It happened to me, I got contacted for an offer (I was working in a niche industry area).
They had above 50 candidates with the required qualifications. After two online interview they invited me for a onsite interview. It’s in another country so they are paying for the flights tickets and hotel.
I’m onsite for the day, I have interviews, visit of the place, the museum, I’m invited for lunch there, more interviews in the afternoon.
In the 3 candidates that were there, one was a guy who already candidated for the exact same opening 5 years ago, did not got selected for this job at the time but they did not want him to go so they hired him on another position until the main position opens again.
So without any surprises, he got selected.
I once interviewed a guy after HR had already talked to him. Told him straight up the permanent job would preferably go to an internal candidate, but we still needed someone like him temporarily, even though HR had told him it was for a permanent job. He still took it and the internal candidate was promoted 9 months later. I’m still friends with the guy that took the temp job.
That happened to me and the internal candidate got the job. Fortunately they offered me a different position and eventually they hired me
In my experience it’s the other way around. I mean why promote somebody who knows how everything works when you could get some jackass who’s failed upward high enough to get your old bossc job? That way they can come in with their “great” ideas, screw everything up, and then fail upwards some more.
Likely playing you both off each other and seeing where they can get a better deal
Just do an assblast. Minivan consequences!
Just let them know you’re planning to move abroad for better job opportunities and see how quickly they offer you a C-suite position
