What to do if you don’t pass your probation at work.
Photo by Sian Parker.
If you’ve been lead here because you haven’t passed your probation at work, let me be the first to say: I’m so sorry. It’s a rubbish situation to be in, but believe me - coming from someone who’s been there and come out the other side - you will get through this. Last year, when I found out that I wouldn’t be taken on as a permanent member of staff, I was crushed and felt like a failure. But please believe me when I say:
A failed probation period does not mean failure.
I felt a little lost after I was let go from my last job. What were my next steps? Do I apply for Universal Credit (or Job Seeker’s Allowance) right away, or do I temp until I find something permanent? But the thought that plagued me the most was: how do I tell prospective employers that I didn’t pass the probation at my last job?
I took to the internet, and it wasn’t a great deal of help. I stumbled across lots of forums from five, ten, fifteen years past with conflicting opinions, including people telling others to straight-up lie. And that’s when I could find anything at all - I had to search pretty hard for any kind of advice. I guess this is why I felt compelled to write this post, as a way of giving back to the universe, and hopefully help out someone in a similar position to me a few months ago.
Take time to reflect on why you didn’t pass your probation
Like I said earlier, a failed probation doesn’t inherently mean you fail as a person. Sometimes you can work as hard as you can, but the job ultimately isn’t a good fit. This is disheartening, yes, but try your best to see it as an opportunity to explore what you really want, and - most importantly - what you don’t. For example, the role I was let go from was a generalist marketing position, and it made me realise that I wanted to find something more digital-focused, with emphasis on copywriting and content creation. Take time to reflect on your wants, needs, strengths and weaknesses.
Unfortunately, sometimes a not passing your probation period is out of your control. I learnt this by speaking to others IRL who had been through similar experiences. The company may have already decided early in your probation that they didn’t want to take you on, but had to wait until they were officially allowed let you go. They may have re-evaluated their budget and decided they couldn’t afford to have you stay on, but want to bring in someone cheaper. All of these reasons are out of your control, so another reason to try and not taking a failed probation personally (easier said than done, I know).
Don’t burn bridges just because you didn’t pass your probation
Another important point is: try not to let your ego get in the way. Yes, it hurts when an employer doesn’t want to keep you on, especially if you really loved the role. But remember, you’ll likely need a reference from them for future jobs! It’s not in any employer’s best interest to give you a negative reference (unless they like a court case) but even so, make sure you end on as good - or at least neutral - terms as possible.
In most cases, you’ll be required to do an exit interview with a HR Manager: use this as an opportunity to voice your opinions about the role. Nicely! Be honest but respectful, keep your cool, and make sure to ask if you can rely on them for a reference for future positions.
Okay, but how do explain that I failed my probation period in job interviews?
There’s the kicker. This is probably why you’re here, right? I spent a lot of time and head scratching, trying to find a way to ‘spin’ my failed probation. I was afraid that any prospective employers would think, “well, if she didn’t pass her probation at her last role, why should I hire her?” I thought I would be tarnished with a brush of incompetence and no one would want to go near me. But this is not the case.
In my opinion? Honesty is the best policy. I went on LOADS of job interviews when I was unemployed, and at first, when asked why I left my previous role, I would simply say: “it wasn’t a good fit. It was too much of X and Y, and I want to do more of Z.” Which was true, but then I was plagued with the idea - that when they eventually got to my references - would the probation thing come to bite me in the bum? I didn’t want to be pegged as dishonest, even if I only lied by omission.
I found it easier to tell recruitment consultants first. Maybe because it’s their job to find you a role that fits perfectly, and they can act as a go-between for you and a client, and can ‘soften the blow’ on a failed probation. However, if you’re applying for roles directly, the onus is on you to deliver this news.
No one is expecting you to march into the interview room and declare you were fired
That would be a bit weird. I would advise only mentioning not passing your probation if it comes up. Remember when I asked you to reflect on your probation period earlier? Now is a good time to present your findings. This will be different for everyone, but this is what I ended up using at my interviews:
It was decided that I wouldn’t stay on permanently. The role was quite general as well as demanding, so it didn’t give me the opportunity to hone in on my strengths or prove myself in the ways I wanted to.
Your reasons may be a little different to mine. Was the role too senior or you felt out of your depth? Tell them. Did you not receive enough support in the areas you needed to improve on? Tell them. Was the role too broad, or maybe too focused? Tell them! Being honest won’t hurt you, because now you know exactly what you want from a job going forward. Transparency is key: always follow up with your strengths, things you want to focus on going forward, and areas you may need support on.
Don’t see not passing your probation as a failure, but as an opportunity to learn. Employers will value your honesty, and appreciate the self-awareness of knowing and working on your strengths and weaknesses.
Remember that we’re all human and setbacks are bound to happen. I hope this post has helped you in regaining your confidence, and helped you articulate on not passing your probation in an interview setting. And let me know your thoughts!
