Internal interviews - job already gone?

cabledude

Hi All,

Thought I might ask your opinion on a dilemma I'm experiencing at the minute.

A couple of weeks ago, an internal role came up that I applied for. I have a lot that this role is looking for and after discussing with a couple of long term senior people in the organisation, I threw my hat in the ring. This is a big role in the company what would see me working in a cross functional role running projects dealing with NPI and process change and management of this change.

Anyway, I went ahead for the job and was shortlisted for interwiew by HR and the chap I will be replacing. The interview went very well and they were happy with my presentation. It was cordaial and relaxed. I answered all questions and didn't get tripped up on any aspect. The HR guy told me that there were a few things about organisational behaviour and ethics I had mentioned that other candidates hadn't mentioned and he was intrigued that I would know this stuff. I left the interview on a high.

Anyway, a week later, I heard the name of one of the other candidates and quite frankly, my heart sank. I was in discussion with another senior lady within the organisation and she told me that this particular person was applying for the role also. This guy is in his early 20's, only just out of college and it is his first proper full time job. He is only in the company a few short months while I have been there over 3 years. He is from a part of the country that a very influencial member of management is from. Sometimes he gets a lift into work with this guy. He is not as experienced as me, he does not have the tacit knowledge I have and the role calls for a level of maturity and emotional intelligence that I know he lacks. Thing is this manager has taken this lad under his wing big time.

The rub in this whole thing is that this guy has actually been told to go for the role by this influential member of management. Yep, you heard me. He was told to go for it. His contract is up soon and he was told to go for this job. There is precedent for this happening. More than once, this guy has told lads to go for jobs and invariably they get them. In one case, he even coached a fella who didn't have a huge amount of interest in a role how to answer questions in an interview. Highly improper behavior and not even remotely ethical. But it has happened in the past and I fear it is happening now.

Have to be honest folks, I'm gutted. I have burst my nads in the company for the past 3 years to get myself into a position to be considered for a senior role and now that there is one available that I have the skills for, It looks as though it is being taken from under my nose.

So, my dilemma is -

Do I hang tough and hope my instincts are wrong or,
do I withdraw now and take the uppr hand and keep my dignity?

listermint

Take it with dignity and make friends with Upper management.

cabledude

listermint wrote: »

Take it with dignity and make friends with Upper management.

I have done. But this one guy has had me as an outsider since day one.

This chap has had an exponential rise to the top due to his own connections. Not going to say too much in case it could anyone or where we work, but this lad is very influential.

Stheno

cabledude wrote: »

I have done. But this one guy has had me as an outsider since day one.

This chap has had an exponential rise to the top due to his own connections. Not going to say too much in case it could anyone or where we work, but this lad is very influential.

Happens all the time, it's not illegal and if you want to move upwards you are better off elsewhere.

TimeToShine

i'd love to know which company hires early 20s kids into senior positions!