to get so upset about training someone who got the job instead of me?

[JammyGem]

I got a temporary promotion at work for a maternity cover year long contract, which ended fairly recently. I've got back to my old zero hour contract, but still do exactly the same thing, with exactly the same managerial responsibilities and a tiny bit more money than I would otherwise be getting on my casual contract.

Two permanent positions came up for my old (maternity cover) job, I applied, but didn't get it as I didn't go into enough detail about my experience in the interview, seeing as I've worked with all the interviewers for the last two years, so stupidly messed it up- I was told that because they can only mark me on what I said, not on what they know about me, I didn't get the job - the interview is all point based. Which is fair enough, but did really upset me as I felt I'd done the job for a year and despite their explanation, I wonder if it was really just because I was shit at the job for that year.

The new guy has started (the other successful candidate was another casual contract colleague, and I couldn't be happier for her) and I've been paired up with him to train him all this week. I know it's petty and ridiculous, but I just feel so upset about the situation. I feel really taken advantage of, it's like I'm good enough to train the new guy for the job, but not good enough for the job myself. He was deliberately put with me because they didn't want him with another manager as they feel he'll pick up bad habits (this colleague is notoriously lazy and strong willed) and I've been told I'll be a better trainer than him.

My colleagues have all been quite sympathetic, and a few have offered to complain on my behalf. I'd not said how I felt about it as I didn't want to cause trouble or for any of my colleagues to know how upset I am, but it really does feel like rubbing salt in my wounds that they've got me training someone who got the job over me, and as soon as he's trained up on certain tasks, my hours will really go down as they won't need me anymore.

I know I sound ridiculous and pathetic, but I don't know if IBU or not. And I can't say anything because there's a chance they won't give me any shifts at all.

YANBU - I'd be really hurt if that happened to me and would feel exactly the same way.

I'd refuse to train him, end of. If you're not good enough to do the job, you're not good enough to train someone else, especially when it means you'll be losing hours because of it.

I think THEY are being very unreasonable, I've interviewed many people myself, and it's perfectly acceptable to ask a candidate to expand on an answer, or to give more detail. I think their excuse is shite.

I'd be looking for another job if my workplace treated me like that :(

I feel for you. I've been recruiting recently and was desperate to hire someone who worked for us last year, who I knew could do the job and could make my working life so much easier, but the person didn't write a great application and the HR folk wouldn't take them as a result. I hate it when you know you can do the job, but you forget to tick the boxes that someone new to the company would.

Get signed off sick for his training period over the next couple of weeks. See how they deal with it then...

i agree - sign off sick asap if you can.
in the meantime, i hope you can find a new and better job.

YANBU.

Tell them NO.

I was once asked to train new staff after being made redundant!

It didn't fucking happen. I told them where to go.

"I've been recruiting recently and was desperate to hire someone who worked for us last year, who I knew could do the job and could make my working life so much easier, but the person didn't write a great application and the HR folk wouldn't take them as a result."

Have HR really made recruiting better? Seems not.

The trouble is that if you get arsey and refuse to do things they won't like it and it will be even more difficult to work there. Best to keep your head down until you can find something else.

In my case I felt lied to as it was obvious the kid out of college they gave the job to, was cheaper to employ than me - and by thousands. I would have understood if they had looked me in the eye and said "Look, you interviewed about the same, so we took her because she is cheaper". Especially as schools had just begun having to handle their own budgets. But no, they looked me in the eye and said "Look, you interviewed about the same but she was just marginally better." I'd done the job and been so good at it I'd been offered this job - it was a promotion, too. To say "We'll disregard everything we know about you, and go with the person who does the prettiest dance on the day" is just crazy. And an excuse. I bet there's more to it.

Like others say, OP, I'd go on the sick for a fortnight. And use that fortnight to find a better job.

I don't think you'd need to get arsey. Box clever. "I've started to train New Guy but really don't think I should continue. I can see why you appointed him over me. I don't think there's anything I can teach him. Over to you".

WHY do people not join unions? I just don't understand.

I'm currently training my own manager to do her job. she's lovely and I get on well with her. I didn't apply for her role at the time as they wanted someone with an accountancy background of which I had none but worked for the company for 10 years and knew my role inside out. I started looking a few months ago and have a new job ready to start in 3 months. I'm tailing off my training now as I think she needs to stand on her own two feet and being very disinterested in the Training. I'm gutted that I have to leave because I love it there but thats what happens. the company values us very little and that's why I'm going.

I've been the interviewer in this situation - and it was really tough. We knew that the candidate could do the job as he'd been acting up, but he pretty much fell apart in the interview and didn't demonstrate his experience of the role, despite encouragement to talk about his successes (we'd supported him to prepare for the interview as well, as we knew that nerves would be an issue).

