![\"Stressed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2233257789.jpg\")
\n\t\tFeeling anxious during your probation period is totally normal (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tFeeling anxious during your probation period is totally normal (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Spilled a coffee<\/a> over your new work laptop or accidentally CC\u2019d the CEO into an email thread? Take a deep breath, no probation period is without a few hiccups<\/a>.<\/p>\n Starting a job<\/a> is stressful, no matter how kind or welcoming your team may be, and it\u2019s totally normal to experience some work-related anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n But just because it\u2019s to be expected doesn\u2019t make the feeling of limbo any easier to cope with. And with the state of the world right now, job paranoia is crippling thousands of employees.<\/p>\n Career coach Hannah Salton<\/a> tells Metro the reason we\u2019re on high alert during probation is because it\u2019s essentially \u2018a test, like you\u2019re constantly being evaluated.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018You can\u2019t help but worry, \u201cAm I good enough for this role?\u201d\u2018 she explains. \u2018In some ways, it feels like an extended interview that lasts several months\u2019.<\/p>\n While probation anxiety spans generations, Gen Z do tend to experience heightened levels of it, reporting more than double the rate<\/a> of psychological distress than their Millennial and Gen X counterparts.<\/p>\n When it comes to work specifically, 56% of graduates say<\/a> they don\u2019t feel ready or equipped for the job market, while another study <\/a>found that 98% of young people<\/a> are dealing with symptoms of burnout \u2013 despite being on the early rungs of the career ladder.<\/p>\n And the steady stream of headlines bemoaning them for being difficult to work with, lazy, or just generally ruining the workplace<\/a> probably don\u2019t help either.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Gen Z has come into the workforce at a difficult time where most of the work is remote based, job insecurity has increased, and the economy is unstable,\u2019 Connar Walford, student success lead at\u00a0targetjobs<\/a> tells Metro. \u2018These all worsen anxieties around proving yourself.\u2019<\/p>\n It\u2019s also down to the younger generation\u2019s desire for \u2018belonging, feedback, and values purpose\u2019 in their jobs \u2013 all things which can be uncertain in those first months after starting. <\/p>\n Think about the state of the world right now. The UK job market is a mess, with youth unemployment<\/a> now at 14.5%, while social media is filled with stories from young people sending off hundreds of job applications and being met with stony silence or long-winded excuses.<\/p>\n So when you finally do manage to get a job, it\u2019s understandable you might be pulling your hair out at the thought of doing anything that could jeopardise it.<\/p>\n But just because nerves are normal, doesn\u2019t mean living in fear (at least until your permanent contract is signed) is. In fact, according to Hannah,spiralling out over your probation only makes it all worse.<\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t get paranoid,\u2019 she says. \u2018It\u2019s easy to overthink every bit of feedback, but that only adds pressure.\u2019<\/p>\n I\u2019m drowning in probation anxiety\u2026<\/p>\n One 26-year-old working in local government<\/a> in London<\/a> shared his experience of this on Reddit recently, explaining how he\u2019d had to take three weeks off work after a health issue, which meant his probation period was extended by two months, leaving him extremely anxious.<\/p>\n He admitted to making some \u2018silly mistakes\u2019, but claimed the stress had become so bad that he felt the need to reach out and ask for help.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m completely consumed by this job and the fear that my probation review will just be a rejection,\u2019 he wrote in the post. <\/p>\n \u2018I latch onto negative feedback way more than positive, and right now I\u2019m convinced I\u2019m messing everything up even though logically I know a 30-minute fix isn\u2019t a disaster and a two-week delay with slow stakeholder feedback isn\u2019t entirely my fault.\u2019<\/p>\n In a viral LinkedIn post<\/a>, business growth specialist Jenny Moutou highlights how common imposter syndrome is among staff starting out in a new job \u2013 and notes how the cycle of self-doubt and failure can be \u2018shaped by the environment they walk into.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018When leadership norms, decision-making frameworks, and systems of advancement are built within outdated or biased paradigms, they don\u2019t just affect the people at the top \u2013 they trickle down,\u2019 she says. \u2018They shape culture, perception, and behaviour at every level of the organisation.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWhat you SHOULD do during your probation period\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuelling your paranoia is a definite no. However, career coach Hannah Salton urges new starters to remember these two things when navigating their probation period:<\/p>\n Be proactive. If you have capacity, seek out additional work or offer to help on projects. A manager once told me, \u2018ask for forgiveness rather than permission\u2019 \u2013 which sounded scary at the time, but it taught me that initiative is often valued more than hesitation.<\/p>\n Ask questions. Some people worry that asking too much will make them look inexperienced, but it actually shows engagement and a willingness to learn. Just make sure your questions are thoughtful and show you\u2019re trying to understand the bigger picture.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re struggling with probation anxiety, coach Hannah says it\u2019s vital to break this cycle by addressing concerns head on. <\/p>\n \u2018Keep the communication open with your manager \u2013 ask what\u2019s going well and what you could be doing more of,\u2019 she explains. \u2018That clarity can create trust and make a huge difference to you feeling confident and secure in your role.\u2019<\/p>\n If your employer is worth their salt, they\u2019ll \u2018provide the support and training you need to succeed.\u2019 And if they don\u2019t, it\u2019s \u2018a sign that the environment might not be the right fit for you anyway.\u2019<\/p>\n Tripping over a cable or making an honest mistake should not result in you failing your probation period, so try to avoid jumping to worst case scenarios every time something isn\u2019t perfect. Getting caught slagging off the CEO in the loos might be justifiable cause for worry \u2013 otherwise, you\u2019re probably being needlessly hard on yourself.<\/p>\n Probation is a two-way street<\/p>\n Since environment can make or break a worker\u2019s probation period, Hannah says managers should be careful in how they approach new starters.<\/p>\n \u2018Be transparent about expectations from day one and encourage open, two-way communication,\u2019 she recommends, along with offering specific feedback describing their strengths and where they can grow beyond the boilerplate \u2018you\u2019re doing great\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018Check in regularly, celebrate progress, and make it clear that probation is about development, not constant evaluation,\u2019 Hannah adds.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-1129489551.jpg\")
\n\t\tGen Z tend to experience high levels of job-related stress (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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