To be annoyed work posted this job in this way?

[7stripybaskets]

I’m on annual leave from work this week for half term by chance I logged onto our companies’s intranet.
There is a job advert for a job within our department that I wasn’t aware of this would be the next step up from my current role there is 8 or so of us in a similar role to mine that would probably want to go for it. I haven’t been told it was coming and it’s advertised for internal department applications only and with an opening application window of 4 days which closes today. So, obviously they had someone in mind which wasn’t me but I think that’s not good practice for half of us that are off with children this week it was a well timed way of reducing applications I suppose. I feel really demotivated I suppose.

I’d have flagged to my staff who were off for half term.

I’d email my boss when able and express the desire to apply even if you have missed the deadline

The situation is what it is. That doesn't make if fair, but that's how it is.

The OP can sit, cry, naval gaze or find a solution in the time they have before the deadline.

Wailing about being a parent and half term is not likely to secure an internal interview.

Call them now and ask them to extend the closing date until tomorrow, and then get it in tonight at some point. Very often in my job someone will contact us and say they've been on holiday or only just saw the ad and would really like to apply and we will normally give an extra couple for days.

For the love of god don't chuck in a half-assed chatgpt application.

Yes, and OP is entitled to be annoyed about it.

Agree. For an in-department vacancy, they should all receive the same opportunity to apply. It's totally valid to be pissed off about that not happening.

The only school holiday that moves much in the UK is Easter.

Half term in October is usually the last week and February the third week though it can differ by a week between council areas.

May one begins on Bank Holiday Monday.

Oh I agree with you - but I work in a role where we arent customer/client facing and the majority of people dont have line management responsibilities so I can see how people could be oblivious in similar circumstances! Id hope a line manager (who im assuming is the hiring manager) would keep an eye out though if they had parents on their team - I did when I managed a team as I just thought it was useful!

A 4 day turn around is almost unheard of ... unless it was deliberate (to keep the parents of young ones out of the running as they're ALL off this week) and/or they have someone lined up for the role (which is also unfair).

From the way I read the post, OP thought they wouldn't expect her to login so weren't expecting her to have the chance to see it?
I don't know the rules/legalities in your sector, OP (and you probably shouldn't be too specific either), but I would be annoyed if I was in your situation.
The other issue is that if all of you who are off this week would want to apply (and all are good enough to), then would they be annoyed that you/anyone else applied? Some might say this isn't your problem, but only you know whether that could affect working relationships (and maybe personal if you're friends too).

Same experience here. Any internal role posted for the minimum amount of time is just ticking a box to say its been advertised.

Really? A friend of mine went for a senior position last week and he told me him and another candidate were using Chat GTP to help with the written task when the interviewer wasn't looking. That's 50% of the candidates. He got the job. He'll be able to use it in real life for similar tasks so good for him.

I disagree that companies need to be aware of school holidays when advertising posts, however I do think it's wrong that you weren't given a heads up about an internal vacancy in your team.

My organisation frequently uses very short windows for internal vacancies, especially if it's a relatively small pool of potential applicants, but we're always given a heads up that it's coming.

Just because a job is posted doesn’t mean it’s available for you. They clearly have someone else in mind for it, else you’d have been advised in advance and encouraged to apply.

There are 4 different countries in the UK. They don’t all have the same holidays.

I'l give you Scotland and NI as different.

NI is a law unto itself - especially in HR matters.

YAB massively U to expect any place of employment to run around school holidays unless it's a school

I wouldn't expect every parent to have book the time off just because it's half term anyway, but most places would barely know when holidays are - they are not even the same depending on your county or if it's state or private.

Is everyone with children actually off during every school holiday at your place?

Even parents only have a vague idea! Schools keep getting emails asking for precise date for the next year when people want to book a hoilday, and class whatsapp gropus are flooded by parents asking when the breaks are

Counties have different dates, state and private have different dates. If you don't want to do something which might involve a parent, then you mustn't plan anything

in September (settling sessions)
in October
in December/ beginning of January
in February
In March- April
In May
End July and August

and June is not great because sports day/ Primary school performances etc..

so yeah, business take note of school holidays. not. 😂

if it is internal applicants only then that most certainly is code for we want to promote a certain person but ridiculous HR policy requires us to run a charade of an "open" competition.

Had that happen to me before, it was blindingly obvious who was supposed to get the job. Such is life, put it behind you and move on.
Personally I am more frustrated by places that don't simply promote and instead have to run these lip service woke farces instead.

The OP is entitled to moan. It is possible to moan and try to find a solution at the same time...

As for half term I barely kept up when I had children in school. Unless someone mentions I have no idea of when it is these days.

Given the very short application window, it's likely that this job is already pencilled in for a preferred candidate and the hiring manager is just going through the motions. I wouldn't be wasting my time applying.
Keep performing well at work and the next opportunity might be pencilled in for you.

Gosh, there are some very harsh responses here. I think the OP is entitled to be aggrieved, particularly with her line manager for not giving her the heads up. In my (large) workplace we would definitely consider if it was a week when a large proportion of staff were likely to be on leave, why would you not want to encourage applications from as many qualified applicants as possible? I would argue it's incredibly difficult not to be aware when half-term is - surely even those without kids talk to their colleagues/clients/stakeholders?

OP, as it's past the closing time, I would contact HR to ask for an extension, assuming you haven't been able to pull an application together this afternoon. I appreciate this may not have been possible. It would be very difficult to complete the standard application form for my organisation in a couple of hours, on your phone and whilst supervising at soft-play, as was suggested by a PP.

I would argue it's incredibly difficult not to be aware when half-term is - surely even those without kids talk to their colleagues/clients/stakeholders

I agree, I'm child free and I'm always mindful of when the school holidays are. Friends and family talk about it, far fewer meetings, emails, phone calls and other work events, broadly at the same time of year, time off hobby groups, roads quieter for commuting, leisure facilities and shopping centres busier and flights etc more expensive.

There's even that meme, when's half term? Oh, that's when , illustrated by a screenshot of Center Parcs prices.

The signs are there if you get out from under a rock and look for them.

You don't know that though, you don't know when it was advirtised tge OP just logged in on her annual leave