Sloppy seconds.................

I'd expect them to make a point of letting you know about the vacancy if you were second in line. But the fact he didn't like his previous role but would rather go back to it than continue this one... I'd be wary!

I'd want to establish whether I was likely to enjoy it more than he did - do you think you would get more support? Or not need as much? Do you have the resilience to cope with a job being difficult and unpleasant if it helps you to get where you want? I wouldn't but for other people it might work.

Did you get feedback after the last competition? Was it interview performance or gap in criteria?

In my experience being an internal candidate can be daunting as they know you and I feel we don't always sell our selves as well.

I would query the support do you think you could do without? I think that is a bigger influence.

I had to go twice for department lead and it was a little daunting but got there second time. When I look back now I know I didn't interview as well on the first occasion.

Go for it, op. Didn’t do Rishi Sunak any harm.

(Sloppy seconds means having sex with a woman who’s just had sex with another man- just in case you felt the urge to use the expression in your interview 😂)

Wouldn’t hesitate if it was advantageous to me
he could of literally come across better at interview
the fact you never got it in the first place doesn’t mean your shit just means someone was better

possibly have a chat with the guy stepping down you could of also dodged a bullet

Sloppy seconds 🤢

That aside, I would consider it if approached, and understand they may have to re-interview to be fair to all.

BUT as you say, I'd be more worried about the management structure and lack of support. It could be a poisoned chalice.

What was the feedback on why you didn't get the role? That would make a big difference to whether I re-applied or not. As it's internal can you ask for a one to one with the hiring manager and say you are interested - that would give you chance to understand more about why you didn't get it, is there support for someone in that role and if they feel you may be a good fit or not. Personally I'd go for it and use the interview process to really check it out - you can always turn it down.

I’ve been in a similar situation and I refused to accept it purely out of pettiness.

I was cutting my nose off to spite my face but they chose to take someone with no experience, over me who’d been doing the job well for a year.
I was quite honest when the other lady couldn’t handle it and left after only a few weeks, that I was hurt about not being first choice and therefore I wouldn’t accept it just because she’s now dropped them.

Fortunately, it led me to apply and get a job that I enjoy a lot more but that doesn’t always happen.

It depends on how much you want this job.

You could always accept it but then not worry about looking for other jobs in the near future and not feel guilty about leaving.

This is always a good idea, I got a job once at the second time of asking purely on this basis. I was told why I wasn't hired, and it wasn't down to ability or anything I did wrong, period.

Like all progress in life, it's always about developing positive, healthy, relationships with people wherever you are!

I’d talk to the hiring manager. Essentially ask whether it’s worth you applying again. And sound out whether it’s actually what you want - are the issues making him leave ones that will make you struggle too?

But whatever you do, don’t avoid applying because you’re annoyed you didn’t get it the first time. Hiring may feel very personal but it really isn’t.

I think I only would if I were invited to apply, e.g. by a manager.

Nah go for it, this is why men get higher faster they say fuck it and do it.

also I was Expecting a very different thread…. Sloppy seconds haha

No. If I was going to consider it I'd want them to come to me direct, I wouldn't go through interview again. If they want you they'll approach you.

Have the interviewees spoke to you about it?

Or are they readvertisong it again?

Talk to them because surely they could appoint you based on the previous interview of they wanted.

I would ask them about it and then decide.

Yes, you really, really have!

I would approach the hiring manager about an informal chat where you ask for feedback on why you were not hired last time and take it from there

It would depend on the interview feedback but I might call the recruiting manager for a conversation to “understand what they are looking for” and get a feel for whether they would want me to apply again.

I'd almost certainly not apply for the same role twice but if they offered it to me in a "you were the 2nd best candidate in interview and we realise we made a terrible mistake" kind of way I'd probably be tempted to take it for the right money/benefits

Difficult to say. Are you sure the issue is that he’s getting no support or is it to do with the fact he’s got no experience? I’m currently applying for a new job within my work and the main reason is because I’ve got absolutely no support. My line manager is a different specialty to me and I’m not sure she even knows what I do. I sympathise with you.

Did you get feedback when you were unsuccessful? Because to have chosen the person with less direct experience suggests they were seeking other skills or qualities. You really need to know what you were lacking in their eyes before so you can decide whether these are things you have but didn't highlight enough, or whether they were just looking for something different from what you offered.

If you want the job don’t cut off your nose to spite your face, that would be ridiculous

Depends what the improvement in pay and your suitability for the role is, and whether the support should be necessary.

Some jobs require the post holder to be clear about their needs, build the required relationships, learn the processes involved in getting things done and being influential enough to create changes they feel are required.

If I'm going to get some skills and experience I need or want on my CV then I'm taking the job and doing my best with it. No job is forever, you look for things it has or promises that you want and you move on when you outgrow it or get fed up.

Staying in your current job isn't safety. It's always a reasonable possibility each day you start work that there'll be news of redundancies, via failing business or one that gets reorganization or some new technology or things the business wants to focus on. The reasons will be different in public service, charity etc but amounts to the same thing

Have some compassion for interviewers too, they have to choose one person and disappoint many, and sometimes the requirements dictate they can't have the "best" person

Wait and see if someone speaks to you about applying. If they don’t, you’re not likely to be in their thinking anyway.

Yes. I’d ask for feedback as to why they chose the other candidate at interview, and I would also talk to the colleague who is going back to his old role about the reality of the job you’re interested in, what supports he felt had been lacking etc.