Would you apply for this job or not?

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

So where I work are having a complete restructure of our department - basically noone has a job, and everyone has to reinterview for the new jobs. Most of the jobs are restricted to applicants from the same grade and doing a similar job already, except for a few.

One such job is the grade above me, but is open to applicants from my grade. The person doing the most similar job at the moment is also the same grade as me, so will certainly be applying, but it's been a long standing bone of contention that he hadn't been promoted to this higher grade already.

I'm doing a very different job to him but have the experience to do the higher grade job from my previous roles. Do I apply, given that he will see this as 'his' job and almost certainly already be quite miffed that it was thrown open to everyone?

My thinking is that if they really wanted to give him the job, they wouldn't have thrown it open, right? But if I got it, he'd get made redundant, so would his team hate me, seeing me as the person who got him ousted? Is it ethical for me to apply? I mean I could not apply and then they still not give it to him and end up recruiting externally, and then everyone would have lost out, right?

Or do I just steer clear and just interview for the job at my grade and try and keep that?

It's complicated by the fact that I'm still on mat leave, so can't go and have an informal chat with him over a cuppa.

Any thoughts?

I would apply for any job that I would like to do.

That's kind of how I see it, Lonicera, but I don't want to end up managing a team who all hate me! I also haven't been at the organisation that long, so don't want to be seen to be an upstart who thinks she should move up a grade before she's even been there five minutes.

But then an opportunity is an opportunity, right? And I'd PAY to not have to work with my current boss again, tbh.

I have been in this scenario a couple of times and have found that lots of people take the opportunity to move on or up - there are always some surprises and winners and losers.

I moved from a job I hated to one that I loved in one reorganisation

And some people like to take the redundancy if it's a good offer (I've done that too)

He might see it as his job, but it isn't until he's been given it... surely it's a case of may the best man/woman win?

I would say apply for it. You need to think about yourself not everyone else around you and for all you know the rest of the team could be hoping he doesnt get the job or even apply for it themselves. I can t remember details but if I am thinking of the right person then your current boss has been an arse about your pregnancy and ML so I would all I could to move to another department. As a PP said may the best woman/man win and there may be a reason he hasnt already been promoted to the role.

Hope that made sense.

I agree with the others - you should definitely apply if you fancy the job. If it's been a long standing bone of contention that he hasn't been promoted, maybe there is a reason that he hasn't been promoted before.

You would kick yourself if somebody totally different was appointed because you stood back to let him get the job.

Thank you! I think there is a reason why he hasn't been promoted, although I'm not sure of the ins and outs - it's quite a political organisation in terms of internal shenanigans!

It's good to hear your views - you know when you have a gut feeling but you just want to check if you're way off the mark somehow?

I'd apply - if they were going to promote him, they'd have done it long ago by the sounds of things.

When restructuring goes on, then it's everyone for themselves, and no one would expect you to not apply for a job because you thought it belonged to someone else.

But as you are on mat leave, your job is protected, and you can't be asked to compete for jobs anyway can you ? So you don't need to apply for the job at your grade.

Thanks CMOT - sadly I still have to do a capability assessment, even though I'm not actually competing against anyone for my job, iyswim. I've taken advice from my DSis, who is an employment lawyer, and she says I still have to do this

Women are just too nice - can you honestly imagine a bloke saying 'there's a job i want, and can do; it's a step up, but there's a female colleague who wants to do it so i'm not going to apply in case they offer it to her, and in case it upsets anyone.' He'd have printed off his cv before you could blink. You owe him nothing - he's not going to hold back in case you want the job is he?

and why on earth would you go for a coffee and chat to him about it? 'Do you want the job, x?' 'Yes' 'ok, i won't apply then'.

Too true, grumpypants! Your post made me

You're absolutely right though - sometimes we do shoot ourselves in the foot by being too concerned about hurting people's feelings.

Am filling in the application form right now.

Go for it! Am sending you good luck vibes - i got a job a while ago that I really wanted but wasn't sure about; best thing ever!

WFH I applied for a job which was basically the next step up from mine when on mat leave (DD was about 8 weeks!) and I got it. Other people who had been at the place (school) longer did apply and it was tough thinking about being hated, etc. But having returned a couple of months ago to my new job, I love it, my team are great and I'm very very glad I did what it did.

Look at it this way - you won't actually be in work for all the political chatter about who applied for what and if you get the job, but the time you've started that should have all died down.

Good Luck!!

Thank you! That's very useful to know.

I've had very encouraging noises from the person recruiting for this role, so fingers crossed.

Definitely apply. Having been in your position before, I know the feelings you are voicing. But you cannot know what might happen or what other people are going to do (for all you know, he may not even apply and then you'd be really miffed!). So apply for it and good luck!

I'm with grumpy on this. Like he would give a flying fuck about what you might think/feel?

Get a red stiletto on his chest and use him to clamber up the career ladder. He'd do it to you.

(You can tell I work in a nasty and rather competitive industry, can't you!)

Application done and submitted. Fingers crossed!

good luck - i've been in this sort of position in the past, the person i 'beat' (she didn't apply but had in the past) was peeved when i got it but very professional to me.
Will you be managing him?

God, I hope not! No, I would think he'd be made redundant

Oh yes, sorry, you said that
He might be crossing his fingers for redundancy, and anyway, as others say they need the best person for the job

oh my god I got an interviews!

it's next Tuesday

good luck

thank you! am bricking it.....