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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to apply for a job where someone is already acting up

23 replies

Newnewnewnames · 07/06/2019 17:01

They are also applying. I've heard they will be acting up for about three months until the job starts, and they are also applying for the job.
I don't know any of the people involved.

Have you been against an existing employee at interview and got the job over them? Does it happen? Any advice?

Thanks

OP posts:
SerenDippitty · 07/06/2019 17:32

It does happen that the acting up person does not get the job sometimes. I would apply, even if you don’t get it it will be good practice and experience.

CheeseFace · 07/06/2019 17:39

A colleague was acting up into a senior position for 5-months but was beaten at interview by an external candidate.

Yesicancancan · 07/06/2019 17:40

What’s acting up please

Campurp · 07/06/2019 17:42

I'd say to go for it. I was acting up and 5 other people applied for the role and we've all interviewed. I have no hard feelings and that the best person get the role!
I dont think you should count yourself out at all... good luck!

VodselForDinner · 07/06/2019 17:45

What’s acting up please

Temporarily doing a more senior job.

Most often, if a manager leaves, a member of their team may be appointed to act up until the role is permanently filled.

OP, go for it. The person who has been acting often doesn’t get the role.

Yesicancancan · 07/06/2019 17:46

Thanks vodsel
Go for it. Sounds like a good experience either way

Newnewnewnames · 07/06/2019 17:47

Thank you. Acting up is doing the job for a temporary period, usually acting up is fine by the person underneath the role advertised, eg. a team manager might act up as general manager for a while.

OP posts:
Justgivemesomepeace · 07/06/2019 17:50

Happens a lot where I work. We have a larve population of people who have worked at the company for many many years. They like to bring fresh blood in when they can.

Neverender · 07/06/2019 17:59

Yes! Just interviewed a few people for one role. Appointed the favourite, but then someone in my team applied for an internal job and one of the other applicants will definitely get it - she did really well and now I know how much she wants to be in my team. Win win!

amusedbush · 07/06/2019 18:00

I personally wouldn't bother but I suppose it depends on the sector. I work in higher education administration and had ten interviews for promoted posts last year. Every single one went to someone within the team so I started phoning the hiring manager to ask if anyone had been covering the duties before I bothered applying.

I don't know anyone who has been acting up and didn't get the job.

VodselForDinner · 07/06/2019 18:03

Incidentally, I’ve sat on many, many, interview panels where the person who is acting is so confident that the role will be theirs, they do very little preparation and fail at interview. It’s tough to see.

Had a few cases where X is acting and everyone expects her to get the job. Y wants to go for the position, but doesn’t because she’s sure X will get it. X doesn’t, and another person (internal or external) gets it so now both X and Y are pissed off.

JagerPlease · 07/06/2019 18:07

Are you public sector or private sector? Certainly in the civil service where I work it is no advantage to be the person acting up. I've been the person acting up in that situation but been beaten by someone else at interview, but equally been on the other side too. Definitely go for it

francienolan · 07/06/2019 18:08

You should go for it as you stand as good a chance as the person acting up.

I once acted up and didn't even get an interview for the role.

NurseButtercup · 07/06/2019 18:11

Incidentally, I’ve sat on many, many, interview panels where the person who is acting is so confident that the role will be theirs, they do very little preparation and fail at interview. It’s tough to see.

I was the external candidate that outperformed the internal candidate, who was acting up in the role. Her interview was very very bad she didn't prepare at all. She gave me a hard time for 3months until I snapped and called a meeting between her, myself and the head of the team.

My advice is apply for the role and do your best. Good luck

AntennaReborn · 07/06/2019 18:11

I would go for it. Even if the person who is acting up gets the job, it is still a good opportunity to make a good impression and build relationships for the future.

I have invited previous unsuccessful applicants to apply for other roles in my team when they have impressed me but weren't quite right for the role they had originally applied for.

Good luck OP!

Newnewnewnames · 07/06/2019 18:14

Oh wow, thank you everyone, such supportive advice.
I'm going to do it!
♥️ MN.

OP posts:
Jebuschristchocolatebar · 07/06/2019 18:14

Igor a job over someone who was acting up. I am now their manager. People who are acting up are often told it’s fair game when the job is advertised. Go for it. You have nothing to loose

Newnewnewnames · 07/06/2019 18:14

It's public sector.

OP posts:
Pollywollydolly · 07/06/2019 18:21

I acted up for a 14 months, got a superb appraisal, the chief executive came over to tell me she was very impressed with the job I was doing and my boss told me I was the only person he wanted in the role and to 'trust him.'

He then gave the job to an external candidate, who stripped me of every responsibility I had held for seven years, treated me like dirt, then deleted my role and told me I had to take a demotion.

So go for it. They may have no intention of giving it to the internal candidate.

disneydreaming · 07/06/2019 18:30

No definitely not. When I Applied for my current post (unknown to me as I was a company outsider) another person had temporarily filled the post for a year and also applied. I got the post and it was a great career move for me. The person in question eventually got a similar post elsewhere within the company and was very gracious about it all. Go for it! Smile

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 07/06/2019 22:31

Yep. I vouch for you being with a good chance.

I recently had a extra role in my team created. Employment odd at my company, lots of red tape and we knew it would take at least 3 months to get the role signed off, advertised, shortlisted and interviewed, so I was allow to take on a temp in the meantime as workload was crazy.

The temp was excellent, perfectly qualified and a young graduate looking for his first permanent job. When the permanent job finally got advertised, he applied. He'd been doing an excellent job, so I wanted him to stay. But we had to advertise and interview fairly.

I chose him and two others to interview, one dropped out, so just my temp and another candidate from a completely different department, he was four years older and although his degree was related to the role, he'd not worked in this type of job since an internship as a student.

Anyway, on the day, I was heading the panel. The temp knew us all and for some reason fell apart. I kept having to ask a question in three different ways to try and get half an answer from him. The other lad turned up who we'd never met and just aced it.

My company is strict, you score the interview and it goes to the person who performed best. I had to let the poor temp go.

Not without some honest feedback that he took incredibly positively and agreed with. I asked if he'd apply again if we had more roles and he said he'd love to. So it can happen OP.

Anyway, a month later, another one of my team got promoted out of my team, I was able to go back and offer the soon to be vacated role to my temp, who'd since left. The bonus was, as he'd interviewed already for the same role a few weeks ago, I was able to offer him straight away with no interview.

I've now two fantastic lads in my team, who compliment each other's skills and experience perfectly. Anyway, I digress. Grin

Good luck OP. Report back!

MirriVan · 07/06/2019 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

caroloro · 08/06/2019 08:54

Definitely apply, especially as it's public sector where the processes tens to be very fair and transparent with less room for favouritism that private.

I've just interviews twice for a Senior Rollin the last six months. Didn't get it either time...however, the experience and feedback has been helpful, and the appointing manager has let me know they are impressed and will keep me in mind for development opporrunities.

Go for it. Even if just as a personal benchmarking exercise, it's a good opportunity.

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