My boss got fired in August. I was asked to take over for him in addition to my normal job duties. I've been doing both since then and even completed a gigantic, has to be done, no one else can do it project involving the coordination of major stakeholders while I was at home, pregnant with bronchitis and peeing myself I was coughing so hard. I've managed so many problems they don't even know about, because I MANAGE them. My staff was in a horrible place because my old boss treated them like children, so I've been in repair mode with them. I believe it has gone really well. The staff has thanked me and brought concerns to me, which to me says that they're comfortable with me, which is pretty valuable.

I work in the public sector, so all jobs have to be posted before being filled. The posting of the job went up yesterday, and no one bothered to tell me. The "required qualifications" were reduced just before the posting went up, but the "preferred qualifications" include my degree and experience. I am infuriated. I feel like my workplace isn't viewing me as a viable candidate if no one even bothered to tell me that the posting went up.

I know this is just me being reactive, but if my maternity leave Jan-March-ish has anything to do with this, it's not going to be pretty for them. Would it be better for me to be on maternity leave in summer? Of course. Is that what happened? No. Would they actually say that's why I didn't get the job? Of course not. Still wouldn't be pretty for them.

If they find someone more qualified than me, who has more experience than me, I'll be absolutely fine with that. If they hire someone with no experience in this pretty specialized area (as that no longer part of the "required qualifications"), I'm going to lose my shit.

I may be completely overreacting. I have no idea. Many high level co-workers have said that I should of course throw my name in the hat for the position, so it's widely known that I'm going to.

Has anyone had to work for a boss that knows nothing, when you've already done that boss's job? I have no idea if this going to happen, but I don't know if I can do it.