Question about jobs...posting jobs when the job is basically already "filled"

[alliecats]

Why do companies post jobs externally when they already know who they are going to fill them with (an internal candidate)? What is the point? Can't they just go ahead and put the internal person they want into the position--just promote them?
And when they do this, do some companies actually go ahead and interview external candidates, even though they already know who they are going to hire?
Are there laws that require them to do this? Because it seems like a waste of everyone's time--but I guess at least the company KNOWS they are wasting their own time!
Just wondering. Everyone I've been asking about this has a different story. Sorry if this doesn't make sense--I didn't sleep well last night!

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

I understand your frustration. Several years ago, I interviewed for a position with the state and was told in the interview that the position was going to be filled by someone already there. The interviewer said that state policy said that the job had to be advertised and she had to interview for it even though it was a promotion for the person that was getting it. Maybe it is the company policy?

 

[kjs1976]

That is the way it is with our school district, too. They legally have to post the job for a certain amount of days, even though it may be already internally filled. Then if someone applies, they may interview people, including the one promised the job, depending who the principal is. My bro just had his contract extended to full time, but they had to post his .3 hrs. addition for a week, prior to him signing his new contract.

 

[alliecats]

I just don't get it. It seems like a bad law to me because it serves no one's best interest. They are not going to change their minds about who they want to hire so the interviewee is out the time, the interviewer has to go through stacks of resumes they don't need, and then be out their time too, and at no point in the process is any of it worth it. And the internal candidate gets to sweat it...just in case. Not to mention the disappointment of the interviewee. Or is it just me??
Ready to Go, did the lady at least wait to tell you until the end of the interview or did she tell you at the beginning and expect you to act like it was a real one anyway? That would be kind of demoralizing.

 

[bicker]

They are not going to change their minds about who they want to hire

The idea is that they're SUPPOSED to change their minds, if they find a better candidate externally. I think we're not really giving people enough credit. Just because they have an internal candidate in mind doesn't necessarily mean that they won't hire a substantially better external candidate that they interview. The issue is that that external candidate simply has a substantially greater hurdle to jump as compared to when there is no internal candidate, but that's fair, because being internal -- already knowing the company's culture, systems, etc., has a value.

 

[MrsToad]

I've worked for a couple of companies who do this, for exactly the reasons Bicker noted. The positions were posted both internally and externally. Especially in the cases of publicly paid positions (education, local, state, and federal), I would want to know that everything possible was being done to ensure that we are getting the best possible employee for our tax dollars (and that we are another step removed from any claim of favoritism over qualifications).

 

[Mary Anne]

As previously posted sometimes you HAVE to post externally.

I am currently working on a position, that to be honest is not available, but becuase of certain rules, we have to post it and interview to see what is available. Very unfair to the applicant. I do try and be truthful and do not let them leave the interview process knowing thinking that there will be a call back, and if I can I always let them know before the come in that the position has already been filled but they are welcome to come for a meet and greet and I do try and use those applicants first for call backs if they do meet a future opportunity that are REAL open positions before I place the ads with anyone.

No it's not fair but you never know if your application will be remembered and you will receive a call down the line.

 

[Becky2005]

I know I worked for a company that was government funded and they HAD to post the jobs even though the job postings were basically written for a specific person. I don't know if they actual interviewed people or not.

It was always a toss up to decide if you wanted to do an internal transfer application due to not knowing if you were wasting your time or not. Sometimes you knew ahead of time, so no point in putting in an application but not always. Sometimes you found out via the grapevine after the fact.

Of course, this is also a place that unless you KNOW someone is extremely (near impossible) to get a job there anyway. I lucked out..I was told after I was hired that the person wouldn't have even looked at my application if so & so hadn't told them I was applying and recommended me. I only knew the person who recommended me in a work capacity setting and he liked my work. So, they do occassionally post real jobs not ones already earmarked.