Do I go for this job or not? Or do they not want me to?

[SmellyLittleBelly]

Went for a senior role recently it needed 2x things managerial experience and very niche knowledge in a particular area.
I hold my hands I definitely thought went well but the feedback said I could have stronger strategically which is more than.
Anyway the person who got it was an internal candidate- he has neither the managerial experience or as specialised a knowledge I do but I obviously scored better on the day hence he got the job. He’s a good all rounder but I was disappointed in myself.
Anyway at the time the interviewing manager said there would another coming up (his) and she’d let me know and want to apply.
They’ve not been in touch but his old job is now advertised.
It’s 12k less. I might not even get it.
And if I did it would/could feel awkward. I’d rather have the senior role and I think I would be good at it so I might resent missing out on that even more.
But it’s an organisation I would like to work for?
But I don’t want to embarrass myself applying when they haven’t been in touch?!

Oh dear sorry not very clear
*hold my hands up
*more than fine

What have you got to lose? If anything it’s interview experience and shows you want to progress. If you don’t apply then you won’t be in the running, they won’t just offer it to you. Go for it!

Only pride I suppose- bad enough not getting the senior one but if i couldn’t get this one I’d be really gutted. And he will be interviewing lead and shortlisting he might want me on his team.

I’m still gutted I didn’t get the last one too

To be honest, in your position I wouldn't apply, assuming you have a job and aren't desperate for a job.

I’ve got a job that I love and fab team but not much scope for progression whereas this other organisation there would be but it all feel a bit awkward.
If I was him I would not want to hire me iyswim?

Try not to take it personally. Tbh when I'm pipped by an internal hire I tend to see it as a positive and they are nurturing talent.

If you are genuinely interested then I would drop your contact there a note letting them know you are going for it and then applying direct. You may interview and realise it's not for you, but its better than regretting not applying at all

Out of interest why would you not want to hire you?

How does it compare with what you're doing now?

I'm a bit confused.

You say it's an organisation you'd like to work for, so presumably you don't work for them at the moment. But you're talking about the successful internal candidate and their suitability (or not) for the role?

How do you know?

Yes, I am rather puzzled about how you know the details about the other candidate's experience and performance.

Also without wanting to sound mean your original post is very garbled and I apologise if English is not your first language. However, if it is it isn't very clear and maybe you didn't come across very well in interview after all, especially if they were asking strategic questions that needed specific answers.

What is your plan? Where do you want to be in 2 years time? Will this help you to get there? If yes, will your pride or hurt feelings stop you from getting there?

I am very confused by your original post, but ultimately if it’s a job you want then go for it. Life is too short to feel all this embarrassment over something so small.

I think I would always feel resentful that he had been selected above me despite him having less experience, and I would think less of a company that selected an internal candidate who was not the best for the job. But that is assuming you are correct about this guy's experience etc.

Similar industry but different organisations currently we are on a lot of meetings together so I know his experience in the field.
I think I would struggle to not resent someone with less experience getting the job I wanted so maybe it’s best I count myself out now.
I want a more senior position and applying for this current position would be a side step so think maybe it’s better to wait for something else to come along.
Thanks all for the advice sorry for typos in the op.

Out of interest why would you not want to hire you?

Completely honestly I would feel threatened hiring someone with more expertise than I have.
My Dh says not he says if it would make him look better as a manager he would appoint that person but I think I’d feel threatened.

It think you’d be better off waiting.

Things happen for a reason and you are already doubting applying let alone interviewing. There’s too much negative about the situation.

I wouldn't apply. They haven't been in touch. Look elsewhere. It's always annoying when it goes to an internal candidate. Seems like a waste of everybody's time especially since you are more experienced.

I got a senior position recently as an internal candidate. I have no specific experience of being in such a senior role. However I was always going to be the preferred option as I started from the bottom in this team and know the job very very well and part of the senior role is having the knowledge of everyone else's role. An external candidate just wouldn't have been able to fill this role as easily as me, even if they did have the experience. It's not always about experience and they would have had reasons for going for the internal candidate over you. If you want to get into the organisation then why not go for it and use it as a stepping stone.

Thank you premium

I would apply if I was looking to get my foot in the door at the organization.

You can apply but I think it's unlikely they would select you (and nothing to do with the guy feeling threatened ). You just lost out on a senior position that they agree you are qualified for. I would question how committed you would be to the new (lower) role or whether you would leave as soon as a better position came up.
Nothing wrong with taking a side step or a step down for the right company but nobody wants to employ someone they think may leave asap.

I think that often when we don't get a job and feel embarrassed about it a lot of that can come from shame, which isn't a healthy driver for decision making. Do you really think you couldn't work in the team, or do you just feel a bit embarrassed? If it's the latter and it's stopping you from going for a job that has more prospects for you then working on getting over your feelings of shame is healthy. As the poster above states internal candidates will always have the advantage of knowing the role and being able to hit the ground running. If you side stepped into this role you would be the internal for the next one, and thats where you want to be it seems like a good move. When you work in a specialised field you're going to know, and often be friends with your work competition. You have to take feelings out of it, it's business, one day its them, one day it's you. Don't let feelings of shame and competition get in the way of thinking clearly about what you want.

honeybee in my industry it wouldn't be viewed that way. If someone was a good candidate it would be seen as positive that they wanted to move up and were ambitious, so would do a good job in the role to prove themselves. Depends where you work I guess!

There are pros and cons to hiring externally vs internally. The person who got the role probably doesn’t have the external/ niche experience you allude to, but will be able to hit the ground running. It can take 6 months for someone to really get going when they’re an external hire.
Depends on what they were looking for. It could also be that this persons internal support base was strong and politically you never stood a chance. Either way, in your shoes I wouldn’t apply.

Why? Because you’re pretty miffed that this internal person got it, and it’s clear you rate yourself as better than them. If you can’t shift that mindset it’s a non starter. I think the most important factors (or one of) in a job is respecting your boss/ being able to learn from them.