Is it standard to be on the interview panel for your maternity cover job?

[Emster30]

My boss wants me to be on the panel, which is fine, but it does feel a wee bit odd to be choosing someone to take over from me. It's good as it is quite a standalone department I manage and no one else really knows what I do. However it's been an internal recruitment process and one of the three candidates is a friend of mine (we used to work in the same department, but since then she has moved to a totally different division within the organisation and I have changed department), so it seems a bit strange.

Any advice welcome!

I don't know about advice but I was made to do the same thing and since I came back from ML I've interviewed more people for my job share. I hate it and think it's wrong to interview for your own level but HR never want to get involved.

I interviewed by own maternity cover. didn't have a problem with it. I gave me some control over the person covering so I didn't worry as much about being left a pile of 's* when I got back.

I was on the panel for my cover and would generally expect my staff to be on the panel for their cover, particularly in a senior role.

No one knows your job better than you do, which gives you a very valuable perspective on who would be best placed to do it whilst you are off!

Obviously if you are uncomfortable with this you should feel able to talk to your boss about about it, but I bet it is just that he/she values your opinion!

It's true, I like the idea of having some control and knowing we're going to get somebody good in - certainly the candidate I know would be excellent, I haven't seen the application forms yet. Must try not to be too biased in the interview!

Rockbird, interviewing for job share again I guess makes sense as you want to make sure you get someone who you think will do a good job, but I can imagine it being very strange!

I'm glad to have reassurance that it's fairly standard and the candidates aren't going to think it's too odd.

I was and agree with what sooper said.

Perfectly normal and sensible, for the reasons others mention. SImilar reasons apply to job share - no one has more of a vested interest in who gets the job than a job share partner, or more of an insight into what kind of person would be right for the role.