Was this ok- job enquiry

[SpaghettifingerFusillitoe]

I’m applying for a position within my company. I asked the recruiter if there was any more info about part of it and they said they didn’t know anything about the post yet (they were very new to their job) and suggested I approach the current post holder.

A lot of people in my company are on temporary contracts that then get converted to permanent posts, but the posts then need to be advertised within our company only. Which is stressful for the person essentially going for their own job.

So I asked if it would really be ok to approach the post holder, was the post coming up as they were moving on or was it likely the post holder would be interested in the permanent job (and hence it might be awkward)

Now I’m freaking out that was super unprofessional as the person hasn’t responded. But also I don’t want to email this guy and ask for tips on how to essentially get his post either if he’s potentially really stressed about his job security. I work in the public sector.

I feel I should have just asked ‘why is this post now available’ but it got messy bcs the recruiter named the individual as someone I should approach… have I marked my card?

I dont believe you've marked your card, or maybe only insofar as the recruiter knows you're interested in the role. They really should keep any information about any applicants confidential - only giving relevant information to hirers and interviewers.
I think maybe they shouldn't have suggested you go ask the current post holder. What their job is and what they should have done is say 'I'm sorry, I don't have an answer for you right now but I'll find out and I'll get back to you'. Total incompetence, new job or not.
I'd personally not approach the current post holder. Just apply for the post and hopefully you'll get all the information you'll need during the application/interview process.

Weird to be directed to the current post holder.

Ask who the hiring manager is and talk to them.

Ok thanks. It was the hiring manager- I also thought it odd to be sent to the post holder and potentially quite insensitive but I wish I’d read my response. I could have asked in a much more oblique way but I have obviously directly asked about another candidate

But that's not your fault, it's theirs. You asked a reasonable question in response to an unreasonable suggestion from them. I really hope it doesn't go against you because it'd be totally unwarranted

I am a Recruitment Manager and would always suggest potential candidates contact the hiring manager for more details about the role. Very poor of the recruiter to suggest you contact the current post holder, particularly in the situation you described.

I wouldn’t worry about your email, I think it is a completely reasonable question for you to ask.

It may be that the person in the role definitely isn’t applying for it and the hiring manager knows that (they’ve got another job elsewhere, are going travelling etc etc) but it’s not a bad idea to be totally sure before you approach them.

I think they were unprofessional, not you. And I think that your very clear enquiry that points out exactly why it's likely to be a bad idea to contact the current post holder was the best way rather than being oblique. Hopefully the delay is because they've realised they've made a mistake in directing you to do that and are actually getting the information for you.

Is the hiring manager new to the company or just new in post? As it's quite an odd thing to direct someone to do. I wonder if they didn't know it's likely to be a temp>perm situation rather than someone leaving?

More normal ime would have been to direct you to the line manager of the role, not the current post holder.

The role would be matrix managed, I’ve already spoken to the manager who i’d report to directly, this manager heads up an overlapping function (that the post holder is in). So I wanted to speak to them partly to assess if I’d want to work with/for them, partly because they’re new so I don’t know much about them as a manager. I think perhaps this practice of temp to perm roles might not be totally familiar to them.

thanks for the reassurance! I think in my head I thought it was as if I’d emailed out of nowhere to say ‘hi is this job Mark’s job- don’t you think he’ll go for it?’ Which would obviously be really out of line- but seeing as they mentioned ‘Mark’ first it’s hopefully an ok follow up query in what is a strange situation

I still don’t know if it’s temp>perm or someone leaving either! I suppose given I’ve heard nothing back possibly the former… it would be far less awkward to send a quick note saying the person has a new job elsewhere/has got promoted etc.