Extended probation at work. Can I come back from this?
February 3, 2015 5:49 PM Subscribe
Started a new job that I was super excited about a few months ago. It's been overwhelming. I've worked long, long days, and tried really hard, but I dropped some (big, visible) balls because I misprioritized. Worse, I didn't ask for help figuring out what was important. Now I'm on extended probation. I'm so worried that I won't be able to change their opinions of me.
I'm trying to remain positive inwardly and outwardly. Truth is that the review was fair and it wasn't TERRIBLE, but it was enough to extend my probationary period. I can see that they don't have a lot of confidence in me.
I've been suffering from anxiety for the past few jobs. I've finally resolved to find someone to talk to to try to calm myself down. I got an appointment with someone who was recommended but it's not until 4/30. I can't wait that long, so will try to find someone else. My anxiety is work-related and centers around this thought: I'm not good enough.
I'm going to follow the plan that they've set for me and try to keep my attitude upbeat. Besides therapy what else can I do to turn this around? I want to keep this job. I think I could really like it if I could get my arms around it.
I'm trying to remain positive inwardly and outwardly. Truth is that the review was fair and it wasn't TERRIBLE, but it was enough to extend my probationary period. I can see that they don't have a lot of confidence in me.
I've been suffering from anxiety for the past few jobs. I've finally resolved to find someone to talk to to try to calm myself down. I got an appointment with someone who was recommended but it's not until 4/30. I can't wait that long, so will try to find someone else. My anxiety is work-related and centers around this thought: I'm not good enough.
I'm going to follow the plan that they've set for me and try to keep my attitude upbeat. Besides therapy what else can I do to turn this around? I want to keep this job. I think I could really like it if I could get my arms around it.
Work on your improvement plan and simultaneously look for a new job to get excited about, there are all sorts of interesting opportunities out there.
At your current job you are on probation. This could be real and they want to help you, or it could be a pretense to fire you. Fifty/fifty odds is generous. Get out while the getting is good unless you have a particularly strong tie to the job.
posted by TheAdamist at 5:54 PM on February 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
At your current job you are on probation. This could be real and they want to help you, or it could be a pretense to fire you. Fifty/fifty odds is generous. Get out while the getting is good unless you have a particularly strong tie to the job.
posted by TheAdamist at 5:54 PM on February 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
At this point, it's tough because any explanation may look like excuses, but I hired a guy and, fairly early on, he asked to speak to me privately and he told me he gets work-related anxiety. Now part of me thought, "Oh shit, this guy is going to be a fucking disaster" but part of me, the part that has experience dealing with non-work anxiety, found some empathy and thought, "Alright, I need to direct his work in a way that doesn't make him freak out." So I've done my best to keep the pressure off by letting him know when something I ask for isn't urgent, and checking in with him to make sure he is clear on what his expectations are, what his priorities should be and any issues he may have. It's not that much extra effort for me to be mindful of his tendency to panic for no reason, but it's helpful to know that he can feel overwhelmed if I don't make it clear everything is fine.
Now, there is a stigma around things like anxiety and mental health and I may be more understanding than many bosses, but can you at least be honest that you had difficulty prioritizing your work and felt apprehensive to ask? If your supervisor wants you to succeed and isn't a dick, perhaps you can simply let them know it would help if you could touch base every week or two to ensure you're on the right track. In my office, "touchbases" are very popular -- sometimes it feels like keeping tabs on people and micromanaging, but I think there is a genuine place for just making sure a subordinate is on the right track. In a setting like that, by appointment, it's easier to ask questions than if you have to seek out your boss and ask. I would frame it not as needing babysitting from your boss, but you being eager to succeed and you wanting to feel more comfortable asking questions.
This advice depends on what your office culture is like, what your boss is like, and what your work is like, but it's just an idea. I don't think it's impossible to come back from this, depending how badly things have gone, but I think the short answer is you need to approach things differently somehow because doing everything the same way will yield the same results and slip-ups.
posted by AppleTurnover at 5:59 PM on February 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
Now, there is a stigma around things like anxiety and mental health and I may be more understanding than many bosses, but can you at least be honest that you had difficulty prioritizing your work and felt apprehensive to ask? If your supervisor wants you to succeed and isn't a dick, perhaps you can simply let them know it would help if you could touch base every week or two to ensure you're on the right track. In my office, "touchbases" are very popular -- sometimes it feels like keeping tabs on people and micromanaging, but I think there is a genuine place for just making sure a subordinate is on the right track. In a setting like that, by appointment, it's easier to ask questions than if you have to seek out your boss and ask. I would frame it not as needing babysitting from your boss, but you being eager to succeed and you wanting to feel more comfortable asking questions.
