Can Internal Job Applications Be Unfair

[wantanewjob]

NC for this one.
I work in the public sector and we have a new section manager who has been permitted to create a lot of additional roles (long overdue) at various grades.
There is a role that really interests me and I feel would be a good fit, but I know someone else is interested in the role who is more senior than me, it would be a sideways move for them. That aspect does not bother me, but what does, is that this person has regularly been involved in recruitment over the last few years, so has sat on the opposite side of the desk so to speak, grading application forms, being a member of an interview panel, and marking interview responses. I feel it's a bit like they have the answer sheet to the exam questions, as they surely knows exactly what type of answers get you the marks, whereas I don't, and I don't have any way of finding out. This seems somewhat unfair.
I am being unreasonable to think they have a distinct advantage. If you don't think so can you explain why? Thanks.

If you’re public sector then the application and interview format should be transparent and formulaic. If so then there’s no “catch” or “secret” to if, it’s about listening to the questions and understanding what the interviewer is asking you to emphasise. When I worked for the civil service, for example, before each question we’d advise the candidate which capability we were asking then to demonstrate here - so “delivering at pace” or “working well within a team” etc.

If you contact HR they should be able to advise on the assessment criteria and possibly offer sample questions. Ultimately, the goal is to help you interview as best you can so all candidates are showcased to their full and do their best so the best candidate is selected.

To add, whilst there might be some element of this other colleague knowing what information is being sought and therefore how to answer better than you can, that’s just because they’re aware of it. As above, if you improve your familiarity with the process and interview style, you’ll be in a good position to do so as well.

When I worked for the civil service (way back in the mists of time) I participated in interview skills training session as an interviewee, the trainee interviewer had to interview me as if it was a real interview. It was really useful experience for me and I learned a lot about the CS interview process as it was at the time (it's probably changed a lot since then). Would something like that be available to you to get some extra experience?

OP, is it competency based interviewing? If so it’s normally can you give an example of …..

If you don’t say it the panel cannot score you on it. No real secret to it.

I have been involved in a lot of recruitment and would say more experience working at a higher grade and experience of recruitment is likely to be an advantage, but definitely not a 'done deal'. Is it just the one role you would be interested in? If you are serious about promotion then maybe think a bit wider, are any of the other roles of interest? The more experienced person may achieve the new role but that would free up a post at the same grade, would you be interested in this if offered? I also worked in the public sector and could consider applicants who had interviewed well for other posts at the same grade. Don't let someone else's interest in a post put you off applying.

Could you not have volunteered to help with recruitment at some point over the past few years? If you've chosen not to get involved you can't really complain because somebody else has put the effort in

Its not unfair, he has more experience in a certain area that gives him an advantage. Not unfair, or having the answer sheet before hand etc etc. Just experience, and thats just life. You might be a good fit, but he might be a better fit. They will pick the best canditate.

Go to the interview, if you dont get it, you ask for feedback and you continue building your experience until you are the best canditate for a position.

One thing I would say is that it’s easy for people going for internal roles not to sell themselves properly because they know the person interviewing them so don’t bother mentioning everything because they think the interviewer already knows what they do. Always act as if the interviewers are strangers and tell them anything that’s relevant to the question asked - don’t assume you don’t need to mention anything they already know. They can only mark on what you actually say in the interview.

Thank you for your responses, it's given me some things to think about and is really helpful, I will do some investigation into the internal recruitment process and see if any information/courses are available before the post is formally advertised. It's at the intended phasing stage at present. @user1471457751 Unfortunately there has never been any option to volunteer to get involved in recruitment, it's strictly grade based, but thanks for pointing that out.

@ChessieFL I think you have a good point. Thank you.