End of probation reviews can feel like a step into the unknown. Depending on how long your probation period is, you might still be experiencing all the symptoms of being a newbie. To make this easier for you, we’ve constructed a checklist covering how to prepare for your end of probation review and make it as productive as possible.

Read over the job description

Before you meet your manager, it’s important to go over the job description again because you’ll get a clearer idea of what you might be asked during your end of probation review.

Identify the most frequently used terms or points in the job description. You’ll be able to get this from HR or any induction pack you received. Then, think about how you’ve met the job criteria and how you’ve used the most important skills required for your role.

As such, you’ll have plenty of material to go through when you’re speaking to your manager. You’ll also enter the review with a better idea of what you’re being assessed on in your role.

Discuss what you’ve learned

On another note, you should use your end of probation review to discuss what you’ve learned in the position. Here, you’ll give your manager a feel for your strengths, and you’ll underline your capacity for digesting information.

State any training you benefited from, and let your manager know your reasons for this. You could also build on how well you picked up company procedures, IT systems and parts of the company culture.

Here, your meeting will become more productive because you’ll be discussing how you like to learn, and the kind of information you’re able to take in. By discussing what you’ve learned, you will also demonstrate your value to the company.

State whether the job has met your expectations

We also recommend using your end of probation review to discuss whether or not the job has met your expectations.

You can tell your manager about how similar or different the job is to how you imagined it would be. You can also touch on how the job meets your desired career path. When discussing this, you should be honest in stating anything you expected more or less of in the role.

That way, you’ll be able to determine how well the working arrangement benefits you and the employer. In addition, revealing any qualms in a diplomatic manner means your company might be able to resolve these quickly.

Ensure you receive appropriate feedback

You’ll get more out of your end of probation review if you extract feedback to help you progress.

Here, discuss your manager’s thoughts on how well you’ve picked up your duties and where you can improve. Also, ask your manager to evaluate the speed at which you’re taking to the job. If there are any parts of the job you haven’t quite cracked, work out a time by which you can be up to speed on this.

By generating feedback from your meeting, both parties will be able to identify areas for improvement and you’ll gain a better understanding of how your manager rates your suitability for the position.

Inform your manager of any areas you’re struggling with

It might not be your favourite topic to discuss, but if you’re struggling with any aspects of your role, you should reveal this at your end of probation review. This will create an open relationship with your manager, as well as giving a reliable assessment of your abilities.

Think of anything you’re not as clued up on and tell your manager what you’d like to go over again. If there’s a specific way you’d want to revise this part of the job, state this too.

By doing this, you’ll give your employer a realistic idea of how quickly you can move through the gears. In addition, the company will benefit from making sure their employees are as knowledgeable as possible. Being open here is also more beneficial to your career path than struggling in silence.

Clarify how you see yourself progressing within the company

The best part of an end of probation review is that, as long as you’ve made a good start with the company, you’ll get an idea of how you can progress internally.
Give your employer an indication of how far you think you can move up. From there, your manager should be able to plan a route and set you a list of goals to achieve in order to progress. Also, make sure this fits your career path. That way, you’ll generate a career-focused meeting and impress your employer by how much you want to succeed.

By planning what to speak about and thinking about how you’re suited to the position, you can enjoy a productive end of probation review. Alternatively, if you’ve decided your latest job isn’t quite right, upload your CV and sign up to our job alerts.

From CV Library