When Probation Becomes Discovery

A 'let's try it on for size' isn't what the Probation period was really designed for.

It's what I'm hearing most often right now - 'this wasn't what I thought I was getting into'.

It might have been in times past, but today, with the ability to vet employee and employer compatibility more effectively before a role starts, a Probation period should be much more about settling in and getting the job underway. It's a time of great change and uncertainty for everyone involved as it is.

Often, the first six months in a new role becomes a sizing up exercise on both sides, where everyone's asking...is this what I signed up for?

When Probation Becomes Discovery

The cost of a mismatched hire is ever-increasing. Sure lots of numbers are thrown around about the cost of going again if what you chose doesn't work out (the latest I've seen is a six-figure number being touted as the cost of replacing the wrong hire in a CFO role - six figures!!)

But this isn't just about money.

There's the trust broken between both employer and employee as words don't follow-through into actions.

There's the impact on the team that gets someone new, only to find they need to un-couple from them in short-shift.

There's the confidence it shatters when everyone thought they were certain in their decision, only to be left scratching their heads as to what they missed.

What makes it so difficult is that recruitment has always been more art than science, and this will continue even with the emerging tech in this area, but we are developing smarter ways of getting the compatibility more aligned to reduce the risk.

Mis-hires and mis-fires cost more than people realise. The financial impact is just the start.