Would you apply for this job?

[Yeahyeahyeahnooooo]

Work in NHS, a niche clinical role. My manager is leaving and 3 of us will likely apply for his job. If, big if, I got it, I know the other 2 would try to make my life miserable and would be hard to manage.

Would you just opt out of applying for an easy life? My logical brain is saying to stay where I am, but I know I wouldn't enjoy working for either of them.

How will you feel if you don’t go for it and one of them gets it?

Edit - sorry I missed where you said you wouldn’t enjoy working for either of them! Go for it. You don’t know what might happen; if you got it they might leave!

I'd be upset at having to work for either of them for various reasons, which sort of answers my dilemma really!

Are the other 2 your current colleagues/same grade etc? Do you currently actually work with them day to day?

I did a similar move up years ago. Not NHS but a medical/health care role in a private company. I got the job and was not only then managing my old manger, but also the people at the same level as me previously. It was hard at first. Within weeks though, my previous manager resigned and after removing dead wood from the team, it was fine. It was a step up I would never have tried for previously and put me above others when I moved.

I'd say go for it- if nothing else, its good interview experience and if you do get the role, you will work it out. Worse case, do it for 6mths or so and move on if it really is awfull.