For the last six months I have been contracting in an admin role until the position had a full time replacement as it is a new position. During this time I created and mapped processes for the role, expanding upon its responsibilities. I really owned the role and did my best at it. The responsibilities I was originally given could have been fulfilled by a corpse but the idea of getting paid to sit there and do nothing didn't appeal which is why I worked so hard at it.

When the role was finally advertised for permanence, I was personally invited by the head manager of the department to apply for it even though it was only being advertised internally. The managers below him that I would work for directly were particularly keen on me getting the position.

Delighted that they recognised my achievements, I applied for the role. I was then shortlisted and invited to an interview.

The interview was comprised of the manager who invited me to apply and an HR rep. I wowed them with what I had done with the role. I was on my game as I got them laughing at the right times while I explained how easily I integrated myself into the company and got along with the many hundreds of employees I had interacted with. It was a very successful interview, to say the least.

I just received a phone call saying that I am the top choice for the role! But I probably won't get it due to the fact that it was meant for internal candidates. Couldn't this have been sorted out weeks ago? Was there any need to waste my time and get my hopes up?

The manager that wanted me is apparently pleading my case, we'll see how that goes.

Was I strung along so that I wouldn't leave until they had a replacement? Is this just a wimpy way to say "no" à la "It's not you, it's me?" Am I just a victim of rigid HR policies and an HR rep that can't weed me out earlier than they should have (Hanlon's razor)? Something else?

A similar thing happened to me about 4 years ago when I first came to this country (Australia). I applied at a bank for a job. I was shortlisted and had an amazing interview. They then didn't hire me because, while I was great, I didn't have permanent residency, but another visa that granted me all of the same rights. Again, couldn't this have been sorted out much earlier?

Thanks for letting me get this off of my chest.

TL:DR: I am a contractor at a job. I was the top choice for the role when it went permanent. I probably won't get the role because they want someone less qualified, yet internal to take it. Now I am butt hurt.