Review after probationary period

I have not worked in over a decade; there is a lot riding on this return to work. I have my 6 mos review this week where my probationary period ends and they decide whether to extend it or to make me a permanent employee. I am nervous. There have been so many things that have happened in the last several months on their part (delaying my training and still not fully trained), and then on my part too, between misunderstandings theirs and mine, being sick at one point going to ER on shift for a mild heart attack (missing a couple of days and appointments here and there), and feeling like just an outright mess that I truly wonder for the first time in my job hx if this is going to happen.

I am starting to get emotional and I don't want to be when they discuss this no matter what happens. I need to listen to whatever they have to say for whatever critique comes my way and focus on that. Also then, if it works out, then . If they extend my probationary period, this will be stressful but a good sign. If they let me go, knowing deep down, it will not be the end of the world. With grace I will thank them for the opportunity, and take a lot of deep breaths as I clean out my locker.

Anything else I should do to remain calm during this meeting so I don't get emotional one way or the other?

Thanks in advance for your feedback and support.

Hi Fresia...

Good luck! I hope it goes well, and they bring you on permanently. I'm not sure how to remain calm during the review, I have problems with that too. Maybe.... try thinking about some of the things that have happened and prepare for how you'll react if they bring them up (i.e. non-defensively acknowledge). I find that this can help me in times of stress, because I don't have to try to figure out how to react, I've already planned it a bit... it might be as simple as saying something like, "I appreciate the feedback, and am working to not let that happen again".

Can you do any visualizations beforehand? Like imagine yourself in a safe, calm place, and focus on your breathing? Do you think something like that might help calm you down a bit?

Can you think a little about the things that have happened (that you worry might affect the review) and maybe try to get a bigger perspective. Like, they may seem catastrophic to you, but in reality, to your boss, might not be that horrible. For example, if you left work for a heart attack (!!!), I wouldn't hold that against you (if I were your boss). That's clearly not your fault or something you planned!

Can you arrange to call up a friend after to "debrief" and vent and get support? Or come back here and post, and let us know how it goes!?

I'll keep you in my thoughts! I hope it goes better than expected, and you come back and let us know! Good luck!

One thing I would say is to just remember that all other applicants are likely feeling exactly the way you are and that this should not make you feel as though you are somehow different in that regard...I am not sure about you, but I waste a lot of time worrying about how I am different than others in normal situations and while this may sometimes be true, most often than not, it likely isn't

I am assuming you have had regular meetings or feedback from your manager in this probationary period (if not, why not?) and they have not raised any points with you? This would be a good sign.

If they decide to extend your probationary period and you have not had feedback on your work, be sure to seek regular feedback in future to help you improve any points that are letting you down.

I hope this goes well for you!

It went well. It was strange because she started off by telling me all the things I should learn NOT to do in the future. It turns out this lecture is based on problems she is having with some others right now. Then I read my report and I "met" expectations according to the review report, which the choice was either to meet or not to meet them. However, it was strange too because I had to ask after reviewing this report, what happens now with the probationary period, to be extended or hired on permanently (as it said it could be extended for another 30 days) with meeting expectations. The manager was surprised and very casual as she thought about it for a moment, "well, it will not extend the probationary period; this will make you a permanent employee, the other shift supervisors did not tell you already we were extending this offer to you? " Ah, no. As if this meeting was not supposed to do that?!

Regardless, as stressful as this job is, for the right reasons for a change, it is a paying job and have passed a major hurdle in returning to work. I never thought this would be possible given my history with my MH and PTSD. A long road ahead but it is a good start. I was so stunned last night, it is starting to sink in. Perhaps will find some way to celebrate this little victory tonight. Now just have to get through one day at a time, one moment at time from here on out. May be easier said than done since the last 6 mos have felt like an eternity.

Thanks again for your support. Means the world. Hope this finds you well and sending the best. Take good care meanwhile and happy holidays.

That is fantastic! Congratulations on the permanent job

So glad to hear that it went well, Fresia!

Whooooooooowhoooooooo!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!

This is HUGE!!! Congratulations!!

Would you like to hear the irony of it....
The very next day, the supervisor calls me in to talk.
I have made a huge mistake the previous Friday, writable and documented in my record. We are allowed 4 of these kind of mistakes before FIRING! Just lovely, huh?! I was SO angry at myself and am still upset, but even more so when I found out the following....

She knew about it on Friday, gathered all the facts Friday and Monday( even knew when I had my review on Monday ), but waited until the end of the day on Tuesday as I was leaving to tell me because it upsets people and they cannot focus on their work. I did not sleep all night Tuesday night but figured how it happened to not make the same mistake again. I also then talked to each of my supervisors on Wednesday morning first thing, asking them that should I, heaven forbid, make ANY mistakes of this kind or any other in the future to please NOT wait to tell me. I could be making it in the interim and the sooner I know the sooner I can fix it. I have enough professionalism to stay focused on the task at hand and just do not want to keep making the same mistake. I cannot fix what I don't know about and too much harm can be done otherwise. I hope they will follow through as they supposedly agreed with this even if I do make whatever mistake(s) as I said, especially heaven forbid, one of this magnitude again.

The only comforting news is no one was harmed and this one was caught before any damage could be done. I was seriously lucky. I will be more vigilant in the future and know what I did not to do that again.

What a roller coaster of a week.

Thanks for your support meanwhile and well wishes. It truly means the world to me.

yayyy! well done