What Deb said. 

Also, job descriptions that are ridiculously specific and unique tend to be wired.

I am at the point in my career that if I am suspicious I just email someone I know at the institution (if there is such a person) and ask outright.

Remember the scene/passage in Hunger Games where the Committee is ignoring Katniss' feasts of archery? I've had interviews like that. It's like they can't be bothered to notice you. I don't suggest shooting the apple out of the pig's mouth to get their attention, but I would bet they already know who is getting the job.

Matthew


On Feb 21, 2013, at 2:49 PM, Deb Fuller <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> On Thu, Feb 21, 2013 at 2:40 PM, Rachel Smith <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> Do you suggest a way that applicants can address the issue of "wired"
>> job announcements without causing offense?
> 
> In the Fed world and I assume in State and local government, anything
> that is advertised for less than a month is usually wired. Jobs have
> to be advertised if the position classification, pay grade, or duties
> significantly change. Also if the person is going from temp to perm,
> the job is usually advertised for a couple of weeks. I've also gotten
> to the selection committee and then have the job mysteriously
> disappear, probably because the person for whom it was selected didn't
> make the cut and they needed to readvertise the job again for that
> person.
> 
> You can always use your network and covertly ask around to see if that
> job is wired or not. Even an innocent, "Hey, I'm interested in X job.
> Can someone tell me something about it?" might get you an honest
> response from an insider who will tell you if it is wired (off the
> record). I've been severely tempted to just ask flat out in
> interviews, "So, is this job wired? If so, I'll just save you all the
> time. Mark me down as interviewed and we'll go on our merry ways." I
> haven't yet but some day, I just might.  :)
> 
> Deb Fuller
> 
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
> 
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
> 
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).