Getting sacked after ten days – lessons from the White House

When you get a new job, it’s one of those happy moments that you tend to remember.  Maybe you get to leave behind the boss who you can’t stand, or who you think is out to get you!  You start spending the wage increase in your mind.  You decide that you are going to be rich beyond your wildest dreams!  Is it a speedboat or an apartment in Miami?  Maybe it’s both!

But let me bring you back to reality.

The first month is the time when most employees leave their job.  Either they decide that it isn’t what they were expecting, what they were promised, or else the employer decides to get rid before any more damage is done!

With relatively recent changes to employment law, employers feel determined to act quickly before they get caught up in employment rights and the prospect of tribunals.  This is not to say that employers do not have some obligations in those early days – a common mistake of understanding on both sides. 

But just as the interview process is about both the employer and candidate deciding on whether or not there is a fit, so too is that probation period for you as much as it is for the employer.

That first period will allow you to see if this is a place you can see yourself staying.  Have you made a terrible mistake?  Are there things that need changing, fixing or resolving?  This is important – because something isn’t as you had hoped does not mean that you should leave.  Sometimes employers want to bring in new people for their ideas and approaches.  Just be careful that you don’t come across as a maverick and rule breaker in those first weeks.  It’s about balance.

All of which leads to my four key recommendations. 

Firstly, be certain that a job offer is right for you.  Nowhere is perfect.  There are challenges everywhere.  Go into a new job with your eyes wide open.  So, do your research when you’re applying and being interviewed.  Be realistic.  Be honest with yourself.  Anywhere but your current employer is not the attitude that will help you to make a good decision.

Secondly, don’t burn your bridges.  When you leave somewhere, always leave on good terms.  You may have dreamed about telling your boss exactly what you think of them.  But leave it there – in your dreams! It does nobody any good for you to leave on bad terms.  I have met lots of people who have gone back to a former employer after a stint elsewhere, often in a more senior role and for more money.  Leave that as a possibility.

Thirdly, probation is not a foregone conclusion.  Stay away from big financial decisions until at least getting over your probationary period. 

Finally.  When you begin a search, find a recruiter who knows your sector.  Good employers tend to use sector specific recruiters.  By making connections with a reputable recruiter you may quickly get on the radar of good employers.  

Logistics Jobshop is a specialist recruitment agency for the logistics sector. Our team of experts know the industry inside out, looking for a logistics job? Get in contact with us today: 0117 9859119 admin@logisticsjobshop.co.uk