'I failed my probation. Should I keep it on my resume?'

Today I’m analysing the situation of Zia.

Zia reached out to me via LinkedIn to ask for my help after she was let go during her probationary period. 

She’d just started a new role - one she worked hard to land and was genuinely excited about. But almost immediately, she knew something was off. The culture didn’t feel right. She did her best but after three months, the company let her go.

Now she’s job hunting again, and she’s stuck on one big question: Do I include this role on my resume… or not?

What’s the challenge?

Zia’s worried that including the role will raise red flags.

But if she doesn’t include it, she’s left with a gap on her resume — and that could raise questions too.

And to top it off, she’s also dealing with the emotional weight of being let go, which can feel pretty heavy, especially if it’s the first time it’s happened.

How can she move forward?

This is a case of weighing two options:

➡️ Leave it off and deal with the gap
➡️ Keep it in and be ready to explain it

Neither option is “right” or “wrong.” It’s about what feels most strategic and comfortable for you - and how well you can own the story.

My advice

1. There’s no shame in being let go

Let’s just get this out of the way: being let go during probation is not a failure. It happens. It’s part of the working world. 

And I say this from personal experience — I’ve been let go in my probation period too. Eight months later? I was working at Apple and thriving in my career again.

So please don’t carry shame around this. You are not alone.

2. Consider the length and value of the experience

If your probation was short (e.g. 1–3 months) and you didn’t gain anything worth speaking to — it’s fine to omit it.

But if it was longer (e.g. 6 months) or you achieved something substantial, it might be worth keeping on there.

In my case, I stayed 3 months and completed a major brand strategy project so I kept it in.

3. If you keep it in, own the narrative

Here’s the script I used when people asked why I left after 3 months:

“I left Nike after 8 years to take a chance on an exciting new opportunity. Unfortunately it wasn’t the right fit, and I left during my probation. But I’m really excited about what’s next and thrilled to be speaking to you about this role.”

Short. Positive. Forward-focused.

No drama. No bad-mouthing. And it worked. No one ever dug further.

4. Practice your delivery

If you’re going to talk about it,  practice it.

Say it out loud. Get feedback. Use a mirror. Use your partner. Or use ChatGPT’s voice tool and ask: “Does this sound believable?”

The goal is to say it clearly, calmly, and confidently.

Whatever path you choose - leave it off or leave it in - make sure the story is tight, clear, and delivered with confidence.

And remember: your career is made up of many chapters. One misfit role doesn’t define your story.