To withdraw application for internal job before interview?

[Beigeisthenewblack]

Posted this in Work, but thought it might get more traffic in here & I need to move fast. Apologies in advance for the longish OP, but it's easier to explain up front rather than drip feed.

I have applied for an internal role, acting up for 12 months to cover a senior manager's maternity leave. For various reasons, I had to leave my application until just before the deadline but decided to go for it, even though I was still undecided whether it was the right move for me. I have since been told by my line manager that I met the criteria and will be interviewed for the role soon. There are only 2 other candidates, so the odds of getting it are reasonable.

The role covers an area which I am not familiar with, so would involve a very steep learning curve, and there are some really high profile issues which will surface during the 12 month cover period. There are opportunities to have a significant impact and come out of it looking like a hero - IF you can pull them off. There is also a feeling in our department that the manager may not return after her maternity leave from various things she's said, so the person who acts up stands a good chance of being confirmed in the role after the 12 months are up. It is the kind of interesting, well paid senior role which rarely comes up in my company.

Conversely, there are several significant areas of risk in terms of things going wrong/blowing up in the post-holder's face and any mistakes would be highly visible. There is also a significant blame culture in that area of the business & the directors are of the "shit rolls downhill" school. One director in particular has a reputation for being a vindictive bully.

I felt I should apply to signal my interest in progressing in my company, as I seem to be banging my head against a brick wall. Knowing what I know about the company, my attitude to putting an application in was that if it was really horrible, it would only be for a year & I could go back to my current job at the end of the year with useful experience under my belt/for my CV. However, I think there's a risk that serious damage could have been done to my career by the end of the year if some of the risky areas aren't well managed (only some of which is within the post-holder's control). I am also not convinced I've got the rhino hide needed to deal with the directors.

So... I decided to think it over this weekend and had pretty much decided to withdraw my application tomorrow. Then my friend (works in same firm) said to me this afternoon that I shouldn't have applied if I wasn't sure, that it will look bad if I withdraw my application & that I have to go through with the interview now. She says the interview itself will be good experience, but I think pulling out after you are offered the post (if this happens) would look worse. Argh. What to do?

I don't really agree that it would look bad if you withdrew your application. . You could go for the interview for the experience and turn the job down by saying you've thought it over and the role isn't exactly what you wanted. I just asked DH what he thought and he said to withdraw if you're definitely sure you don't want it and not turn it down after the interview.

See what others think. But are you really sure you don't want this role and won't regret withdrawing.

I would go to the interview, do your best and if they offer you the job I would take it. I was in a similar situation a few years ago and I regretted it for a long time after

Thanks for your prompt replies, Muskey and Viviennemary.

Does it help if I explain that I am not long out of a previous role where I took a battering under bullying management, though stuck to my guns and prevailed, and I am not sure how much stomach I've got for more of the same, even if it's a really good role?

Hmm,tricky. Would the pay be better? Would it further your carrier if you decided to move on from your company? It sounds more like nerves and fear of the unknown, I.e. Being pushed out of your comfort zone.

If you were offered the role, would you be in a position to negotiate better terms? I'm on the fence but if you feel absolutely sure that this job would make you miserable I would withdraw the application now.

There would be the possibility of a pay rise, though its not guaranteed because a previous manager agreed a performance-related increment which puts me at the bottom of the new post's range.

The role would increase my knowledge of a discrete area within my industry which I don't have much of yet at a strategic/senior level, so good for CV but not necessarily to allow me to move to another company. I still need to strengthen other areas.

Beige I really feel for you with the bullying thing I have had my fair share of that too. It really depends on how strong you feel. Sometimes just proving to your self that you can achieve things you didn't think you could do is really good for your self confidence. Perhaps that is why you applied for the job in the first place.

It see.you are worn down from a previous bad experience (bullying) and feel you can't handle more potential bullying or difficult working relations. I understand and am in a similar situation in terms of avoiding situations that are too challenging....

I would almost say, go for the job if the role interests you. Try some private CBT. This experience really could boost your confidence.

If you are really sure you don't want the job, I'd withdraw your application now, before the interview.

The job is great on paper. The company politics and working with the directors, particularly the one who doesn't take well to assertive women, less so. I hate the idea of having to change who I am to succeed in this role. If this particular role worked to a different group of directors, I would be entirely unconflicted about my application and would be going for it with gusto.

Well, all the things you're describing are things which (if you work with/try and overcome) would be really great experience. Are you planning to stay with this firm forever? If not you can make as much of the new role as you can and then use it as a platform to move on to another firm. If you're planning to stay then it sounds like you have to find a way of managing these issues anyway, so you may as well take the job... So in summary go for it!

See, no clear consensus here - which is pretty much why I've ended up at this point.

I do plan to stay. The company pays well and there aren't many employers locally where I could work with my current experience/knowledge. Think of my current employer as offering as a gilded cage. The acting up role involves developing industry-specific expertise, rather than skills which would be generalisable and beneficial if I decide to fly my gilded cage unless I decide to relocate to another part of the UK (which I do not want to do).

Ok, based on your last post I would probably 'gracefully' step back and withdraw the application. Good luck with it all whatever you choose op.

Why DID you apply in the first place?

I would definitely go to the interview and use that as an opportunity to ask more questions. If you don't like the answers you get and you really can't face it then turn the job down. But the likely thing is you come across a wee bit unsure and so are not offered the job - then you can just gain experience of applying with no one being any the wiser.

If you pull out it will effect your chances in future internal roles.

The fact you are indecisive is probably an issue.
Generally managers need to make decisions (whether right or often wrong)
I would push myself to go for the interview it might help to then be considered for a job that you feel suits you more.

I say go for the interview and see it as an experience - if you're planning on staying and career progression opportunities arise infrequently then you will either end up aiming to get to this level eventually or opportunities may not come up before you get tired off hitting your head against a brick wall.

The fact you are indecisive is probably an issue. Generally managers need to make decisions (whether right or often wrong)

My previous role involved managing a relatively large department. I don't usually have any trouble at all making decisions, believe me. It's just this one which is exercising me.

Another thing worth mentioning is that my last job had a very high aggro factor and, whilst I am good at problem solving and thinking on my feet (usually), I am finding that my current job leaves me with a lot more energy for family life and headspace for personal development/growth. My best friends and DH say I seem a lot happier and more relaxed lately and I think that's true. Whilst I am perfectly capable of functioning at a high level at work and for the long haul, it does eat into what's left for everything else in your life.

So, why DID I apply for this job? Because it looked interesting. Because I know I could do it (if it weren't for all the politics and bullshit that goes with it)*. Because I think other people would expect me to give it a shot. Because I know I am more experienced and equally capable to the other people who are going for it. Argh. I dunno. Honestly, it felt like I ought to.

• However, perhaps recognising that the politics and bullshit is part of the job earlier in the process would have curtailed things sooner.