Volunteered for 5 years but still didn't get the job

[CourageCalls]

I have volunteered in a role for five years and a salaried position for the same job had come up. I applied didn't get it! What more can I do. Feeling very disappointed right now!

This is quite common I'm afraid.

I work somewhere with volunteers and if they give one a paid job, they've lost a volunteer in their eyes

I'd leave if I didn't need the job or reference. Just say it's time for a change and to devote more time for other interests.

In public services (which I presume a library probably is?) the interview panel has to show it is being completely fair and above board, non-discriminatory, and 100% not "giving jobs to the boys" (go read through some of the daft perceptions people have on the current Masons thread).
It has to be able to demonstrate that each candidate was compared on the answers they have given at the interview, and not on any previous knowledge they have of any particular candidate.
Sadly, this does mean that there are times when people who are good at interviews will end up with jobs that employers actually do not know if they will do the job well / fit in the team well, and people that they know will do the job well and fit in the team well, might not get the job.

Apologies. Someone else posted the other day saying they didn’t get a job despite volunteering.

I think the reason they didn't give you the job is simply because you've done it for half a decade without pay so they assume you'll continue to work for free - whereas the other applicant and most other people wouldn't work for free so the gain more by offering the other person the paid post and keep you where you're at. It's very unlikely to be due to you not answering questions properly - that is just an excuse. If true, that would show very poor training on their end that an external candidate can outperform someone who's been on the job for 5 years. If I was you, I'd apply for as many similar jobs as possible - show that you're valued and not their doormat.

I had this once. I left, fast. The people who pulled that stunt won't be doing that again in a hurry. They were publicly embarrassed & the project fell to bits.

My advice: leave with at most a couple of weeks notice. During that time, don't train the new person or do a handover. Just don't.

Volunteer abuse is the lowest of the low - you won't win this one but it will stop them doing it to anyone else.

It's a nasty thing to make you work for free for years when it should have been - well, is - a paid job. And it's illegal.

And this is precisely why workfare or its classier equivalent internships are both a nonsense.

Total madness.

During that time, don't train the new person or do a handover. Just don't.

^

This. Don't do this!

The up side of volunteering is that you can leave as and when you like. I’d tell them next week will be your last week and do something else. They absolutely could have taken your previous volunteer experience into account not just how you performed at interview. They should have had a reference from whoever supervised you.

They are taking the piss.

Did you feel valued before. Did you get good feedback from the actual job?