To be completely thrown seeing a job re-advertised literally weeks after they rejected me?

[CompetentChaos]

For context, last month I was told I was the preferred candidate for this exact role, invited for an informal follow-up chat… then heard nothing for two weeks until I chased and only then was told it was a no. And now the role has been re-advertised. Not even a different version of it - same job, same salary, same fixed-term end date.

I’m genuinely baffled. How has it fallen through this quickly? Did the person they offered it to reject them, ghost them or did something go wrong immediately? It just feels so strange to see it pop back up again this soon.

AIBU to be surprised?

In this instance I would ask for feedback. It might help you in your search to find out more.

They obviously hired the wrong person, who hadn't worked out.

They're throwing the net out again to see who's out there.

It's shit op, it really is.

I would think they hadn’t recruited anyone so had to re advertise. Happens regularly in my sector (legal)

Seems far more obvious they didn't hire anyone at all and are trying a second round of recruitment rather than someone being hired and not working out that quickly. It's really not an unusual situation.

Are you certain your references are solid and positive?

Yes, my references are solid and positive. I’ve never had any issues with references in previous roles and I’ve always moved on with strong feedback and good relationships.

Given how the process unfolded - being explicitly told I was the preferred candidate, then an informal chat, then two weeks of silence until I chased, I don’t think it was a reference issue. It feels much more like something changed internally or they were simply indecisive.

Either way, I’m not losing sleep over it. I’ve moved on to other applications.

@CompetentChaos Do you know if it was definitely offered to someone from the first round of recruitment? If you were their preferred candidate but they decided against you for some reason then it would make sense that others were less suitable and they re-advertised.

No, I don’t know whether they actually offered it to someone else. All I know is they told me I was the preferred candidate in the informal follow-up, then after two weeks of silence, said it was a “steep learning curve” and a no, and now the role is being re-advertised exactly as before.

So either the person they preferred over me declined or something fell through. Either way, it’s still odd how quickly it’s back up.

It was a stretch for you - at least that was their assessment. The advert wasn't directed at you, so not sure why it is so baffling that they re-advertised.

Or they didn’t want any candidate as they said it would have been a steep learning curve for you and so it was a no for you, and now they have re-advertised to try and find other candidates.

This isn’t odd or baffling at all though, it’s really commonplace.

They liked you but thought you weren’t quite up to scratch skills/experience wise.
They didn’t find anyone to fill the role.
They readvertised the position.

This happens really often. Sometimes (but not always) there will be a clause in the ad to say previous applicants need not reapply.

Did you keep repeating yourself during the informal follow-up? Could that have put them off?

This happens all the time there is nothing dramatic about it they just want to see other people

This happened to me once. It turned out some experience which was deemed ‘preferable’ in the job description and which I didn’t have suddenly became essential but they relisted the job description without amending it. It was very annoying at the time as they’d basically assured me the job was mine and then left me hanging for two weeks before changing their mind. That said, I considered it a lucky escape in the end.

It seems pretty straightforward to me.

You interviewed well but you don’t have the skills required to hit the ground running, and neither did anyone else, so they’re having to re-advertise - it’s incredibly common.

I really don't understand why you are baffled. The job has been advertised as before because it is not the job that is the problem. The problem is that they think that the role is too much of as steep learning curve for you. So they are re-advertising to find someone who can to the job. They clearly were not convinced that you can do the job effectively off the bat.

I am sorry to be so blunt OP, it has happened to me before too. And it does sting to know that they would rather not appoint than appoint you. But honestly I feel like we all have to be blunt to help you understand what has happened here, as it is very strange that you don't.

We had own who stayed only 1 day.

That’s a bullet dodged, OP, if that’s how they behave. I’m sorry. The same thing happened to me - I was flown out for an interview and basically love-bombed, and then didn’t get the job. They’re still looking - and it hurt, but now I’m very glad I didn’t move across the country for a job where they’d treat people like that.
something better (with better communication and more professional) will come along.

They didn't find a suitable candidate first time round so re-advertised.

I had a very similar experience when I was job hunting about 4 months ago.

Same role and industry I’ve been working in for 15 years +, I could do it blindfolded basically. There would only be a handful of people in my city as qualified for this job as me.

Two interviews went quite well I thought, but then the recruiter contacted me to say they weren’t going to progress me.

They were still advertising for at least 2 months afterwards. There was just something about me they didn’t like, not skills and experience so something intangible. I’m really intrigued to know why but have tried to not take it personally.

Plus I soon after got a fab new job on more money so that helps.

How have they behaved? They are not doing anything wrong we are all grown ups they have specific requirements and are looking for those

No, I don’t know whether they actually offered it to someone else. All I know is they told me I was the preferred candidate in the informal follow-up, then after two weeks of silence, said it was a “steep learning curve” and a no, and now the role is being re-advertised exactly as before. So either the person they preferred over me declined or something fell through. Either way, it’s still odd how quickly it’s back up

I don’t think it’s a mystery. There were candidates, of which you were the preferred candidate. However, even as the preferred candidate they decided your skill set was not a required match right at this point in time, so you would not be hired. I can’t imagine anyone else actually being offered the role as it sounds like others were even below the skill-set you have.

I would think they then spent a bit of time thinking about the role, whether it should be recouped, feasibility of someone actually existing with the skill set they want, reconsidering whether the $$ being offered is really a match for what they are looking for etc. I would think the upshot is they have decided to cast the net again as they feel there is a chance of a fit. If they don’t get anyone this time either they’ll have to either specifically headhunt, or look to rework the role/reorg current positions to create something more feasible for matches recruitment or what not.

I don’t think this is odd, not uncommon in my experience. The only odd thing is telling you that you were the preferred candidate, which again, you would have been, before fully assessing that even as the preferred candidate you were not a fit, as that is unprofessional.

They were still advertising for at least 2 months afterwards. There was just something about me they didn’t like, not skills and experience so something intangible. I’m really intrigued to know why but have tried to not take it personally

Probably, while technically solid and able, not a cultural fit for the current team and/or company. There are people who you know would be brilliant at the role but likely won’t fit well in the current team due to personality, working style etc. That in no way means a ‘bad’ personality or working style, just not a fit. If team cohesion is important, things like this are factored in.

OP it's not odd.

You were their preferred candidate out of those who applied.
After meeting you twice they decided that the role would be too steep a learning curve for you, so they did t offer it to you.
instead They decided to re-advertise the role to hopefully find someone with more relevant skills/ experience this second time around .