Conflict of interest at work?

[OrlandointheWilderness]

I’m in a small team. The role above mine is under recruitment at the moment. I did sit in on the panel for the last lot of face to face interviews, however I then put my name forward and asked to be considered for the role. My manager was positive (and we need another member of the team no matter what) however we had another interview lined up (first stage teams one) which I’ve just sat in on. I found feedback almost impossible, and the individual will be invited to face to face next week. My manager has requested I’m on the panel again but I don’t know if it is ethical that I do so - I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable about it! Am I just being a bit daft?!

They want to sit on an interview panel for a job you've also applied for??
Sounds very wrong to me!

Either It really isn’t ethical or they simply aren’t taking your application seriously. Have you actually applied? Why aren’t they interviewing you?

It feels incredibly unprofessional. With the tiny team we have I don’t necessarily need to do an internal application, which sounds a bit bonkers but is pretty standard without being outing!!
I’ve raised it. I don’t think it would be appropriate and I feel it would be unfair for the candidate.

I recently received a permanent position for the role above that which I have been providing maternity cover for the last year. I was interviewed, as was the person I was providing maternity cover for. But I hadn’t actually applied for the job, hadn’t been asked for an updated cv.

I don’t see that you should be interviewing and giving feedback if you are also in the running for the job.

I feel really quite cross I’ve been put in this position tbh. Either they just haven’t taken me seriously, in which case just tell me I’m not suitable, or they have and I shouldn’t be interviewing for it!

Given that you applied after being on the interview panel you created the conflict. Perhaps you should have turned down the panel request.

But your employer shouldn't have accepted your application for that reason.