To be annoyed work posted this job in this way?

We don't know what kind of job the OP has. There is no reason whatsoever to assume that this is the job of a lifetime and that she has the sort of high-flying career where people are routinely expected to put work first and family second, where cancelling plans with your children is just par for the course.

I would absolutely do this

I agree that this is the ideal situation, but it is still worth a shot. I'm sometimes amazed that things I dash off do better than things I slave over. It can help not to overthink things and just cut to the chase.

Give it a go. Get home by 4-4.30pm. Settle DC with snacks in front of TV. Make a cup of tea. Update your CV using the exact vocabulary they use in their job spec and advert. Or if it's a form, fill it in using their exact langauge. use Chat GPT to help if you need to.

Then send it through with a brief email expressing stonrg interest in being considered for the role.

As so many PP have said - you can't get it if you don't apply. And if you prioritise an extra hour or so wiht your children, that's a perfectly valid choice but then a cknowledge it and don't feel miffed about the advert coming out when it did. After all, you spotted it in time!

Two weeks to see the vacancy and draft an application, as well you know. If people are away they probably won't see it.

And 5 hours might not be enough, not that the OP has 5 hours anyway because she's out for the afternoon. Every job I've ever applied for has needed a good few hours in front of a laptop writing statements and answering questions. Plus digging out and scanning qualification certificates. She can't just stab at her phone a few times to apply.

The PP didn't say it would take two weeks to draft a decent application. She said the window when the job is open for applications should be a minimum of two weeks. Not everybody can drop everything and draft the application as soon as they see it. Most of us would need a bit of notice to ensure an uninterrupted period to work on an application in the evening or at the weekend. Where I worked you couldn't apply with just a CV, you had to fill in a standard online form and draft statements explaining how you met the person specification and demonstrating that you could do everything in the job description. It was not something most people could dash off in a few minutes and still be in with a chance of being shortlisted.

Sounds like it's just a formality and they either know already who will get the job or someone needs to interview for their own job for some reason

I would consider whether this is normal practice of the company then. If it's normal that any vacancies are sent out by email and no other communication then I don't see they have done anything wrong. If a line manager usually calls everyone who might be interested into their office or has a one to one chat mentioning it to them and they haven't called the OP because they are on holiday then yes it's wrong.

I would make a complaint that is was advertised during a school holiday and it had such a small window of application.

They are disadvantaging those on AL, you'd have a really good case for them extending the closing window to Sunday 12pm.

Come on.... If you are on a time crunch its often helpful.

I don't get the issue.
Businesses do not stop because of school holidays or because people have taken AL to be with their kids. Think this is just when they put it out

Some incredibly harsh responses here! The OP has not said how old her children are or what they are doing this afternoon. It could be something that had to be booked ages in advance and/or extremely expensive and/or involving other people. I can just imagine the AIBUs from the others affected if OP did drop everything to apply for this job (with no guarantee whatsoever she's going to get anywhere with it)

AIBU to be pissed off with my friend who's just messaged to say 'Sorry, can't go with you as planned today, can you manage all the kids on your own? I've just seen a job vacancy I want to apply for and I have to get it in by 6pm.' We arranged this after Christmas and it's cost us a small fortune to book all the tickets. No, I can't manage six kids on my own! They won't even fit safely in my car ...

AIBU to be fuming because my SIL has pulled out of bringing the kids to see my PIL who is just out of hospital so that she can apply for a job she's only just seen?

AIBU to be really upset because my DP isn't coming on a long walk we've planned with the kids and the dogs because she wants to apply for a job that frankly she stands no chance of getting? It's the only day we're both off and we've all been looking forward to it for ages ...

The issue here is that the job is only open for applications for four days over a period where a lot of staff are on annual leave, and those staff are disproportionately going to be women of childbearing age. This is obvious discrimination. It's inconceivable that the department manager was unaware that so many staff would be off during the period this job is open for applications. The way this has been done absolutely stinks.

I applied several times during my working life for jobs which it then emerged were basically always going to go to someone else, for various reasons. It's extremely demotivating. If I had my time over again, I'd have moved employers to a place where staff were treated with more dignity and respect.

