feedback on your projects

Not sure whether you did a decent job on this quarter’s accounts? Ask your supervisor to give you feedback on your completed work. This is the best way to learn where you go wrong. Maybe you would need to make small adjustments to your techniques to suit the company’s methods. You can also show your manager that you’re willing to take on more responsibilities to make a bigger impact on them.

Make some work friends

Going for becomes a fun thing when you have a great relationship with your coworkers. Get to know the members of your team or department. This is the best way for you to get an idea about the company culture. Building professional connections with your managers is beneficial for your career advancement as well. Go out for a weekly brunch, visit the recreation center of the office, or simply make a habit of grabbing a mid-day coffee with your coworkers to nurture your relationship.

Be an enthusiastic worker

If the job and the work you do interests you, then show it. Show your boss that you enjoy what you do and that you’re enthusiastic about learning the ropes. However busy you are, make time to send a positive message to your coworkers in the way you get things done.

Acquire industry-specific knowledge and skills

You need to have a more than general idea of the industry that you plan to work for. During your probation period, devote a part of your day to studying everything you need to know about the industry to become a better performer. You can ask your coworkers for tricks of the trade and learn a new skill or two. You could also try out for a relevant certification that doesn’t take too long to complete. Participate in the training programs and workshops arranged by the employer to learn valuable skills.

Being present is valuable

Make sure you show up to work a little bit early and leave work a little bit late. No one would want to hire a person who arrives an hour past the official start time and tries to leave before the office hours are even over. Coming to work early can help you get settled for the day as well. It’ll leave you enough time to organize the day’s work before work starts flowing in.

If you follow these simple tips, you are guaranteed to make a lasting impression on your boss, ensuring that you get hired after the probation period is over. So, keep your head up and keep fighting for success!