The “Probephase” in a German apprenticeship is the first few months, where they essentially can let you go for any reason. It’s meant to weed out applicants to the system who just don’t fit with the company. At the end of it, there’s an employee evaluation, and they decide whether they want to keep teaching you and employing you, or whether you need to find another job.
Well, I passed. Not only that, but the employee evaluation was pretty consistently glowing - I was a credit to the team, I’m constantly improving, and so on and so forth. So yeah, just felt like sharing. Go me! I’m now considerably harder to fire!
Do other contracts in Germany come with a test period, as well? I’ve had contracts with test periods but usually the evaluation was along the lines of “since I haven’t been told not to come on Monday, I’m expected on Monday”.
They have a similar thing here in Australia - used to be 3 months, now I think it’s 6, applies for just about any job. I guess it’s been introduced as firing someone here is a major process, need to go through a whole performance management process. (Well done, it’s a stressful thing, even if you think you’re doing a good job!)
But, seriously, congratulations – Successfully going through that gives a very nice and warm feeling, doesn’t it?
I had a similar thing in the European Patent Office, wherein the first one or two years (depending on a series of factors) are basically an extended test to see if you have what it takes to do the job.
Not only that, but the employee evaluation was pretty consistently glowing - I was a credit to the team, I’m constantly improving, and so on and so forth. So yeah, just felt like sharing. Go me! I’m now considerably harder to fire! 
