If a job is advertised as full time and they give it to a part timer

[Evabeaversprotege]

If a job is advertised as a full time job & someone (already doing the job) applies for it, as well as someone who works part time - is it okay for the part time person to get the job?

This hasn't happened yet, but with whispering at work I think it's only a matter of time.

I have been covering maternity leave within my own office & the lady has left.
It was a full time role & although I was part time hours previously, I enjoyed the full time & would like to apply for the post. (It's been advertised)

However, there's a woman at work who does part time hours, she has told our manager (they're friends) that she wants the job. And knowing her as I do, for some reason she always gets what she wants.

I know there will be interviews, there will be people from outside being interviewed also, but from what I hear, this person is already certain she will be doing my role by the end of the month (when my maternity cover ends)

I'm slightly annoyed at the unfairness of the gossiping in the office yet no-one has been straight with me.
I have the application form here but unsure whether to apply if they already (in their minds) have the role filled.

It's a private company & when I applied for the maternity cover I agreed to full time hours, returning to part time when the role ended.

I know this is probably all over the place / basically I have asked that I get more hours in any role, not necessarily the one I have been covering. But now I'm unsure if I apply for this role & don't get it I'll be a laughing stock.

The bother woman applying for the job will not increase to full time hours due to outside commitments.

I guess I'm wondering is it above board to give the job to someone part time when there's someone equally capable and willing to do it full time & the job was advertised as full time.

Yep, the company can chose how they get the labour they need. If they decide the part time person is better for the job then that's up to them.

I think you are overthinking it. Yes this person thinks she will get it but maybe she won't and maybe she doesn't know you want it? Why don't you apply and do your best at the interview. If you do not get it, ask for feedback. And tell who ever you need to at work that you would a) like to increase your hours and b) that you'd be interested to know about any vacancies that occur.

So to get this straight in my head:

You used to be part time, changed role and increased to full time to cover maternity, and would be happy to continue full time in the new role.

She is currently part time, wants the new role, but is only prepared to do part time hours.

I would apply. Sounds like you tick more of the boxes than she does as well as your experience being more relevant. Unless there's some kind of nepotism-type thing going on, you ought to be a shoo in unless there's a better outside candidate?

Yes purplepidjin, that's right.

I will apply for the job, but recently she has been picking holes in my work, she isn't long back after maternity absence herself & has made it clear that if she had been in the office, I never would have been used for the cover.

It's hard to explain without completely outing myself. It's a small company, my role was part time in a different office. When the maternity post cropped up I asked manager about it (I had previously covered holiday leave) and he spoke to personnel & we agreed I'd cover the leave.

But this woman who has returned has given a whole new dynamic to the office, she is most definitely a mans woman - there are only 3 females in the office - her, me and another woman who is newish & very shocked at the dynamics.

I am waste they can give the job to whoever they want, whoever they deem best for the role - I just resent the fact that whispering is being done behind my back when I've only ever done my best.

My manager is aware I want more hours / I spoke to him last week & said I hoped I would be considered for the role - he said by all means apply, but I know XXXX is interested and she did do the job for X years previously.

I said well, that's all good but just so you know, if more hours are available in any role I'd like to be kept in mind.

I'm wondering if I wasn't up to scratch during the 9 months, I never had any complaints & he never once made me aware that I wasn't working to his standards.

Overthemill - she does know I am interested. She said she's applying as she has an interest in the area I cover & she knows that by going the job in part time hours the company will save money - which will appeal to them.

If the feel the job can be done part time and they feel she is the best candidate for the job, then yes it's "okay" for the part time person to get the job. In fact it's good if they are open to considering part time hours for posts which are notionally full time, as many employers aren't as open minded.

All you can do is ignore gossip, apply for the role, and if you don't get it ask for feedback.

If it's behind your back, how do you know about the gossip?

Apply. Ignore the other woman. You can't control what she does or how other people feel about her, but you can control what you do, and the one thing you can guarantee is that if you don't apply for it, you won't get it.

XXXX may have done the job for X years previously, but you've been doing it most recently. For all either of you know, they might get some amazing external applicant anyway. If you don't get it, then it's always good practice to do an application from time to time, as it helps you review your skills.

If she's been picking holes in your work, it may not be because you're doing badly; she may be feeling threatened because you're doing well, and is trying to undermine you. If you have been getting good feedback from others, then I wouldn't worry. If you have had similar feedback from others, then it's something you need to work on, and if you get to interview, you can mention that you're aware of it (they're bound to ask about your weaknesses one way or another at some point), and give a summary of ways you'll be addressing it. And if you don't get the role, you can ask for feedback and how you could do better next time, and there's something you can work on there. (We all have to have development plans at work, so it's useful to have something to feed it.)

Public sector here, so maybe my place is more cautious, but this question came up in a training session. The answer was that if the job CAN be carried out part-time then it should be advertised as such. After all, if it's advertised as FT, people who can't work FT won't apply.

Agree with flowery (who always has the best advice!) that it's good to see organisations considering PT, but in our place we'd have to consider it from before we place the advert, not when a candidate brings it up (and we'd probably have to say No).

Apply for it.
She could be playing mind games with you. Happens all the time, when people think they are better at doing xx than they really are. They put others down, criticise, and when other positions come up, the claws well and truly come out.
The job is full time for a reason, and her wanting to do it pt, she will have to explain how she is going to manage it. Of course she can suggest job share.

She's trying to stop you applying.

You said it when you said somehow she always gets what she wants

She's making that happen now by putting you off applying

Apply. If you don't get it you will not be a "laughing stock". Presumably your old job will still be open to you? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

A few years back I had a session with a careers coach (paid for by employer as part of redundancy package). She said if you see a job advertised, don't be afraid to ask for it on your terms. If they want you and what you're asking for is reasonable/feasible there's a good chance you'll get it. She gave an example of a job being advertsied at 30, you want 35K. They can't stretch to it but really want you. You come to an agreement about working from home or working less hours or whatever.

I think if they think she has the skills to do it and they think the job can be done in the hours she says then they would be doing nothing wrong by offering her the job, regardless of what it was actually advertised as - these kind of terms and conditions negotiations are common.

I think you'd be daft not to apply on the basis of what other poeple might think or do. I had worked at a company 6 weeks. A better job came up that I had expereince of but I didn't apply because I thought I'd be stepping on the toes of the person who'd been covering it (again maternity leave). An external candidate got the job, despite the maternity leave leave cover person applying. You can't control what happens, but if you don't have a go you definitely won't get the job and can't complain when someone else does.

Hope it works out for you.