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Original poster

I didn't get the job but I'm expected to train successful applicant

157 replies

Toblerone345 · 09/06/2020 19:26

I recently applied for a job at my current place of work. It's a grade above me and since the previous job holder left I've been doing that role without any extra pay until they could find a replacement. I applied for the job but unfortunately I wasn't successful, despite doing the role currently alongside my actual role. Apparently they know I can do the job well as I'm already doing it, but someone else (without experience) got the job instead as they gave better examples in the interview.

Until the new joiner starts in a month or so, I'm expected to continue to do this role (none of the duties are in my job description) without extra pay. I'm then expected to train the new starter to do a job that I'm apparently not qualified for.

Does anyone know if I can be fired/disciplined for refusing to do this?

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 09/06/2020 19:27

No advice but that's bloody awful. Time to start looking for a new job?

caramac04 · 09/06/2020 19:28

I’ve no knowledge to offer but that is really shit. Are you in a union? I’d be utterly outraged.

KingOfDogShite · 09/06/2020 19:29

I’d get flu the day they started and be off for a couple of weeks and use that time looking for a new job.

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DisobedientHamster · 09/06/2020 19:30

That is a shitty thing to do to an employee.

drivingtotestmyeyes · 09/06/2020 19:31

What an absolute piss take, definitely time to look for another job, I would be tempted to smile and say you wouldn't feel comfortable training anyone to do a job you were not considered suitable for. Unless training someone up is in your job description I don't see how they can really discipline you over it.

GingerFoxInAT0phat · 09/06/2020 19:32

I’d be tempted to go on sick when your due to train her. And look for a new job, how demoralising.

PersonaNonGarter · 09/06/2020 19:34

I would be tempted to smile and say you wouldn't feel comfortable training anyone to do a job you were not considered suitable for. Unless training someone up is in your job description I don't see how they can really discipline you over it.

This, honestly. Don’t do it. Be explicit.

Walkingthedog46 · 09/06/2020 19:35

In my experience this is a fairly common occurrence. It has happened to me and also to friends in the past. It absolutely stinks, and in my case it was the impetus I needed to move on and find a (better) job.

TeaAndHobnob · 09/06/2020 19:35

That's really shitty. I would put some energy into finding a new role if I were you. Especially as they were happy to let you act up without even a token payment to acknowledge it.

Being expected to train someone earning more than you, in a job you've already done for a period of time, without any recognition in job description or pay is disgusting.

ssd · 09/06/2020 19:37

That's awful. If you don't train them, who will? Let them do it.

Go sick. Say its your nerves due to feeling bullied at work. Stick it right up them.

dadshere · 09/06/2020 19:38

Sounds to me like you are coming down with a nasty virus, probably need some time off to recover!

ichbineinstasumer · 09/06/2020 19:39

I would politely explain that although you understand the decision not to hire you, that as you have been doing this role alongside your core role for [x time] without any additional remuneration, in fact you feel that you've been rather unfairly treated. For that reason you don't feel it's appropriate to ask you to train the new person.

See what they say - and suggest that you should be fairly compensated for the additional duties. And then look for a new job as others have said.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 09/06/2020 19:39

It happened to me once on a fixed term contract. I wasn't successful and they wanted us to overlap so I could train before I left. Contract stated one weeks notice and I started job hunting with a vengeance. Handed my notice in a week before they started and had pre booked leave for 2 of the days.

They kept trying to call me after as no one else knew the intricacies of the job 😂

Eeyoresstickhouse · 09/06/2020 19:40

You have the perfect excuse at the moment for 2 weeks off. You have to self isolate due to symptoms in your house.

Zaphodsotherhead · 09/06/2020 19:41

Happened to me in previous job. Management decided we needed a 'boss'. There were three of us doing the role. We agreed, as long as the one of us there longest got to be the 'boss' (was perfectly possible to do her role and still technically supervise we other two).

They appointed someone with no experience whatsoever in the role, as our boss. And we had to train her.

We refused, on the grounds that they should have appointed someone with at least vaguely relevant skills, and we didn't have time to do our jobs and also train someone up. Which was true.

She left within a month and we went back to managing ourselves. They never tried to give us another boss.

So I'd first of all ask them to pay you for all the work you've done in that role, and then leave. But make sure they give you a decent reference!

jokolo · 09/06/2020 19:43

Start looking for a new job ASAP.

icansmellburningleaves · 09/06/2020 19:43

Sorry you didn’t get your job but this isn’t unusual at all. You will come across as bitter and unprofessional if you start being awkward about training the new person.

BoneAppleTeaa · 09/06/2020 19:44

A lot of the advice here is likely to make the recruiting manager relieved they didn’t appoint you!

I know it’s a slap in the face, but do your job diligently whilst you look for somewhere that will recognise your skills.

ThisShitCrazy · 09/06/2020 19:44

You've got a cough OP, and a temperature. Then just when you start to feel better someone in your household comes down with the same thing. What bad luck eh?

pinktaxi · 09/06/2020 19:48

When they start take yourself off for 14 days Covid quarantine

Apply for another job and leave ASAP. I couldn't stand working under those circumstances

damnthatanxiety · 09/06/2020 19:49

icansmellburningleaves

Out of interest, why does this happen so frequently? What is the reason for it?

BobbieDraper · 09/06/2020 19:49

How is your sector doing at the moment? Is the possibility of a job elsewhere quite strong? If you decide to stand your ground and work only to your job description then, whilst right, you will be making yourself an enemy of the managers so you will need a new job.

Haggisfish · 09/06/2020 19:51

This happened to me op. It’s really shit. I think you feel a bit poorly, too.

Patch23042 · 09/06/2020 19:51

Happened to a friend of mine in the civil service - although in fairness, she was paid at the higher grade whilst she was doing the role and whilst she was training the successful candidate.

Youve been treated poorly. The problem with just acquiescing now, is that you’ll be disrespected again and again because they’ve got away with it once. I think that you need to say something about the pay. And start job hunting too.

CrypticQueen · 09/06/2020 19:51

One of the ways that companies try to avoid ‘unconscious bias’ in recruiting is to ask skills-based questions (I think you alluded to this OP with your comment about her giving better examples). If this is the case, the role was given to the candidate who performed objectively better in the interview. I know it’s galling to be asked to train her, but you could argue this is a very fair way of recruiting.