To be annoyed work posted this job in this way?

We pay lots of attention to half terms because staff and clients and contacts do. Basic relationship management to be aware of the needs of your audiences and contacts.

@7stripybaskets this is a crappy way to advertise a role that several staff are eligible for. I think I’d possibly flag with line manager or HR (depending on who makes the decision and your relationship with them) because it could be seen negatively and creates bad feeling. Four days is quite a short window to anyway, when did the ad go out? I’d be conscious that eligible staff would go quiet and apply for the job instead of working.

You were on your phone and could have polished your CV and made a draft application. Then come home a bit earlier than planned and finished the application. We all make choices.

You’ve chosen to see this as a slight against you whereas you could apply and see if you get it.

When did the application go out last week Friday? did you not see it last week when you were at work? But anyway the time it took you to write that post on here you could have been getting on with the application.

Ah ok - different industries and practices I suppose. OP must be aware of this then.

A four day window is too short, especially given it is half term, however, it depends on what they require for the application. If it were something I could produce this afternoon, I would say nothing and get an application submitted. Were it a huge application, with CV, competencies and a 1500 statement, I would contact the vacancy holder cc your LM and perhaps HR querying the very short deadline, especially given it is school half term and many parents are on leave.I definitely know it has been a thing with some teams, especially those that consider they attract high flyers; they give some candidates the heads up the vacancy will be advertised and then advertise it on the last day of term, say before Christmas, and then can give a long deadline but still make it difficult for some, including parents, to apply. I suppose it may be their way of testing whether you would be willing to pick up work in your time off.

It depends on the application, surely. To apply for a new internal job at my work you submit your name and staff number, there’s no encouragement to take your time. All of the interviews and paperwork once you’ve passed the initial application process takes time, but not the application itself.

I disagree, “they obviously don’t want me” is a natural and reasonable reaction in the circumstances, and false positivity doesn’t change outcomes.

Apply late, tell them why you're doin that and invite them to extend.

If, as is pretty much obvious, those of you off for half term are Mothers of young children there might be indirect discrimination.

Are you in a Union?

Youve seen the job posting so obviously had access to it.

If you want the job, stop complaining on MN and get applying. Can your kids not entertain themselves for an hour or do you have a friend or family member that could entertain them for an hour whilst you focus on it.

I presume the application window is short dated because they know they will have an influx of applications so just want to get it done and dusted quickly.

If it's a role you're familiar with an application shouldn't take hours. If you don't get it, you can always mention to the hiring manager that you put in a last minute application as you didn't see it until late and have they any feedback how your application might be improved had you more time to put into it.

Also, think of it this way - you want a job with more responsibility but you're sitting here on MN shifting blame around the place. Take the bull by the horns and apply!

As others have said, prioritise the application and crack on.

It sucks that it seems it was not openly advertised to your team and the timing isn't ideal, but you have a choice here.

Third. It shouldn’t take that long to do an application and you have the rest of the week on half term.

Can’t anyone do anything without fucking ChatGPT anymore? 🙄

But you could use that argument for other employees who have time off as well.

where is the line drawn?

This! And not even just non-parents. I have kids at nursery and it only occurred to me that it was half term on Monday when my diary looked surprisingly empty!

Plus different areas have different half term weeks.

Getting a job advert out is a lengthy process and unless it is a school then why should recruitment be restricted to term time only? Being on leave does not mean that recruitment sites cannot be accessed.

I does sound rather unfair for the job to be posted whilst potential applicants aren’t at work and have no knowledge of the application deadline.
Apply anyway, you’ve nothing to lose and do email them to explain why your application is late in. Good luck.

Just get on with it if you want the job - don't use your kids as an excuse!

The company has done nothing wrong. They've advertised the role and stated they are only accepting internal applications.
Companies don't run around people's holidays and other commitments.
If you really want it then get your application in before 6pm and quit moaning!

Because it's supposed to be about open and fair competition or even just about getting the best candidates with all staff able to put themselves forward.

Knowing when swathes of your staff are likely to be on leave - or even just basic examination of the annual leave patterns - matters.

Also, it's more likely that women will be the ones on leave for child care - absolutely arguable this sort of thing inadvertently becomes indirect sex discrimination by ensuring women (and often younger women at that) are being excluded from applying for these roles.

Not a good look.

This. I agree that the way they have advertised this is a bit off. However if I was in your shoes, I’d make the time this afternoon and apply. If you don’t apply, you can’t complain if you don’t get it..

Straight on the phone to the vacancy holder, explain it's half term and ask if the date could be extended to allow parents the opportunity to apply. Also phone your line manager and ask them to make the same request.

This is absolutely not OK.

Yes they had someone in mind that wasn’t you, but you definitely won’t get it if you moan on mn rather than getting on with your application.

But why should job adverts have to take in account school holidays? If companies had to do that what about people on sick leave or on sabbaticals or on courses or business trips?

You still have time to make the application. Stop all the moaning about it’s unfair because it half term / Easter / Christmas/ summer/ whatever.

As a leader, do you think it’s reasonable to have such a small time frame for job applications?
People are encouraged to spend time on an application, this one hasn’t even gone over a weekend.