You’ve landed your first job in Canada, what next?
Credit to Author: Wanda Kusumajuda| Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:31:55 +0000
Tips to ensure a successful probationary period
It’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. Technically, a mismatch can be from both sides. If you find that the work environment is toxic or the employer is doing something unethical, you are probably better off looking for another job.
When it comes to the ‘fit’, employers tend to view it from two angles: hard skills, i.e., your technical skills and ability to do the job and soft skills, i.e., your ability to get along with the team. In Canada, often referred to as a very ‘polite’ country, positive workplace interaction and team, dynamics tend to be especially important. There have been many situations where people have not passed probation because of their ‘personality fit’ even though their technical skills and job abilities have been solid.
Here are three key areas to ensure a successful work probation period:
Key Performance Indicators
Analyze the job description and use it to identify your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs establish the targets employees need to focus on; milestones to identify progress; and are also the process you use to make work decisions.
Some employers will provide an actual list of KPIs along with the job description or mention it during the interview; so, take the time to review these requirements or to write them down. Armed with this knowledge, you will have a clear picture of the competencies and skills that you need to demonstrate in your work during the probationary period.
Work environment
When you start in a new company, unless you already know someone there, you are technically starting with no credibility and zero relationships or friendships. You will have to work on developing these from day one.
From a credibility standpoint, there are three factors that employers tend to look for: competence, character and caring. How does this translate into the workplace? This means that you must show the people around you that you: a) know what you are doing on the job; b) have a strong character that demonstrates trustworthiness; and c) care about doing your best at work, which includes building relationships with your co-workers.
While making friends can be natural and organic, you will have to put in the effort to establish relationships and socialize with your co-workers. If you can do this smoothly, you can gain credibility in the workplace almost immediately.
Learnability
This point may seem like regular common sense; however, I must make it clear how important this is for passing the probationary period. Often, the information you are given has been carefully selected to acquaint you with the level of difficulty, challenges that may come your way or the extra care needed to tackle the responsibilities.
While it is important to ask questions to ensure that you are equipping yourself to perform the role, make sure to take notes during conversations and the orientation process, and refer to these notes so as to avoid questions about something that was already explained. These behaviours will demonstrate that you are a quick learner and have the capacity to learn and develop new skills as required.
Hopefully, these tips will help with passing the probation period and continued success in the workplace.
The post You’ve landed your first job in Canada, what next? first appeared on Canadian Immigrant.
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