Insider Insights to Ace your IT Job Probation

Bravo! After conquering the challenging hurdles of technical tests and interviews, it’s time to strut into the office and claim that desk you’ve eyed so many times during your interview marathon!

Before you get too excited, it’s crucial to understand that, unfortunately, 1 out of every 5 new employees doesn’t make it through the probation period.

 “What?! That’s a total waste of time!” You may think.

That would be exactly what the employer thinks too. Apart from the expensive hiring cost, study shows that onboarding a new employee is costing a company US$7,500-$28,000 in hard costs. The soft costs, such as lost productivity, can add up to as much as 60% of the total cost to hire. Companies have invested heavily on every new employee.

Surviving your probation period is, therefore, in the best interest of both you and your company. Wondering how? Let’s dive in.

Before your first day in office

1.      Preparation

Research shows that ‘poor performance’ is the most common reason (62%) for failing to pass the probation. This challenge becomes even more intricate within the IT sector, where the demanded technical skill sets span a wide spectrum.

It’s a good idea to find out what kinds of software does the company use. You may want to brush up on the technical skills required for your new role, especially if it involves specific programming languages. Familiarise yourself with the development environment, covering version control systems, coding standards, development workflows, IDEs (interactive development environment), and more. If time allows, you can explore online courses or tutorials for skill refreshers or new learning.

Remember, it’s not just about preparing; it’s also about letting others know you’re gearing up for success. Why not send an email to your manager, demonstrating your proactive spirit by seeking advice for your preparation?

2.      Talk to your recruiter

It’s likely that your recruiter had been through the onboarding process with other candidates in the same company. Talk to them to find out about more about the company and the specific team that you will be working in. Getting to know some miscellaneous details like team culture, practices, quirky superstitions, and the personalities of the team leader can significantly ease your transition into the new work environment.

When you start

1.      Be present and punctual

Just after ‘poor performance’, ‘absence’ (50%) and ‘lateness’(25%) were cited as other major reasons for failing probations.

If you had prearranged holiday plans during your probation period, be sure to communicate it clearly before your onboarding and avoid taking leaves unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.  In such cases, you will need to provide a clear explanation for the necessity of your absence. 

Consistently showing up late to work and to meetings (both online and face-to-face) is a fast track to getting the boot.

2.      Be a team member

Put on a friendly smile (I assure you, it won’t harm your ‘coolness’) and introduce yourself. In the world of software development, collaboration is key. Take the time to meet your team members, establish open lines of communications, and begin forging relationships.

3.      Be positive

Don’t blaze your critical eye on everything. Negativity is contagious and could potentially sabotage a team. When you identify areas for improvement, offer your suggestions in a constructive and positive manner.

4.      Be open

You will be tempted to bury yourself with your tasks and become oblivious to your surroundings, but it’s important to carve out time and space to build relationship with your colleagues. Keep your lunch plan open for the first week, at least, will make your social life easier. 

It’s unlikely to get fired because you made mistakes during the probation period. Be open to admit mistakes, adopt new practices, and ask for feedbacks. Don’t try too hard to prove yourself.

5.      Stay tuned

Try to tune yourself in to get insights about the development process in your team. Observe how tasks are assigned, tracked, and completed. Familiarise yourself with any agile methodologies or project management tools in use. Writing notes is one of the best ways to keep abreast of all the new things.

6.      Bring value

Aside from what is written on the job description, you might identify more areas that you can make contribution to. As you get more comfortable in managing your primary responsibilities, you may seek ways to bring additional value to the team.

Remember, passing the probation is not just about fitting it, but also about standing out and making your presence felt.

Conclusion

Surviving the probation is just the beginning of a thriving career. It’s not only about job security but about making an impact in an organization that had also recognised your value. With the help of these tips, you can set yourself up for success as an adaptable, proactive, and high-value IT professional.

As recruiters, we understand all the frets and insecurities that new employees are going through during their onboarding. We can assure you, you’re not alone. Please reach out to us for more tips and advice.