Having to apply for a role against your own boss

[Ilikeviognier]

Can this happen?

facing redundancy (not confirmed as yet). But one of the options on the table seems to be to put everyone into one “pool” and make them apply for the roles that exist.

The problem with this is that I’m the only one at my level. My manager and her peers are all x2 levels above me, so if this happens, not only will I be having to compete with my own manager, I’ll be at a significant disadvantage in general (as others will already be essentially “doing” the new roles) and presumably I will have no hope of being successful. :(

is this a thing- and if yes- is it even worth my attempting to go for it?

Yes and yes. I applied against my old manager (I was one point short for the job) but my old manager didn’t even make it to the interview- I did. She ended up demoted. Go for it and keep applying else

Thanks @cucumber4745 - just seems inherently unfair to make you do that :(

It is unfair. But it happens. I had to apply for my own job after I have done it for two years! Luckily I got it but the other person who was in post didn’t. At least she had another job lined up so I felt less bad..

Someone where i work applied for a promotion and leap flogged her boss who also applied for it. Felt sorry for the boss but the other person was better, or talked a better game at least.

how awful that companies do this, for everyone, so demoralising. Good luck xx

Yes, go for it. What do you have to lose? I had a situation which wasn’t quite the same.

my manager was a director, I was a manager and they wanted to do away with both roles and create a “head of” post which sat in between both our levels.

I applied for it as it would have been a promotion for me. He didn’t apply for it as it would have been a step down.

these things are horrid but hope you’re able to get something good out of it