Failed Probationary Period
Discussion
I regularly post on these forums under another ID.
I've just found out I failed my probationary period in a job I started about 6 months ago. I think this was due to some mistakes being made in management meaning I was put on a project that wasn't ever going to be successful and someone having to take the blame for it, and as I was newest there it was me.
I assume it's not worth appealing as I've been there less than a year. My concern is how should I explain this at interviews and to agencies?
I've just found out I failed my probationary period in a job I started about 6 months ago. I think this was due to some mistakes being made in management meaning I was put on a project that wasn't ever going to be successful and someone having to take the blame for it, and as I was newest there it was me.
I assume it's not worth appealing as I've been there less than a year. My concern is how should I explain this at interviews and to agencies?
Did you not receive notice that you may fail your probationary period? reason for asking is I know within my industry staff have 3 probationary reviews during the 6 month probationary period and staff have to be notified by prob 2 if there is a risk of failure and a capability or performance plan of how to try and address.
I was promoted last year and made to take up all the slack on a totally failing project. Made it clear to all management and everyone involved after a week that it would certainly fail. In the end I managed to do it, but six weeks late (six month project) but they still tried to demote me back to my previous position and blamed it all on me. Luckily I had everything on email as well as those meetings and they had no way of getting rid.
If you have any ammo like that, perhaps speak to an employment solicitor.
If you have any ammo like that, perhaps speak to an employment solicitor.
HereBeMonsters said:
I was promoted last year and made to take up all the slack on a totally failing project. Made it clear to all management and everyone involved after a week that it would certainly fail. In the end I managed to do it, but six weeks late (six month project) but they still tried to demote me back to my previous position and blamed it all on me. Luckily I had everything on email as well as those meetings and they had no way of getting rid.
If you have any ammo like that, perhaps speak to an employment solicitor.
I could find something but I've heard that if you've been there less than a year they can get rid of you for any reason as long as they pay notice (which they are doing). What do you think their opinion be if I suggested an agreement where they give me a good reference (saying something like it was a temporary job that came to an end), in exchange for me not making it difficult for them / agreeing to hand over work / slagging off the company / its employees etc.If you have any ammo like that, perhaps speak to an employment solicitor.
muppet347 said:
I could find something but I've heard that if you've been there less than a year they can get rid of you for any reason as long as they pay notice (which they are doing). What do you think their opinion be if I suggested an agreement where they give me a good reference (saying something like it was a temporary job that came to an end), in exchange for me not making it difficult for them / agreeing to hand over work / slagging off the company / its employees etc.
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/do-you-...article said:
You cannot bring a claim for unfair dismissal unless you have been employed for at least one year. You therefore have very limited protection when you start a job and your employer could dismiss you without having to justify it during the first year. This may happen where there is a personality clash, whereas this is not a justifiable ground when you have clocked up a year's employment. The main exception to this where you are subject to discrimination on the basis of your sex, age, race, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation — in such a case, there is no minimum qualifying period to bring a claim
It's not going to be possible for you to make it difficult for them, I'm afraid. It's unlikely that they'll have got rid of you for one of the automatically unfair reasons for dismissal, so as you've less than one year's service you're out of luck I think.As for asking for something from them, I think you may be out of luck - if you have a good relationship with your manager, ask him if you can give him as a reference for the next job. It's reasonably unlikely that any company would give you a "bad" reference - in general they're just likely to confirm your position and dates with the company.
If you're happy to stretch the truth, if asked just say you were brought on to work on a job, but the customer cancelled and so you were let go.
Edited by DanL on Tuesday 12th October 22:07
musclecarmad said:
this is why in the current climate moving to another job from your old longer term position may not be wise. they can get rid of you if you haven't been there a year and you don't have any employment rights. speak to acas.
but, yes, unfortunately you are gone unless they have done something grossly wrong.
if you have been with an employer over a year or over 2 years is even better - that's a great benefit to have.
How can I spin it - I can get good references off earlier employers but obviously not this one. Also, I'm probably going to look at contract jobs next - this one was permanent and I think I'd rather shorter term positions where I'm using technical skills rather than a long term career with one company. What do contract jobs do in terms of checking references etc?but, yes, unfortunately you are gone unless they have done something grossly wrong.
if you have been with an employer over a year or over 2 years is even better - that's a great benefit to have.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I had a friend who agreed with his manager to put a failed probation period down as a fixed term contract as they both agreed it just hadn't worked out. Said manager then went back on his word and it lost my mate a job offer. He was gutted but I guess there was nothing else he could do.My brother had something similar happen to him a couple of years ago. I think in interviews he just told a potted version of the truth, saying that the job didn't pan out as he expected and rather than make himself miserable he agreed that it was best for him and the company to part. He temp'd for a while too, so that might be a good way to get back into the job market.
Best of luck, hope it all pans out.
Best of luck, hope it all pans out.
Edited by Alfa numeric on Wednesday 13th October 12:50
muppet347 said:
How can I spin it - I can get good references off earlier employers but obviously not this one. Also, I'm probably going to look at contract jobs next - this one was permanent and I think I'd rather shorter term positions where I'm using technical skills rather than a long term career with one company. What do contract jobs do in terms of checking references etc?
The phrase to use is temporary downturn in business, I have a job on My CV that lasted 1 week of work and a further month of layoff, the company went bump, so spin it as a downturn in work and not feeling comfortable with the job. Assuming your employers give you a bland reference (eg dates employed and little else) then you could "spin" that the role wasn't as expected / advertised or that you didn't enjoy the role or culture or similar.
I would strongly recommend against lying (eg: saying you went travelling etc) as there's too many chances of being caught out IMO.
Of course if you end up doing a series of contracts then within a couple of years this won't look unusual at all and is unlikely to come up in pre-sift / interview
Tough situation, best of luck with it.
I would strongly recommend against lying (eg: saying you went travelling etc) as there's too many chances of being caught out IMO.
Of course if you end up doing a series of contracts then within a couple of years this won't look unusual at all and is unlikely to come up in pre-sift / interview
Tough situation, best of luck with it.
As others have said, its a tough situation, but nothing you can do about it.
So be positive. You cant hide the time you did have, but you can say that you were taken on specifically beause your skills.... (match to what the current interview invovles) however the company edcided against this strategy, and unhappily I was out in the open. I still feel it has mertis, and if this happened again I would...
But companies know what probationary priods are for: to see if you like the job, if you can do the job, if there is a job and if you fit with them. There is no shame in this not working iout, no matter how annoyed you feel...
So be positive. You cant hide the time you did have, but you can say that you were taken on specifically beause your skills.... (match to what the current interview invovles) however the company edcided against this strategy, and unhappily I was out in the open. I still feel it has mertis, and if this happened again I would...
But companies know what probationary priods are for: to see if you like the job, if you can do the job, if there is a job and if you fit with them. There is no shame in this not working iout, no matter how annoyed you feel...
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