New Job and probationary periods

Doshwaster

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

This: people and companies make mistakes, and offering to pay someone a lot of money doesn't mean they are suited to the job, or that the job is suited to them.

Indeed. A fair percentage of new hire decisions just don't work out for a multitude of reasons.

A few jobs ago I sat down with my line manager for my 1 month review and we both decided that things weren't working out. It wasn't the job I was expecting and I wasn't the type of person they thought they had hired. So we shook hands and decided to go our separate ways. In such a situation there's no point in burning
bridges just move on to the next opportunity.

jonnygee2

It's worth remembering that no employment is completely safe. Redundancy can come at any time, as can many other events that would leave you jobless.

You have a shot at a much higher paying job, it almost certainly seems worth any additional risk. Only a small percentage of employment situations end up in dismissal, and only a very tiny percentage would be completely arbitrary / unjustified dismissals with no warning or cause (they definitely happen, sometimes legally, but it's obviously not the norm).

If I were you, I wouldn't worry so much about the probation etc, but I would just sense check:

1) Is this a job you can do? (obviously there'll usually be doubt/nervousness about a new position, but it should be clear if it's a healthy step up, or a huge leap that's very risky).

2) Is the company itself successful / growing?

Maybe double check Glassdoor.co.uk and scan for any signs of worrying behavior / job insecurity.

After all the important question isn't whether they can sack you, but whether there's any reason to think they actually will.

PookyW

It always amazes me that people get so hung up about probationary periods. As you've figured yourself, you can be dismissed for any reason in the first two years, with a few exceptions. Probationary periods are a very strange concept when you take this into account.
The only thing I'd be wary of is companies who are just giving you a trial run to see how you perform. This has happened to a few people I know who have left their jobs for a new sales position, only to lose it very quickly afterwards. The red flags to me are that the application and interview process seems a little too easy. But if the majority of the 50k salary is basic rather than bonus and there was nothing odd about the interview process, then there's less to worry about. A company doesn't make a 50k hire lightly.