Secondment opportunity- but wait a minute, candidate already 'chosen'

[Nanodust]

There's a great secondment opportunity at work. I meet the criteria. However I know the hiring manager and he has told me he's written it for a specific person, the advert has a 4 day closing date and looks like it has been written for said person.

I think it would just cause reputational damage to apply, just really annoys me that a. the preference is for a man b. the preferred candidate is a power hungry idiot.

I've been told another opportunity will come up in another area, however I worry this will be the situation again. Any tips how to be the 'chosen' person next time?

Apply anyway. You can't get it if you don't apply.

I think you should apply anyway. I've known jobs/secondments to be put out with specific people in mind, only for them to have a bad interview and not meet the criteria.

I've been told in a round about way not to bother. Plus the chosen person is a very vindictive person and I am not sure I could cope with the backlash if I got it over him. He'd spend his time harassing and trying to prove I was the wrong candidate as he has with other people in a similar situation. His behaviour has, for many years, been allowed and gone unchecked.

Just because you've been given the impression not to apply, if it's advertised then it's open for applications. Take some control and put yourself in the running. You can't complain if you don't apply.

I know, you are right. I just find the politics of it all so stressful!

Politics in the workplace is very stressful. I'd wait for the next opportunity to come along if you don't fancy being in charge of the guy who the position has been made available for.

Do not apply!

Most companies have a policy that jobs have to be advertised regardless. If the job has been written specifically for a certain person, it's their job, as you've been told already.

Speak to you manager and let them know what you'd like as your next role and ask for advice as to how to achieve it

I would apply. It shows ambition, and it's always good to have application/interview experience. If they're going to be seconded out then they won't be around to cause problems?