Workplace corruption

Southernman

I was seconded into a role that I'd been doing for 6 months alongside 2 other people. 2 permanent positions were announced and we'd all have to apply. It was open to other Depts too.

Prior to interview stage odd things were happening. One of the two 'rivals' got offered a 3 month role elsewhere organised by the dept. There was no discussion with experienced colleagues it was just handed on a plate.

Another thing I noticed was that those other two had their 2014 holidays added to the chart while mine weren't.

Anyway interview day came. The others got a tap on the shoulder 15 mins before confirming who was interviewing them and which room. My turn came and I had no idea where I was going and who with so had to get someone to find out immediately putting me on edge.

I did a really good interview considering. I also had one the following day with identical examples and got the position and their feedback was that it couldn't be faulted. I hit all indicators.

Anyway found out I didn't get my current role. The other 2 did and to make matters worse they decided to create a 3rd job which went to the manager's friend. It made me feel that not only was I not good enough for a position, they would rather train a new starter than employee me.

After getting feedback they wouldnt reveal my scores. They said that they couldn't tell me what I wanted to know which was why I didn't get the job and that my interview was good but others were better. My 'weak' answer i sat with my manager to perfect it. The fact different people interviewed different individuals makes it seem even more open to bias especially since if my manager had interviewed me she would have given me full marks based on her interpretation.

I'm now expected to train the manager's friend until I start my new role.

So many people have come up to me disgusted by the outcome. It was obvious how hard I worked, how dedicated I was and how keen I was for a stable position because of redundancies in my original dept.

If it wasn't for the new seconded role I know I'd be even more mortified. I'm sorry for ranting but I can't believe this sort of thing can happen in the workplace and I'll never really know why I wasn't the favourite when I worked by far the hardest out of the 3.

I am grateful I have a back up plan. I'm just feeling a bit raw about the whole situation. Has this happened to others from experience?

John1993_2

While I'm sorry you did not get the role, it's not necessarily corruption, it could just be that they don't want you in the role, and thought it easier to let you go through the interview process than to just refuse you at the start.

While it's nice to have a clear structure and marking scheme for interviews, it's not a legal requirement, and something as simple as having your "card marked" by someone can see you excluded from certain roles or even employers.

I think, unless there's more to this than above, that this is just one of the myriad "unfair" events that characterizes adult life. It'd be lovely if there was a "fairness ombudsman" overseeing everything, but there isn't, and we are all subject, at times, to the whim of others.

Prothet_of_Doom

Ah, internal vacancies. If you are qualified we must interview you sort of interview.
They never tell you that the job was for those people that got it, and the whole process was done in order to be seen to be doing the right thing.
Personally you have 3 choices:
1) Let it go and stay.
2) Don't let it go, find another job and leave.
3) Don't let it go, stay, and let it eat you up with resentment for the next 3 years.

I wouldn't go with option 3 by the way.

Caroline_a

We have just been interviewing for a post and have interviewed internal candidates, including 2 who have been doing similar roles for the past 6 months. Neither are suitable, and, although they haven't done anything that would mean disciplinary, they haven't been very effective in a few areas. It is felt that a different skillset would be better for this role, hence they haven't been chosen.

Personally, I would move on...