@BringBackCatsEyes its not my job to remind people to check for a job. I took ownership of it on my way up and il do it again if I need to. It’s personal accountability, like I said I checked for jobs twice a week when I wanted to progress. I’m not saying it isn’t personal in OPs case but she assuming it is. I’m just saying it often isn’t.

I work with a mum of similar age children to Mine and I really like her, I like her work too. But the moaning that nothings advertised for the specific hours she wants/the location of the office/a job is always going to go to someone else. It’s boring. And it’s always because she’s a mum. It really isn’t because she’s not applied for a single one!!! I’m not saying it never is but this attitude is so off putting.

the job wasn’t advertised long enough, my manager didn’t tell me about it, I’m too busy today. - this from the op? Then I don’t want you. I’m not asking you to sacrifice your children on the alter of a job. But show some initiative and problem solving skills FGS.

Predictable leave and the relevant cohorts is basic HR stuff.

Ramadan - more likely to have your Muslim staff taking some time off.

School holidays - more likely to have your female staff taking some time off.

Diwali - more likely to have your Sikh or Hindu staff taking some time off.

Not considering basic and predictable things during recruitment drives quickly adds up to a problem.

And no, I have no kids, no family caring responsibilities and no religion so I have no skin in the game beyond what I see as common sense and fair play.

How long the application process takes is a huge factor. Do you simply express an interest or is it full CV and application.
See it as an opportunity to give yourself a nudge to update your CV so that it's ready to go for the next one.
I'm self employed but I do my husband's CV for him as writing CV fits my skillset better than his. He's more manual hands on type skills. If a job came up this afternoon I could fire off a CV pretty quickly as it's always updated

If it takes you two weeks to draft an application you’re not suitable for the job. 5 hours is plenty of time.

I don't know why so many are wittering on about CVs and ChatGPT. A lot of the time you have to fill in an online application, the best CV in the world would be useless.

You wouldn't be able to have a decent stab at an application in an afternoon either with or without ChatGPT. A 4 day window is ridiculous, anything less than 2 weeks is too short if you want people to see the job and make a good effort at an application.

I think some of these replies are very harsh. Companies absolutely do this on purpose when they have someone in mind. I’ve been the someone before and it’s worked in my favour but it’s not really fair. So I can understand why op feels fed up and that it’s a foregone conclusion as it very likely is. It’ll be a stressful afternoon managing the kids and hurtling through a likely pointless application.

Saying that I do think it’s still worth trying to get something in as it might help her long game to show the interest now. Even something fairly quick with bullet points. But depending on the workplace some applications can take hours and hours to write something decent. Not everywhere is a quick CV! In some places I’ve worked if wouldn’t be unusual for an application to be 20/30 pages and may also require a CV and additional tasks!

Whatever you decide to do OP definitely arrange a conversation with your line manager to discuss this and your next steps.

Even if you knew part of your team wouldn’t even see the advert due to AL (and I hope supporting not checking work issues while on leave)?

Yup, I'd be annoyed at my line manager for not giving me a heads up in this situation, and think it was quite unprofessional of them.

But, I'd also change my plans so I could get an application it. Your career is surely more important that what you have planned today?

@BringBackCatsEyes yes if I need someone in quickly and there are likely to be plenty of applications. Lots of adverts close early when they get a number of applicants. Be on the ball and take responsibility for it. When I wanted to progress I checked my list of websites twice a week!

Imagine it might have been 'shared' that the position was available differently based on how the company has done this....

Drop everything and get your application in.

If you seriously can't as you're away, reach out to HR and explain how posting the advert quietly when all the 'parents' (presumably mums) were on leave this week and timed the responses to be in before any of them were back in the office looks. Emphasise this is personal leave they'd booked and were entitled to take as part of their compensation package, and what a bad look for the company this is as it looks discriminatory against parents of young children.

If you wanted to, you would. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes it's frustrating but could it not be the same if it had been next week and a different colleague had booked a week off as they want term time holidays. I think you are perhaps overthinking, but as you mention it's an internal job then you are probably right and they do have an idea of who they want.