Person spec changed after job advertised

[Cocolocos]

Applied for a job, met the person specifications. Now I’m told that what was listed as a desirable qualification should actually have been mandatory, so I won’t be offered an interview. Can they do this, and change the goalposts after the job was advertised? AIBU to be really angry?

Yes of course they can.

Posting a job advert isn't legally binding.

Yup - they can change as they see fit unfortunately. Sorry.

Well, you wouldn't be unreasonable to be disappointed but unless there's some tortured backstory, I don't see that a company making a mistake with their advertising calls for real anger.

It's not as if you travelled a long way to attend an interview that then didn't happen, is it?

Yes, they can and do. I went for an interview for a great job and got to the final two, but I had to decline the last stage as between the advert and the interview, the hours changed from Mon-Fri 8-5 to Tues-Sat 10-7 which was totally untenable with two young DC.
I wouldn't have applied had I known
I

Surely it’s better to find out now than after going through the effort and expense of attending an interview?

YANBU to be disappointed but anger isn’t going to accomplish anything.