A milestone in your new job: Probation period completed

At the start of a new job, there is often a so‑called probationary period of three months, during which both you and your employer can terminate the employment with shorter notice.

Typically, this involves mutual notice of 14 days for both you and your employer, but in some workplaces you may be able to resign with immediate effect (day‑to‑day notice).

You should always check your employment contract to see whether a probationary period has been agreed and, if so, which notice periods apply to you.

The purpose of the probationary period is to give both you and your employer the opportunity to assess one another and see whether you are a good match. A probationary period can be an advantage, as the shorter notice allows you to reconsider an obviously poor choice more easily.

Before deciding to resign during your probationary period, you should contact your unemployment insurance fund (a‑kasse) for advice on how this may affect your entitlement to unemployment benefits if you become unemployed.

From a career perspective, we recommend giving yourself more than just three months to assess whether you have moved into the right role.

Instead, use the end of your probationary period as a milestone and reflect on the following questions:

Are you still in a mental state of emergency?

This heightened state should gradually be easing. You are still new, but hopefully you have moved past the worst fatigue and are no longer thinking about work all the time when you are off.

If you find yourself going over the same issues again and again, you should take action by discussing them with your manager.

Are there recurring issues?

You may have been patient and set aside certain issues that you have experienced repeatedly. By now, you know your colleagues, department, company culture and manager well enough that it is time to address them.

You can do this by raising the issues in a meeting or speaking directly with your colleagues. It is usually best to talk to colleagues first before involving your manager, if necessary.

What successes can you celebrate?

You should not expect a formal evaluation or feedback simply because you have completed your probationary period. In most workplaces, it passes largely unnoticed.

However, you can certainly celebrate yourself by looking back at everything you have learned and achieved over the past three months. Be compassionate towards yourself when reflecting on mistakes, and give yourself credit for having the courage to try and learn something new.