What would you think if a job vacancy was recently advertised and is now open again?

[hepaticanobilis]

I've found a really interesting role to apply for and googling something noticed it had previously been advertised with a closing date and interviews February this year. Now there's a new advert with a closing date this month.

Is it just one of those things that could be any number of reasons, or should I read something into it? Did they hire someone in February who has already left, within a month or so of starting? Or maybe their top candidate that time withdrew?

There's also a very small change in the JD, with one particular aspect/skill given less emphasis in the current advert. (Actually works out better for me because it is my weakest area of all the things they ask for!) Maybe they didn't find the ideal person in February? Although that's less likely as it's a really interesting role with a good salary.

It's in the higher education sector but not teaching related.

If they’ve tweaked the JD and advert then they didn’t find who they were looking for last time.

I hope so because that might work in my favour for various reasons... My skillset and previous experience are a great fit, although my current role might make me seem not the obvious choice (I took a bit of a step down and out of my usual sector/skillset for personal reasons for a couple of years). But hoping they might give me a chance and at least interview me if they've been looking for their person since January. 🙃

@hepaticanobilis is it for a uni based in London? If so it might be my old bosses job .. .

Unless it's a very specific job description it could be a second position has come up?

I'd just assume they didn't get anyone applying last time who they wanted. I work in the public sector and we've had to go out a couple of times for some roles

Urgh I applied to a role advised more than twice already this year/jokers who just didn’t know whether they wanted perm or part-time - despite saying to one of my parents ‘they have advised already this year 2 or 3 times’ fortunately I had a rather lucky escape when said employer then messed me about for a simple first telephone interview - I soon understood why they needed to advertise actually multiple times, oh yes. Definitely an advertisement with no intention.

It says it's a new role so probably not. 🙂

Also sounds like there's only the one role so I think it's definitely the same that was advertised earlier this year, at least there's no indication someone else will have the same role.

My previous job has been advertised on and off for a year due to high staff turnover. There was definitely a reason. The salary keeps going up too 😑

They haven't found anyone or the person they had found failed probation or got ill or something.

Public sector organisations are having great trouble recruiting at the moment, just not enough candidates, maybe only 1 or 2 people apply and neither are suitable so the ad gets run again and maybe wording tweaked to attract more candidates or to more clearly define something that is needed.

Sounds like they couldn’t recruit before. Some places are rightly picky about who they employ and won’t just find any old person for the job. Go for it.

I'm about to readvertise a job which was advertised in Feb. We just didn't find* the right person. Nothing sinister.

*we did find the perfect person, but she accepted another role in between first and second interviews with us. Grrrrrrr.

They had to re-advertise my maternity cover three times because nobody wanted my job I should really take the hint.

We did this recently for a part-time role – found an absolute GEM of a person who we loved, and who thought she could juggle with her baby and other responsibilities. Turned out she'd bitten off a bit more than she could chew and so (totally understandably) had to step back from the role within her probation period.

We're gutted, and advertising again, but it's nobody's fault - just circumstance.

Interesting, I just read an article yesterday about this happening a lot at the moment. I actually had an interview for another role recently and was outright asked if I had applied for anything else as well, I imagine so they could prioritise those who were less likely to accept another role during the (lengthy, in their case!) process.

This. I’m in HE, we’ve had to go back out for quite a few roles recently. Apply.

I'm currently advertising for a role that was only recently advertised and filled. What it means in our case is that the successful applicant last time did brilliantly and has been promoted internally.

There is a job available in my workplace which was advertised and closed at the end of April. It’s now being advertised again as nobody applied for it so they re advertise the post.
In the past there have been posts where they have interviewed 5 candidates, not wanted any of them and re advertised it again.

I would think it was something like that.

They probably recruited and the candidate had second thoughts further down the line.

We offered someone a job, they accepted and were due to start following their 3 months notice. Just before they were due to start they changed their mind and decided to stay in their current role. Job advert went back up.

@hepaticanobilis - don't get me wrong... I don't begrudge her accepting another job at all. She was SO good, I can totally see how she was offered something else. I'm pleased for her because she seemed very deserving of a good opportunity. My frustration was because I'd mentally already got her in my team, even before second interview etc!

I wouldn't read too much into it. I know of several places including my work where jobs have been advertised and no one suitable applied - lots of places struggling to recruit at the moment.

This ^

When I applied for my current job, they were looking for two people but I was the only suitable candidate so they re-advertised the role.

I have seen this in public sector roles. They faff around, it sits with HR and by the time they decide who they want to offer the role to the candidate has found another position.

If someone is ideal just grab them. No faffing around....

Yes, that makes a lot of sense too. ^
From the date the advert went live, there's a month until the advertised first interviews and I imagine the whole process can easily stretch to two months with second interviews, decisions, HR stuff... A lot can happen in that time.

Thank you everyone, I think it is all encouraging and will hopefully work in my favour.