Withdraw my application? HELP

[Hereforthekickz]

I applied for an internal job over a month ago. Been at same place for some time but need a new challenge. I work in a small team but it’s no longer stretching me and I often take on more than my fair share of work. I have worked hard, built good relationships and am often the ‘go to’ person in our team.
My boss encouraged me to apply. I have all the skills required.

I applied and was told that I was the only person that shortlisted to interview so they ran the advert again. My boss told me that “I wiped the floor” with the other candidates and if that happens again, they would consider giving me the job on secondment. The senior manager wanted him to re-advertise.

For context, the company has had many changes to senior leadership in recent years. Communication is non existent, staff morale low, sickness high etc. staff feel overworked and overwhelmed. Toxicity is creeping in. The team I work on isn’t managed well and that is also taking its toll. I recognise all this but I haven’t reached the point that I need to leave. The job is convenient. This new role is self-managed and really appeals to me and is in HR. We have had 2 people in the job before, one was sacked and the other stepped down as it was too much for her (she was part time).

The deadline for application forms was today but the boss decided that choosing that date was a mistake so he has altered the deadline to tomorrow (the original advert still says the deadline is today). We close down for Easter so I should find out after the Easter break and the interview is 2 days after that.

I was really hoping I would hear today. If no one else shortlisted, I might get the role.

Ever since I applied, I have endured negative and upsetting comments from my colleagues saying I am not qualified to do the job, they want someone with a degree to get it etc, warning me about the workload that I couldn’t possibly manage! Other colleagues warning me that my team mates won’t be happy if I get the role. This has gone on for weeks. I haven’t spoken about it to them but they continue. That and the fact that my boss keeps discussing other potential candidates openly in the office saying “ the senior boss has encouraged her friend to apply and she is more than qualified for the role”

I am stressed with all the waiting, tired of all the negative comments and am wondering if applying for this job is possibly the worse thing I could do. My confidence is rock bottom and I don’t know why I am putting myself through this. I don’t need the money or want it. I have had a very difficult time personally recently and just thought maybe this would be the change I needed. The role involves working directly with my current boss and he is untrustworthy, a gossip and a terrible manager. I have tried to ignore the jealousy and pettiness but it’s starting to really upset me. Should I withdraw the application and look elsewhere.

Advice please 🙏

It’s sounds like a tricky one. The people making remarks are probably only saying so because they haven’t had the b*lls to apply for it themselves. Would be interesting to know what difference the degree is going to make, and to say that to you is just cheeky. I’d get the job out of spite alone for that haha… This new challenge sounds, from the way you described it, as a bit of a vipers nest though. What has made you apply? When I had a difficult time in my personal life I found a very easy role which was very comforting to me (away from the stress of the front line) but that’s just me. A new challenge might be a good distraction? I can understand why you’re conflicted and I’m not being much help. Can you say a bit more?

This is why quiet quitting happens. Unfortunately it’s time for you to do all or some of the following:
a) get more qualifications
b) find an upward role elsewhere
c) tell your colleagues that they are arses.

@Wallywobbles what is quiet quitting?

Screw your coworkers… keep going for it.

get the experience and then use it to find a new job away from the negative nellys.

I have worked hard in my current role. This has had positive and negative results. I am good at what I do and I am efficient. Over the last few years, I have taken on more than my fair share in our team. Because my colleagues are not as efficient, the work has been falling on me. I get asked to do extra jobs by leadership, my workload is greater than my colleagues and I am managing this. However, I have started to resent my colleagues because they are not taking their share of work. If someone comes in with a job to give us, they put their heads down. It’s now become the norm that I will just do it. I have no support from my boss to manage this so I am stuck and this is just the way it is now! I saw this job and thought great, it’s a more challenging role plus I don’t have to work within the team anymore.

A while ago I was offered a higher role. When my colleagues found out they were angry. Wanting to know where that left them, how would they manage the workload! As it happened I didn’t take the role (well actually my boss took back the offer) but that’s another story.

@Itsoneofthose I have thought about your question and I think the honest answer is…
I have applied as it gets me away from working with my colleagues. I have had enough of them. Now I feel like I have a point to prove. We don’t work as a team, they are negative and won’t take a fair slice of the workload. They are inefficient but that’s affecting me because someone has to pick up the slack.

Don't withdraw the application. Go through with the interview. Use it to ask questions about the role. If you're offered it, you can always turn it down.

It sounds like a change is much needed and this is the one close at hand. Nothing to stop you applying to this one and also elsewhere. External roles can take a bit longer to come through anyway.

One of my colleagues who is making the comments, actually went for the role last time but it wasn’t advertised externally and no one else internally applied. She did it for 6 weeks and gave it up saying there was too much work involved as she was only part time!