This advice depends on what your office culture is like, what your boss is like, and what your work is like, but it's just an idea. I don't think it's impossible to come back from this, depending how badly things have gone, but I think the short answer is you need to approach things differently somehow because doing everything the same way will yield the same results and slip-ups.
posted by AppleTurnover at 5:59 PM on February 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
It sounds like you're on "extended" probation, as in they extended the normal time that new employees are on probation by default?
If that's the case, I think this might not be as bad as the dreaded "performance plan." I'm assuming you're in the US, so think of it this way: Anyone can be fired at any time for almost literally anything. Unless it's a union situation, "probation periods" are just a nicety so companies can let go of newer people without feeling like they're being jerks.
Job anxiety can be tough, but I wouldn't give up just yet. It sounds like you're aware of what you did wrong, so that's a great first step. I'd say think of that as your first victory, try to build on it, and don't give up unless you really feel like it's "no-win" and they want you gone no matter what.
posted by drjimmy11 at 6:02 PM on February 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
If that's the case, I think this might not be as bad as the dreaded "performance plan." I'm assuming you're in the US, so think of it this way: Anyone can be fired at any time for almost literally anything. Unless it's a union situation, "probation periods" are just a nicety so companies can let go of newer people without feeling like they're being jerks.
Job anxiety can be tough, but I wouldn't give up just yet. It sounds like you're aware of what you did wrong, so that's a great first step. I'd say think of that as your first victory, try to build on it, and don't give up unless you really feel like it's "no-win" and they want you gone no matter what.
posted by drjimmy11 at 6:02 PM on February 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
The good big companies alleviate this by giving their supervisors and employees a way to give feedback to each other throughout the process of A) becoming a new employee and B) being a long term employee. It sounds like your company fell through on the first three months, because, at any time, they could have helped you along the process of getting to know things and correcting things to help you become a better employee, and get you over the hump of that 3 months.
So what I would ask myself is, do I want to work for a company that does not support that initial transition of new employee to long term employee?
You say you misprioritized, and while that may be true, that is a given with any new employee, and you should not be put on further probation for that. You should be exempted and then trained further and made to feel comfortable in your job, not anxious.
What I would do is go to my supervisor and clarify it. If you don't get a satisfactory response, I would start looking elsewhere. The really big and good successful companies have these things in place already, they know how to integrate new employees and give them 6 months to a year to get used to things, so obviously your employer needs a bit of work on that front. Don't be anxious, just ask around your cohort on who is the really good employer in your area.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:46 PM on February 3, 2015 [7 favorites]
So what I would ask myself is, do I want to work for a company that does not support that initial transition of new employee to long term employee?
You say you misprioritized, and while that may be true, that is a given with any new employee, and you should not be put on further probation for that. You should be exempted and then trained further and made to feel comfortable in your job, not anxious.
What I would do is go to my supervisor and clarify it. If you don't get a satisfactory response, I would start looking elsewhere. The really big and good successful companies have these things in place already, they know how to integrate new employees and give them 6 months to a year to get used to things, so obviously your employer needs a bit of work on that front. Don't be anxious, just ask around your cohort on who is the really good employer in your area.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:46 PM on February 3, 2015 [7 favorites]
Well... the one time this happened to me, I got canned a month later. I figured out a few weeks in that it was really an excuse to lay me off and hire another chick, and I was the most recent full time hire. So it didn't really matter what I did to try and improve. And considering that the reason I was on extended probation (note: I'd worked there for a year and a half already before being hired full time) was along the lines of "I don't like how your voice sounds....you sounded surly the first time I talked to you* and I never got over that impression...."
* at one point I finally had to tell her that I'd just been dumped when she called about the job and I had forgotten about it entirely, so no, I did not answer the phone in a sunshiny manner.
I'm with oceanjesse and The Adamist: start job hunting and assume you won't be here long. And yeah, once your reputation is ruined, people NEVER FORGET.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:52 PM on February 3, 2015
* at one point I finally had to tell her that I'd just been dumped when she called about the job and I had forgotten about it entirely, so no, I did not answer the phone in a sunshiny manner.
