I would very much welcome some advice please.
I'm an early career researcher about to finish a fixed term post. Before Christmas a great post came up internally and I applied. Subsequently I learned from my old PhD supervisor that there would be a post coming up with their team later in the year (same uni, different departments). I decided to withdraw my original application, sent an explanation to the recruiting professor, and the post went external. The deadline passed last Friday.
I have now had time to hear about the other department/post and I think I made a massive error withdrawing my application. The other job is not going to suit me at all.
HR have said that the professor recruiting for the original job can accept a late application if they wish... so now I am considering approaching them to ask. This is all a total mess and I know I appear unreliable and indecisive but in my defence it's a difficult time and what i do next will have consequences for my career.
Do you think this is utter madness? I work with the prof on one project and they don't suffer fools gladly (and right now I am an utter fool). What is at stake I suppose is my pride, and I risk placing myself in an even worse light with the prof, which may impact on the current project and future work.
Any words of wisdom would be greatly received...