š PROBATION isnāt just for companies - itās for us too.
I recently CHOSE to leave my probationary role as Engineering Manager for the Frontend team ā not because of my team (they were amazing š, and Iām thankful to have met colleagues Iāll stay connected with and always value), but because the environment showed me quickly that it wasnāt where I wanted to invest my time and energy.
Some hard truths I learned (the hard way):
1ļøā£ Your time + effort = your biggest capital. Spend it wisely.
2ļøā£ Onboarding matters. Mine didnāt happen until month 3.
3ļøā£ 1:1s matter. I asked for them for 2 months, they never happened.
4ļøā£ Respect matters. Culture shows in the little things ā even how HR and leaders talk to people in the kitchen.
5ļøā£ Impact is possible even in 3 months. I built processes, roadmaps, and IDPs that will keep running without me.
⨠Takeaway: probation goes both ways. If an environment lacks respect, feedback, and structure ā itās not a āfit,ā and thatās okay.
After 12 years in IT, I know where I thrive: in cultures with respectful leadership, open communication, and space to improve processes.
š To future employers: if thatās your culture, weāre already aligned.