Is it always obligatory to advertise and go through a recruitment process even if you have a suitable internal candidate? I've been doing a job on a voluntary basis as it's a charity set-up I really believe in and wasn't looking for a paid job. I've loved it there and thought I was doing a good job. Now all of a sudden they've decided to create a new post which basically covers all the tasks I've been doing for the past few weeks,plus another task (which I had never been asked to do). They've hinted that they are open to me applying for the job and have implied that school hours etc. wouldn't be a problem. However,at the same time they are now actively going through the process of advertising and encouraging applications. I'm very confused! I'm feeling slightly hurt as it feels as if I must have only been "caretaking" the job and that now that I've got everything under control (it was an area that had't had much attention for a couple of months), they feel it's in good enough shape to hand over to someone else! On the other hand my DH suggested maybe they think I've done so much work they realise that it's really a job someone should be paid to do! I'm also quite down about the fact that if I do apply and don't get it I'll have to leave the organisation as I'll be surplus to requirements.