I'm with oceanjesse and The Adamist: start job hunting and assume you won't be here long. And yeah, once your reputation is ruined, people NEVER FORGET.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:52 PM on February 3, 2015
I don't know if I'd be so negative to say that this won't change. What you have working in your favor is that you want to do well. In my job, when I'm training folks or am working with people who I know are still learning, I do frequent check-ins, similar to AppleTurnover's workplace. We do them at crucial times, like close to the end of the day when we want to figure out how we should prioritize our tasks so we can accomplish useful things before we leave.
Is there a plan for mentoring you and giving you good feedback as a part of this probation plan? There should be one. I like AppleTurnover's idea, too, of being very forthcoming about your anxiety about seeking feedback. I'd extend that, too, to maybe ask for a daily meeting for a while with a supervisor to check in, and then as you feel more confident, space them out to ever other day, then every week. It'll be good to build your confidence and nurture your learning curve.
posted by noonday at 7:25 PM on February 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Is there a plan for mentoring you and giving you good feedback as a part of this probation plan? There should be one. I like AppleTurnover's idea, too, of being very forthcoming about your anxiety about seeking feedback. I'd extend that, too, to maybe ask for a daily meeting for a while with a supervisor to check in, and then as you feel more confident, space them out to ever other day, then every week. It'll be good to build your confidence and nurture your learning curve.
posted by noonday at 7:25 PM on February 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Well, what do they say you're doing wrong? Your assessment is that you misprioritized? Are you now running your weekly priorities past your boss? If it's just misprioritization, that should go a long way. If it's that you can't do key features of the job, it won't.
I'd also consider whose trust you've lost. You might check in with them along the lines of "I'm trying to improve my ability to do this job as it needs to be done because I am really committed to our goal of [getting the widget maker online by 2016]. I know I dropped the ball on X and Y, and I want to let you know I realize I need to improve on that. What feedback do you have? I want to make sure I'm focused on the most important areas for improvement." Having direct conversation about where improvement is needed with the right people will really help. Hiding out won't. Direct conversation, where you really listen, and then follow through will build your credibility and their goodwill toward you.
posted by salvia at 7:34 PM on February 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd also consider whose trust you've lost. You might check in with them along the lines of "I'm trying to improve my ability to do this job as it needs to be done because I am really committed to our goal of [getting the widget maker online by 2016]. I know I dropped the ball on X and Y, and I want to let you know I realize I need to improve on that. What feedback do you have? I want to make sure I'm focused on the most important areas for improvement." Having direct conversation about where improvement is needed with the right people will really help. Hiding out won't. Direct conversation, where you really listen, and then follow through will build your credibility and their goodwill toward you.
posted by salvia at 7:34 PM on February 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
drjimmy11: Unless it's a union situation, "probation periods" are just a nicety so companies can let go of newer people without feeling like they're being jerks.
Oh, they pay you less, too. I had a job that I think might have been stringing me along on probation so they could avoid paying the full rate (then again, it was a job I wasn't particularly good at, so who knows).
In any case, I would consider the possibility that it might not be you, your current employer may be dysfunctional. If you can drop multiple, large balls within the first couple of months in a new job (and it sounds like this might be your job in this career, but I could be wrong), it seems plausible you were undertrained or undersupervised. I would agree with the person above that jumping ship may be a good idea; it solves an employer that is either dysfunctional or abusive, it solves a job that isn't a poor fit, and it lets you start over with a clean slate.
posted by Mitrovarr at 12:15 AM on February 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Oh, they pay you less, too. I had a job that I think might have been stringing me along on probation so they could avoid paying the full rate (then again, it was a job I wasn't particularly good at, so who knows).
In any case, I would consider the possibility that it might not be you, your current employer may be dysfunctional. If you can drop multiple, large balls within the first couple of months in a new job (and it sounds like this might be your job in this career, but I could be wrong), it seems plausible you were undertrained or undersupervised. I would agree with the person above that jumping ship may be a good idea; it solves an employer that is either dysfunctional or abusive, it solves a job that isn't a poor fit, and it lets you start over with a clean slate.
posted by Mitrovarr at 12:15 AM on February 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Anecdata, but at my company, extended probation is not uncommon (happened to me, and I'm still here). It's not a sign that you are not a good fit, it's exactly what it seems to be: we're not sure yet if you have what it takes to do the job, and we need more time to evaluate it.
