How do banks evaluate probation periods in secure industries?

The bank did not care in our case. My husband works in IT, and since I was still studying at the time, his income was the only income. He was still in the probationary period, which the bank must have known because his contract had only been running for a few months. No one asked any questions; ING only wanted to see 3 months of income, and we had that. That was in 2017.

Edit: He was 29 and I was 27 at the time. We already had 2 children, aged 1 and 3.

No way. From 40+ onwards, job opportunities rapidly decline. And the longer unemployment (even if not your fault) lasts, the more difficult it becomes.
Your attitude is a good example: supposedly every good software developer immediately has a new job. Would you hire someone who is unemployed? Obviously, there must be something wrong with them if they don't have a job. Better not invite such a person.
I understand that you currently feel great with your salary increases via head-hunters, but a downward spiral can happen very quickly. Failing probation twice thoughtlessly and your resume is severely damaged.

Yes, of course ALG1 still exists. But that means a third of the income suddenly disappears. That is already a problem if you can adhere to the recommended 35% of net income for financing. Usually, however, it is financed above that. Termination during the probation period is particularly unfavorable because you fall back on ALG1 with only two weeks' notice, while with regular terminations you still have a few months to find something. And it is not guaranteed that the next job will bring the same salary, especially if you are geographically inflexible (family!) and live in an unfavorable area. Although maybe a lot has improved in the last two years due to working from home.

And on the market, there are quite a few who call themselves software developers but probably have no chance at any decent company because they are completely clueless as soon as it goes off the beaten path of their standard problem and favorite framework. The worst are those sent by the employment agency. Anyone who sinks so low that they apply through the employment agency has failed through all the sieves in the industry. Hopefully, these are not the people financing a house during the probation period, but the bank can hardly assess that from the outside.

So I've already fired an IT guy during the probation period, despite the headhunter. That's peanuts compared to not taking action. Selfish monkey who couldn't behave in the group and wanted to share his worldview at every opportunity. Even the headhunter won't save you from that ;-)

No way. Job prospects drop rapidly from 40+. And the longer unemployment lasts (even if not your fault), the harder it gets. Your attitude is a good example: every good software developer supposedly immediately finds a new job. Would you hire someone who's unemployed? Obviously, there must be something wrong with them if they don’t have a job. Better not invite such a person. I understand that you’re feeling great right now with your salary increases through headhunters, but a downward spiral can happen very quickly. Failing probation twice without thinking it through, and your resume is severely damaged.

I don’t know. I understand what you’re getting at and respect your opinion, but in my entire circle of colleagues and former colleagues, I don’t know anyone to whom this has happened. I know many older colleagues, 40+, 50+ - none of them have trouble keeping a job or finding a new one. Actually, salaries even increase here with growing experience. In the industry, I rather see the problem that currently so much headhunting is happening that they want to put "Senior" on the job title for anyone with 2 years of professional experience, presumably to sell people more expensively on the market. We both have strongly opposed this. I don’t see myself as a senior level of competence, and therefore don’t want that on any business card.

And in IT, I believe people are indeed invited even if they are unemployed. The market is there. If people remain unemployed, I would look for other causes. Lack of soft skills, badmouthing previous employers, clumsy self-presentation, character faults/problems etc. — these might be reasons why someone stays without a job in the industry. But I know my husband well enough; I don’t think that applies to him.

The bank didn’t care. My husband is in IT and since I was still studying at the time, his income was the sole income. He was still in probation, which the bank surely knew since his contract had only been running for a few months. Nobody asked, ING just wanted to see 3 months’ income and we had that. That was 2017.

Edit: He was 29 and I was 27 back then. We already had 2 children aged 1 and 3 at that time.

Cool, thanks for sharing your experience. Of course, we’d have that too – depending on how early we inquire, we might possibly have the salary from 2 different companies, but there are no months without salary in between. But I don’t think it will happen that quickly for us anyway.

So, I already sent an IT guy home during his probation period, despite the headhunter. That’s peanuts compared to not taking action.
A selfish ape who couldn’t behave in the group and wanted to share his worldview at every opportunity. Not even the headhunter can save you from that ;-)

Those are exactly the character flaws I was talking about in my post one above. ;)
Sure – no one would put up with that long-term. The question is, how did he manage to bluff his way through the job interview?
But I really don’t see that as a problem for me. I know my man and I know he’s not a selfish ape. ;)
My experience so far indicates that in IT, you get much further despite limited competence if you have strong soft skills, are able to handle criticism, and want to develop, rather than the other way around. People who overestimate their own technical skills and like to elbow their way through (virtual) offices find it harder.