To take a job someone else wanted more?

[purplecale]

To be clear, it’s not even a permanent job.

I'm currently in a graduate program where we complete four rotations before applying for a permanent role. We're now in the third rotation, which is typically when people aim to secure their preferred team.

For this rotation, I was placed in Team A, a highly competitive spot with only one opening. Another person in my program also wanted this spot and had been working hard to secure it, including taking on extra work and ingratiating themselves with the team. I wanted Team A but not as much as the other person, it seems.

Since getting the position, I've received several snide remarks suggesting that it's unfair I was chosen over the other person. While they can still rotate into Team A during the final rotation, it means they'll miss out on one of their other top choices as HR gave them a low choice for this rotation.

HR place you in a team based on your individual preferences, whether you had a top choice in previous rotations, and in discussion with team managers who receive individual’s CVs.

Since when is it unfair for you to have something because someone else wants it? You won it fair and square. The fact someone else also wanted it is completely irrelevant. You were the best and they weren’t. Sucks to be them, oh well.

Of course it’s not unfair. You didn’t allocate the spots. Crack on.

Ignore that rubbish. You’ve got the spot, make the most of it. Do your absolute best, impress the hell out of them & get the permanent role. The other person and their sour grapes can get stuffed. Why on earth should you not get it because someone else “wanted it more”?

Agree with previous posts. You have nothing to feel bad or guilty about.

Show the company how good you are and ignore the snide comments.

Good luck!

I got a promotion a colleague wanted. She probably wouldn’t have been given it if I wasn’t there. Just make the most of the opportunity you have been given. They decided you were the best fit for the team and could benefit most from the opportunity. Go girl!

How much you want something has no relationship to whether you merit getting it. You won the spot. Enjoy it.

ince getting the position, I've received several snide remarks suggesting that it's unfair I was chosen over the other person.

From who? The competitive person who wants this placement or others on the team?

You're the best person for the job, the one they wanted.

Make the most of it, don't waste time feeling guilty. 🙂

Ignore the remarks which are out of order. Focus on what is best for you and your career.

So they can still do it next rotation?

Take it and ignore. I bet HR have their reasons.

It is very likely that the team manager had significant input.

Someone wanting something does not necessarily mean they are the best choice for that team.

Plenty of people want things they are ill-suited for.

It's not your fault. It is likely that even if you were not there they would not have secured the spot. HR will know they want it and this is a message to them to find something they are better suited to

I would absolutely take it . Just because someone is vocal about something doesn’t make them more deserving .

This is your career not a friends game . It isn’t he who shouts loudest

You can’t let other peoples envy undermine you or control your choices. Take what you’ve earned.

If you hadn't got the job there is still no guarantee that this other person would have got it.

I really, really wanted to win that house in London on the omaze competition recently - someone else won it. I wonder if they'd give it to me as I wanted it more than they did?

Thank you for the responses - definitely feel lucky to have been given the opportunity.

Comments are not from the other person, but mind you, they’ve kept their distance. Comments have been from other grads on the programme and some other colleagues.

Do you think a man would be asking this?
As for that snide person who didn't get the spot they wanted - screw them

It doesn't matter what anyone else wanted, you were picked, of course you take it. A man wouldn't even cross his mind not to take it.

What does this other person (who is bitching) think you should do - go to HR, give up your position and suggest that the other applicant be handed the job. That is not how this works. FFS.

And if you turn it down, I would imagine there is absolutely no guarantee that other person would get it.

They may give it to someone else.

How gutted would you feel then? Also wouldn't look good on you.

You were the best person and you were offered it. Take it!!!

Not your problem. Why would you give up a highly competitive position that has been allocated to them, that you want to be in? Thats ingrained 'good girl, be nice' syndrome if ever I heard it

Ignore and do your work to best ability.

You clearly deserved the spot.

Ignore the snide remarks and be a brilliant person on the team.

It's not your problem

I suspect the team didn't want someone who had made it clear they felt entitled to the spot and would play up if they didn't get it. You completely deserve it and should stand up for yourself a little more, even if just to yourself.