That doesn't mean all companies use probation in good faith of course, but I wouldn't automatically read it as a sign they want to get rid of you. In fact, if you are on probation and they wanted to get rid of you, they would have done so - that's the point of a probationary period.
It sounds like you are doing the right things in trying to engage with the plan and managing your anxiety. It can't hurt to keep your options open in case things don't work out, but I wouldn't write off your current job yet.
posted by crocomancer at 3:59 AM on February 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
That doesn't mean all companies use probation in good faith of course, but I wouldn't automatically read it as a sign they want to get rid of you. In fact, if you are on probation and they wanted to get rid of you, they would have done so - that's the point of a probationary period.
It sounds like you are doing the right things in trying to engage with the plan and managing your anxiety. It can't hurt to keep your options open in case things don't work out, but I wouldn't write off your current job yet.
posted by crocomancer at 3:59 AM on February 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Don't mention your anxiety at work. Bad - no, terrible idea, especially if you're new and on probation. Nobody wants to hear your medical issues. They want to hear your results.
Really, you need to do two things:
1. Find out if this extended probation is "for real", ie, are they really giving you an opportunity to make good, or is this just some kind of bureaucratic BS?
2. If it's The Real Thing, then you need to establish some kind of check-in / feedback arrangement with a superior, preferably one who will be evaluating your probation performance. Depending on the job and the circumstances, this might be daily or weekly. But get this set up, and be serious about it.
It's hard to say, but your work issues may have been largely a result of insufficient training. Like, you misprioritized some things? How were you supposed to know what was high / what was low priority? Get feedback sessions going and use them as an opportunity not to simply report what you're doing, but to ask questions.
Good luck with this.
posted by doctor tough love at 5:59 AM on February 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Really, you need to do two things:
1. Find out if this extended probation is "for real", ie, are they really giving you an opportunity to make good, or is this just some kind of bureaucratic BS?
2. If it's The Real Thing, then you need to establish some kind of check-in / feedback arrangement with a superior, preferably one who will be evaluating your probation performance. Depending on the job and the circumstances, this might be daily or weekly. But get this set up, and be serious about it.
It's hard to say, but your work issues may have been largely a result of insufficient training. Like, you misprioritized some things? How were you supposed to know what was high / what was low priority? Get feedback sessions going and use them as an opportunity not to simply report what you're doing, but to ask questions.
Good luck with this.
posted by doctor tough love at 5:59 AM on February 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
If your workplace offers an Employee Assistance Program, the counselors there can give good advice on dealing with workplace stress. It's confidential and usually free for up to 3 visits with a counselor.
But I agree that this may be a sign to find a new job.
posted by Coffeemate at 6:42 AM on February 4, 2015
But I agree that this may be a sign to find a new job.
posted by Coffeemate at 6:42 AM on February 4, 2015
Start looking for a new job. This happened at my last job. This isn't your issue, it's theirs. Any new hire is going to have a learning curve, and it's the job of the managers to insure that things are moving forward correctly. This means a lot of status meetings and setting and re-setting of priorities. My job was a nightmare because I had 4 people nit-picking every little thing I did. Also I was hired to do job A, and after I started they threw B, C and D at me, even though I had never had any experience with any of those things.
I was put on a plan after 4 weeks. In 4 weeks a person should just be able to figure out where the bathroom is.
As much as I liked my co-workers and the actual job, the management was really flawed. I knew at the first meeting that there was a problem. What I was told to correct wasn't quantifiable or specific. Then I learned that I was the 4th person in a 12 month period to hold the job. Danger, danger Will Robinson!
Now I'm home on the sofa pending my next gig.
So get your resume out there, this isn't a good fit.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:56 AM on February 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
I was put on a plan after 4 weeks. In 4 weeks a person should just be able to figure out where the bathroom is.
As much as I liked my co-workers and the actual job, the management was really flawed. I knew at the first meeting that there was a problem. What I was told to correct wasn't quantifiable or specific. Then I learned that I was the 4th person in a 12 month period to hold the job. Danger, danger Will Robinson!
Now I'm home on the sofa pending my next gig.
So get your resume out there, this isn't a good fit.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:56 AM on February 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by oceanjesse at 5:54 PM on February 3, 2015 [4 favorites]