By chance, the other two candidates also interviewed much less well than we'd expected, so the internal candidate did get the role. But we sat round with the HR rep and discussed it in a fair amount of detail before making the decision.

while I understand how you feel, before you find a new job elsewhere, is there any more scope to move within your current workplace?

I was in the same position, went for a promotion, didn't get it, had to help train and work for the new member of staff (who was lovely, btw) but a few months later, another promotion came up in a different department, and I was given it on the basis of my previous interview/application. So I now do the same job in a different department, and earn as much as new colleague, who is now a friend.

Obviously, if this is not a possibility I would be looking around elsewhere.

SeaMedows If you know that someone can do the job but they are not good at interviews do you not take any of that into account then? Just curious as I get nervous and mess up in interviews.

I'm sorry this has happened to you but I guess it's not uncommon these days.

I was the new person brought in to review and update the department. The acting manager (who'd been there 20+ yrs) was devastated when she wasn't appointed to the role and left a few months after I started.

Whilst she knew the ins and outs of the existing role, they wanted to completely overhaul the service and it was my knowledge and experience elsewhere in doing exactly that, that was required. I know she tried to sabotage a few things at the outset which made my life a bit tricky but I can understand why she felt usurped. I'm fairly sure I'd have felt similarly frustrated if the roles were reversed.

OP, look for another job in the meantime, but don't burn any bridges!

If you like it and they are expanding and offering you management responsibilities then don't burn your bridges - dealing with this well will put you in a good light. Whipping up a frenzy with colleagues won't help, other jobs might come up there.

I was once made redundant, my job outsourced to an outside company.
Turned out the outside company didn't actually know anything about the specialist side of my job.

My employers actually wanted me to travel half way up the country to train this outside company in how to do my old job. After I'd finished my redundancy period.

Guess what I said?

Can you have a conversation with your manager about possible future opportunities with the company? I'd be asking questions about how they viewed my current performance and what I could do to improve my interview performance. This indicates to them that you are serious about your career and looking to move up.

It sucks that you are training the new person but I agree with PP that how you handle this will reflect on you. I'd be looking to build my network sideways- get the new person on side and learn what you can from them. Training is a great way to build your own understanding of things which will help you in another interview.

You never know what can happen. Other people may be about to resign, a restructure may be in the offing. He may not stay for personal reasons. But also look for a new role.

You are allowed a wee grizzle at home though.

This is awful, I would be honest with your employer. State that it has upset you that you have to train up somebody for the job they didn't give you. I've been in a similar boat, and found the best strategy was to have a one on one chat in a private environment. Don't be a doormat.

Yanbu and you can refuse. Put your complaint in writing, copy hr in and say you won't be training him.because you are obviously not qualified or you would have the.job yourself. Since no one thinks you are capable then you cannot train someone to the desired standard. And look for another job.

I don't agree with putting up and shuting up. All you het is more work and labelled as a doormat. Ive done that many times and despite giving.my.all I've been shafted. The one time I stood up and was.honest I was respected far more.

daisy - we're in the public sector, and in a high profile organisation, so we have to be very careful not to look as though we're offering an advantage to the internal candidate. We have a mark sheet, and we mark all the candidates' CVs against it, and interview the people who get the highest marks. Then we mark again in the interview, with HR siting in on interviews and discussions. We have to be prepared to justify our hiring procedures in case there are any complaints (which does happen). So if someone doesn't show in their CV and interview that they can do the job better than the other candidates, then we can't hire then. Does that make sense?

Thanks SeaMedows, that's very helpful. I am hoping to have another interview soon so preparation will be key. Just have to tackle my nerves really as that is what causes things to go wrong at interview.

This is interesting - although I am really sorry for you OP - and for others to whom this has happened.

I applied for a job - long, long process - six major elements from cv to interview. Didn't get it. They have asked me to apply again in six months as they think I was certainly able to do it but I didn't score enough on the interview.

They told me it was points based system and I needed something like "4 out of 5 across at least four answers" - which meant nothing to me. They have to be able to prove that they have taken the best candidate in case they get sued for discrimination or bias apparently.

I have no idea why I didn't score enough or how I would do it differently as they are not allowed to tell me.

Does anyone know where these "marking schemes" can be seen as it would be sooo helpful to know what it is I didn't say.

(A friend of mine also didn't get a job because she "hadn't demonstrated in the first question that she knew what the job entailed" although she had clearly shown that she had, (and had indeed done the job as a temp), in her answers to subsequent questions. She hadn't scored on Q1.
What can we do?

Good luck OP - no real advice I am afraid.