'I won't be reapplying': Boss makes employee reapply for the same position because of changes in the school district, employee stands ground

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 19, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

It's hard to imagine doing a great job at work and getting strong feedback from management, only to suddenly be asked to reapply for your current position. In some industries, this is unfortunately standard practice. For instance, in school districts, this kind of reapplication process occurs frequently as districts are reevaluated and both demand and interest fluctuate. 

For this employee in a given district, she was told after a full year in the position that there was renewed interest in her current job. Her boss even implied that she only got the position in the first place because she was the only applicant at the time. What a lovely piece of information to hear from your own boss! 

The employee ultimately left this tense encounter with two options. First, she could give in to the system and attempt to reapply for the position, even though she was now dealing with competitors who had far more years of experience in her role. However, before she succumbed to what could be a grueling and disappointing process, she remembered that she does have some agency here, as all employees do!

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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • It's worth remembering that just because something is “the way it is" does not mean that you have to accept those rules and practices. In this case, the author realized that it simply wasn't worth it for her or her boss if she reapplied. After all, she likely wasn't going to get it no matter how much work she would put into this reapplication process. She might as well use that time and energy to apply for a position that will legitimately consider her!

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    "My work is making me re-apply for my own job. I will not be re-applying"

    The reason I'm not reapplying is because my boss warned me that there is lots of interest in the position and the role will be completely based on seniority. Meaning I will
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    likely lose the position I've already been doing for the past year to someone who might have even just a few more hours than me working for the district.
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    I asked if it goes by seniority how did I get the position last year? My boss answered that there was one opening and one applicant. Thanks!
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    Full disclosure, I work for a school district so this isn't uncommon, but that doesn't make it right.
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    Kept asking my boss to call me and he hasn't so I eventually told him today over messenger that I won't be reapplying. He's read my message but hasn't responded...
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    via Vitaly Gariev

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Sieve-Boy 7 hr. ago Just remember, when they ask you to train that person or otherwise instruct them, remind them and management that you are not able
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    to do that as you obviously lack the capability to do the job as it was given to someone else.
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    KotexAvenger 8 hr. ago My crazy theory is this was probably a way to try and make you take less money. Play
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    up there is "lots of interest" and then offer you less money and hope you'd rather
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    "beat" the other applicants than focus on the money. Why are school districts full of f scumbags? via u/wh
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    Dads_repair_shop. 4 hr. ago If you have to reapply, your employment is being terminated. I would think you would be eligible for unemployment.
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    Fi13xQuartz . 3 hr. ago Lol is this the massive city school district that's recently been taken over by the state with new leadership that I'm thinking it is??? With a
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    new superintendent that also ruined another massive city school district in the same state?
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    I've never worked in the public school system so take this with a grain of salt, but IF I'm thinking of the right district, then
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    I don't have high hopes and would probably try and find work elsewhere if it were me. Sending love. Bc y'all have been through a LOT and deserve way better than what the state pulled.
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    Celestial_whale 1 hr. ago They can do whatever they want, because they have the money, the HR reps, the lawyers, and the stacks of resumes to choose a replacement.
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    We workers, mostly, have nothing. Unfortunately it , but keep fighting the good fight and know you're worth more and should get some level of professional respect.
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    Relevant Crew4817. 54 min. ago Is there any kind of contract expiring or anything? If not, you should tell them "I'm not applying for anything, I already
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    have that job. If you want me not to, you need to fire me, then what I'll be applying for will be unemployment, and take it from there".
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    Bakorocket 5 hr. ago Happy job hunting
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