my career in August 380

Enthropy Fighter

It's called "networking". In other words, you know the "right" people and get what you want by circumventing the normal procedures.

It sounds like somebody was throwing roadblocks in your way on purpose. Either that party wants to get rid of you or is playing a game of oneupmanship in order to stay on top of the heap.

I used to have a boss who, whenever I proposed something he didn't agree with would always answer "We'll talk about it." He didn't have the guts to say "No" because that would have meant that he would have had to make a decision (and thus show some leadership) and it was contrary to his ideology of positivity.

Only we never talked about it....

I suspect the same thing is happening here: give the impression of great concern or interest, say all the right words or phrases, but, oh gee! we just don't have time to do anything about it. They want to have their cake and eat it, too. They want your services but if they granted you a permanent position, that would make it harder to get rid of you if, say, they woke up one morning and decided it was no longer in their interest to like you.

Been there, suffered for it.

Is there any indication that the new arrangement will be any better?

Do it soon in any case. If something comes up from that search and, by some miracle, you get a permanent position where you are right now, you can always say no.

What

As I mentioned, I suspect some background politics at play here. For each position that's advertised as being available, don't be surprised if someone hasn't already been unofficially selected for it, with those advertisements a procedural requirement.

You've been there for some time now and if there's no indication that that something permanent is in the offing for you, it's unlikely that anything will.

Again, been there, suffered for it.