Employee finds job listing for current job, boss claims they're recruiting in another department: 'I asked them, "Is my job safe?"'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Feb 20, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Few jobs are a sure thing in today's economy.

It is unwise to act as if any corporate role that you work in is going to hang around forever, because the reality is that this probably isn't true. Plenty of employees who are good at their jobs and believe they have a promising career ahead of them get unwelcome surprises when their company starts not doing so well, or decides to take a different business strategy. There are certain situations where no amount of goals achieved or fancy additions to the resume is going to keep the layoffs at bay.

Still, even employees who have the most cynical of approaches to the working world can be surprised when it turns out that they are more replaceable than they thought. Many workplaces are brutal when it comes to getting rid and starting anew, and offer little advance warning when it happens. 

It is usually a good idea to keep an eye on the job ads in your field. This is not just in case something better comes along, but also as there could be a chance that you find some information that could be crucial to whether you are still going to be employed in the near future. It's dog-eat-dog out there.

 

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  • a man rubs his face while sitting in an office at a desk with an open laptop on it
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

  • In this story, a man was taken aback when he realized that a recruiter had posted a job listing for the exact same role he currently worked in. When he asked his boss and VP about this, they claimed that they hadn't heard about it. 

    The employee was suspicious, as he knew that something similar had happened to a colleague who had subsequently moved to a different department. When he followed up and asked them if his job was safe, they replied that they were not sure. In light of this perplexing situation, he looked for some guidance.

  • My current job was posted by recruiter

    My job was posted by a recruiter yesterday. It was a one to one description of my current job description.
    via RoldGoldMold
  • I confronted my boss and VP about it and they said they didn't know about it but also said that another department was looking for someone with more "technical" knowledge.
    via RoldGoldMold
  • They also did this before with another employee before he got the message and he moved to another department.
    via RoldGoldMold
  • close up of a man's hands typing on a laptop
    via Glenn Carstens-Peters

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

  • I asked them straight up "Is my job safe?" And they responded with a pause and "I don't know".
    via RoldGoldMold
  • They also asked me what I wanted from my job and what future roles and tasks I want to do but it feels like they were trying to change the subject/buy time.
    via RoldGoldMold
  • I'm guessing i should be looking for a new job? This is the first time this has happened to me.
    via RoldGoldMold
  • a man sitting at the desk in his office, working on a laptop
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

  • Dakaraim I literally can't imagine a dumber answer than I dont know from your bosses part. Obviously he knows, so now you do too. GL with the job hunt
    via Dakaraim
  • Mean_Prize5459 Your boss knows. They're the one who put together the job description for the posting. They just didn't want to deal with a confrontation about it because it would make them look like an a h le. You need to start looking for another position-ideally within a different organization.
    via Mean_Prize5459
  • natewOw Start job hunting ASAP.
    via natew0w
  • Orn100 It sounds like they are steering you to that other department. That sounds like your best chance to lock down income for now, even if it's just until you find another job.
    via Orn100
  • Desiredittor615 Start job hunting. My story is that the recruiter sent me the request to open the req to hire my own replacement. LMAO. When I asked my boss, they said it was a mistake and not to worry...
    via Desiredittor615
  • Cosmoking2 - ASAP see if another department is actually hiring for that role. If so, apply. Use your connections and reputation to get that transfer. I was once asked to join another team....but declined (to be faithful)....only to be laid off. They were trying to led me a hand, knowing what was in the works. Lesson learned. If another department asks you to come work for them your current - position is about to be eliminated.
    via CosmoKing2
  • Athos-1844 Your boses are straight up lying. Which I despise. Sounds like they moved on to gaslighting. I wouldn't respect any bosses like that, and if I were you I would immediately look for another job.
    via Athos-1844
  • EnvironmentalHope767 Any other answer than Yes to that question means No.
    via EnvironmentalHope767
  • CorrectBluebird5869 Always read job postings to see if it's your job. Best to keep a keen eye on management, your resume should be current, be in constant contact with recruiters, and you should always be networking. Replace them before they replace you. Control your destiny.
    via CorrectBluebird5869

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Tags

recruiter employee job listing workplace manager work job application
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