the troubadour

They don't need to give a reason that makes any sense and when do doesn't necessary amount to the truth.
Lots of positions go to mates or the like. In the private area this is especially so.
The employer often has it over the employee due to the need in many jobs to provide contactable referees. A rather ingenious way to control behaviour of a frustrated/angry employee.

calliope

Workers should be able to provide references about employers that would then be accessible to prospective workers. This would improve treatment of workers a lot.

sheene

It's a nice idea. Trouble is, jobs are tight, and even if you had a bad reference for a company would you still take the job? The person who took NB's job knew the situation, how badly they had treated her - didn't stop them from accepting the role though.

sonlymewalter

Spot on. Recruitment and employment is a one way street in Aus.

That will NEVER happen.In fact if you ever have anything bad to say about a lousy company you've worked for it's a bad move.

To NB re original question: Was the person who got the job already employed at the school and better qualified than you are? Regardless of this you are where you are, personally I would carry on doing the volunteer work for a few weeks until you have chance to think things through. In the meantime take as much time off as you need for job interviews regardless as to how inconvenient that may be for them having to get short term cover

Good luck with a new job hunting - sounds like you'll be well shot out of there with that lot mate

northernbird

I don't know who got the job yet. They were interviewing 5 including me, shortlisted down from 21. An ex-parent applied (a friend of mine) and got an interview too. The Principal said he couldn't tell me who got it yet as they hadn't been told and they had to accept before it went public. 3 complete outsiders were also interviewed.

I am feeling a little better at the mo, probably as I have been drinking since lunchtime! Things will still be shit in the morning and I will have a headache to go with it.

Dorothy

Friendship has nothing to do with the interview panel. I'm not sure how the panel chair coming to your birthday party is relevant to whether you were the best candidate or whether you should have got the job. It's also very possible that she wanted you and was overruled by the other panel members.

I know it's small comfort, but I've been on more than a few interview panels and it's a majority rules thing. The last one I did I really wanted candidate B but the 2 other panel members (one of whom was leaving the department the following week and the other who works in HR off site) voted for candidate A. No matter how much I lobbied for B the one they wanted got the job basically because I was outvoted. The person we hired has turned out to be as much of a problem as I said they would be, but there's very little can be done about it now.

And no, I don't think you are being childish. It's a really shitty thing to have given so much and not get the job. If it were me I would withdraw my volunteer services and tell them that your time is now needed to focus on finding paid employment.

irishbloo

If it was me I would be feeling pretty gutted.Sounds like you worked hard.However its their loss and it meant to be.Hold your head up high.Ask for a reference.Withdraw your services and look for something new.In time you could end up with a better position and be glad they hadnt selected you.

northernbird

I know it isn't relevant, I have worked in the public sector for many years both here and the NHS in the UK so am fully aware of how the panel works.

Thanks for your response.

sonlymewalter

At least if you hang fire it gives you time to work out what you want to do next and it's one in the eye for them as they will be expecting you to throw out your dummy, but you can rise above that mate:sunglasses:

Things won't be shit in the morning as you will be giving them the finger (in your head) and moving on to better things. Whenever I've been shat on from a great height I've taken the view it's their loss, not mine and in every circumstance it's worked out to be the best things ever.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Hold your head high, bide your time and don't do them any favours. It always comes good in the end mate

calliope

I agree. I've left a couple of jobs because of bad treatment and each time great new opportunities appeared that I would have missed if I had stayed in the job. So this is about opportunities not disaster.

Family of 3

Sorry to hear this. You must be gutted.

BUT it's better to leave with dignity as it's a small world and you never know when things will come back to haunt you. By all means drop the voluntary stuff, but have a reasonable-sounding excuse.

northernbird

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Fenton Beasley

So sorry to hear about that C. You may have been the best person for the job, but it seems you were not the best person at the interview. This is local government and this is how it is. I should know. I too was doing a very good job at a local government organisation and after 3 years, they offered "my" job up for application. A bloke who had never worked there before walked in off the street to "my" job leaving me high and dry. It still leaves a bitter taste after all these years.

They have to give the job to best interviewee to avoid nepotism and partiality.

My advice would be to leave as soon as you find something else or something better.

verystormy

Afraid to say, i would have spat the dummy not only out of the pram but clean out of the window.

Pollyana

Been there and been through it several times since I came here. The worst occasion was one when the whole interview process was changed specifically to suit the person the panel chair wanted in the role - different tests and interview structure. We were told it was a change to all future procedures but funnily enough turned out to be a one-off. didn't get the post in spite of having been acting in it for ages, understandably furious but my mentor gave me the best advice - don't let the b*stards know they've got to you. Hold your head high, let them see you dignified in defeat cos they won't expect that. However a touch of memory loss can be expected when asked about handing over certain tasks
And as I've discovered recently - revenge is a dish best served cold - it may take time but your turn will come and you will be able to get your own back, probably in a way you can't even envisage at present.....keep doing the volunteer stuff for instance, and then pick your moment to quit - when it suits you and definitely doesn't suit them

Chin up mate, what goes around comes around, especially in govt jobs