CAREERS & EDUCATION CAREER COACH
You’ve landed your first job in Canada, what next?
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Tips to ensure a successful probationary period
t’s great that you’ve gotten your first job in Canada! Congratulations! Now, let’s talk about what happens after your job offer. As in many countries, jobs in Canada have a probationary work period. This is a discovery period and the deciding factor for your continued employment in this position. The most common probationary period is three months, unless the employer clearly states in their employment agreement that it is longer. Depending on the company and possibly the level of responsibility and/or difficulty of the position, the probationary period could be four months, six months or even a year. Within this period, if you or your employer decide that it’s not a good fit, the employment arrangement can be ended without a mandatory notice period. What this means is that during this period, you can be asked to leave, or you can quit the job without having to work an additional two weeks which is the standard notice or transition period. The reasons could be anything from a lack of skills or expertise needed to do the job or how your personality fits in with the team.
common sense; however, I must because of their ‘personality fit’ even developing these from day one. make it clear how important this is though their technical skills and job From a credibility standpoint, for passing the probationary period. abilities have been solid. there are three factors that Often, the information you are Here are three key areas to ensure employers tend to look for: given has been carefully selected a successful work probation period: competence, character and caring. to acquaint you with the level of How does this translate into the difficulty, challenges that may come workplace? your way or the extra care needed to Key Performance Indicators tackle the responsibilities. Analyze the job description This means that you must show and use it to identify your Key While it is important to ask Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs the people around you that you: establish the targets employees need a) know what you are doing on questions to ensure that you are to focus on; milestones to identify the job; b) have a strong character equipping yourself to perform the progress; and are also the process that demonstrates trustworthiness; role, make sure to take notes during Technically, a mismatch can be you use to make work decisions. and c) care about doing your best conversations and the orientation from both sides. If you find that Some employers will provide an at work, which includes building process, and refer to these notes so as the work environment is toxic or actual list of KPIs along with the job relationships with your co-workers. to avoid questions about something the employer is doing something description or mention it during the While making friends can be natural that was already explained. These unethical, you are probably better interview; so, take the time to review and organic, you will have to put in behaviours will demonstrate that off looking for another job. these requirements or to write them the effort to establish relationships you are a quick learner and have the down. Armed with this knowledge, and socialize with your co-workers. capacity to learn and develop new When it comes to the ‘fit’, you will have a clear picture of the If you can do this smoothly, you can skills as required. employers tend to view it from competencies and skills that you gain credibility in the workplace two angles: hard skills, i.e., your need to demonstrate in your work almost immediately. Hopefully, these tips will help technical skills and ability to do during the probationary period. with passing the probation period the job and soft skills, i.e., your and continued success in the Learnability ability to get along with the team. In Work environment This point may seem like regular workplace. Canada, often referred to as a very When you start in a new ‘polite’ country, positive workplace company, unless you already know Wanda Kusumajuda Pichette is the founder of GROW interaction and team dynamics tend someone there, you are technically Career Development (GrowCD.ca), a learning portal for career to be especially important. There starting with no credibility and development education. She has over 10 years of experience have been many situations where zero relationships or friendships. as a career strategist in government-funded employment people have not passed probation You will have to work on programs and has obtained the CCDP designation. CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |
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