I've been working concessions at my local zoo for sixteen years, first through the zoo itself and then through two different contracted sports concessions companies. I've applied for an assistant management/supervisor position five or six times over the years, with all three companies and multiple sets of managers.
The first time, one of the existing Supervisors spread lies about me so I wouldn't get the job, I guess because I would make her look bad. The second time, it was the new contractor, but same managers, so my record was probably still stained by the lies. I'll give them those ones, however unfair it was that I was libeled.
These last three or four times though, we've had a completely different management cadre and I've talked to all of them about what happened. And yet they won't even interview me. As soon as I apply, I get a notification from the hiring system that the job opening has been closed, but I'm welcome to apply again next time. I reached out to HR and they said that they aren't actually hiring for that position. Then about a week later they start bringing in a supervisor from another venue to “fill in temporarily.” It isn't even just me, they're not promoting anyone from inside for any position. If anything opens up above entry level, they just bring someone in from somewhere else.
What happened to seniority? Are they just posting to use a legal loophole with no intention to actually hire?
I really thought I had a shot this time, the old hiring manager literally died a month ago.