Readvertising job - is this unreasonable

[Hereforthekickz]

I have worked at the company for 4 years and just need some advice about a job I applied for. I don’t know if this is normal or if they are being slightly unreasonable.

I like my job but I need a new challenge. I have been honing my skills and taking on extra work for a while. I feel I have a good reputation in the company and have had positive feedback from everyone I work with.

I applied for a job in the same company which was advertised externally. I was advised that I had been shortlisted and told, in confidence by my manager, that 2 other external candidates had applied but they hadn’t been shortlisted. She said I would have walked it but they have decided to re advertise.

The other 2 candidates are being given a chance to apply again and I will automatically get an interview. I asked what would happen if they didn’t get anymore uptake. I was told it may go to me on a probation period.

They advert is exactly the same as the original.

Is this normal? I can’t help but wonder if they don’t think that I am suitable and that’s why they are re advertising. I am not sure what they think will change by just running the same advert again. It was a fair process that I managed to shortlist for so I don’t understand?

I think it's pretty poor practice and demotivating, they're essentially saying let's see if we can get anyone better if not we'll settle for you. It's not uncommon though.

I don’t think it’s unusual, but I would take it to mean that they don’t think you are absolutely perfect for the role. Sorry.

I'd say it depends if there's a hard company rule that says they have to interview at least 3 candidates or not. If not, they don't consider you great for the role.

I am also wondering if they don’t want me. My boss told me to apply and said that I had all the skills necessary but she doesn’t have the final decision. I put so much work into the application and tried to prep in case I got an interview as it was only 3 days after they shortlisted. I was so anxious about it all.

Now I and not sure if it’s a good idea to carry on. It’s put me off a bit. Don’t get me wrong, if I am not right for the job I don’t expect to get it but they are saying one thing and doing another. If I do get it, it will be because they had no better offers. I am considering moving on elsewhere?

@SoSoLong why shortlist me then? and why encourage 2 people who have not shortlisted to interview, to reapply? Very strange. Could it be because they would have nothing to benchmark me against?

What I didn’t say is it was also advertised a while ago but only part time which I didn’t want. They gave it to a colleague without advertising externally. She agreed but only on a trial basis and after some weeks, decided it wasn’t for her. They then employed a temp and she is only doing the very basics. She is one of the candidates that applied and was told she didn’t shortlist but to submit it again when they re advertise!!’ Bit of a mess really 🤔

There could be a few things going on. Part time posts are sometimes given to staff as a development opportunity or to retain staff who want to move to part time hours. They may have a policy that all full time jobs need to go through a full selection process - they haven’t given the person in the part time job the role which suggests they need to advertise.

Given she’s doing at least part of the role it would be very tricky for them to not encourage her to apply again, even if they don’t think she’ll be successful. In your shoes I’d just prepare to do a knock out interview - sometimes internal candidates don’t sell themselves well because they assume the panel will fill in the gaps, but they can’t. So really do your prep - check against the person spec and have examples for each of the skills.

It may be the temp didn’t complete the application to her best and they’re giving her another chance, so do your prep well. It doesn’t mean they don’t want you, you just need to show your best at interview.

For whatever reason you and the other candidates that applied aren’t exactly what they’re looking for. If you really want the job then reapply but ask what you can do in the meantime to make yourself more suitable for the position.

If it were me I would not reapply on this occasion because it’s clear that I’m not being seriously considered for the role. Instead I’d consider how I really want my career to progress and pursue options to make that happen.

They should be embracing employee progression, not discouraging it.

Just to confirm, I have been told I don’t need to reapply as I have been shortlisted for interview. I will automatically get an interview this time around.

If you’ve been shortlisted then you’ve met the threshold for an interview but that doesn’t mean you have all of the skills or experience they’re looking for, only that you’d be invited to interview to determine this.
The external candidates may be more experienced but have not demonstrated this on their applications. Not everyone is good at completing an application form. You know what the company is looking for as you work there.

It’s not unreasonable for roles to be readvertised so there’s a wider pool to select from. They may want someone who can hit the ground running with experience of the role, but if they don’t find this you could also be offered the role. Either because you show at interview that you can do the job, or you come close and they offer it to you as a development opportunity.

Don’t overthink this. You’ve got an interview. Also your manager isn’t helping you by sharing confidential details of other applicants and creating this anxiety for you. You shouldn’t know this level of detail.

it couldjust be company policy re pool of candidates needed

Is the role very niche? I just think its interesting that their pool of options is so small, yet they've readvertised using the exact same ad. Logic would say if the post was attractive they'd have had more applications, and it's the ad/position that's the problem...

It may be as simple as them wanting to actually interview suitable external candidates, rather than it just look like they're giving away the position internally. An optics thing

@FidosMum84 I think you have hit the nail
on the head. I feel like I have been told too much by my boss who is well known for breaking confidentiality.

I have unfortunately come up against some negative behaviour amongst some of my colleagues when they found out I had applied as a small part of the role is management for their team. Needless to say it’s just all making me nervous and I am overthinking things.