Making the right impression

Picture by Matt Turner.

Melbourne - based career expert Warren Frehse provides his advice on how to make the right impression during your probationary period in a new job.

Most employers expect a reasonable level of performance in what is called a "probation period". 

This is a time when you or the employer can choose to part company if it does not work out for either party.

You should expect the employer to have reasonable grounds for dismiss you during a period that can be typically about three to six months.

You need not to be fearful, nor should you need to be artificially on your best behaviour.

When starting a new job, you will be on a learning curve and will need to learn new procedures, get to know others, and understand how things work.

An employer takes this learning time into account in making judgement of your performance.

In your first few weeks starting any new job, you are advised to:

LISTEN to other people at all levels

TAKE lots of notes

RECORD people's names and note what role they perform

LEARN established procedures

ASK lots of questions tactfully

AVOID early confrontations

DRESS appropriately for the environment

SEEK out what the expectations of your supervisor are

LEARN basic people skills so you are able to get along with the people you work with. 

Remain enthusiastic, even after your probation time, and you are on your way to a successful start to your new career.

Warren Frehse wrote Manage Your Own Career: Reinvent Your Job; Reinvent Yourself (Pearson Education Australia, rrp $24.95) and is a member of the Australian Association of Career Counsellors, and Certified Professional Member of The Australian Human Resources Institute.

For a career counsellor in your area visit http://www.aacc.org.au/

By Warren Frehse, The Herald Sun, August 20, 2005.