Amy Marshall-
        Thanks for contributing to this thread about "hiring from within."  Being
just recently graduated from graduate school, I've been following this one
for obvious reasons but have not chimed in yet myself.
        I recently had the opportunity to visit Ft. Bliss, and your fine museum,
when the Iowa Hawkeyes were in El Paso for the Sun Bowl.  I was quite
impressed with the caliber of the exhibits, especially the recreation of
the fort.  How extensive are the Ft. Bliss archaeological collections?
Mostly historic?
        I had another brief question: is there some sort of standing national
committee of folks who are employed at military museums such as yourself?
Just curious...
Best Wishes-
Timothy Reed
Office of the State Archaeologist of Iowa
University of Iowa
Iowa City IA
At 11:13 AM 1/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>That's also the problem with a lot of federal jobs--they're not real.  I
>don't know how many times I've applied to jobs with the Park Service
>only to be told that "funding" was cut or they've re-evaluation the need
>for the position, and then I've seen some positions that *were*
>full-time permanent come back as term or temporary positions.  Yes--less
>than 2 weeks, I'll believe they already have someone in mind.  Just my
>$0.02, and I'm not a personnel person--just someone who's learned
>through doing....
>
>Amy Marshall
>Curator
>Ft. Bliss Archaeological Collection
>
>My own opinions--not those of my employer.
>> ----------
>> From:         Laura Mahoney[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
>> Sent:         Friday, January 16, 1998 9:10 AM
>> To:   [log in to unmask]
>> Subject:      Re: questions on posted jobs -Reply
>>
>> I was thinking the same thing.  At least at the Smithsonian, flags
>> should
>> go off if a position is only open for 2 weeks.  Even within my own
>> office,
>> we have had open positions which we were required to advertise for
>> when all along it was know who would be hired.  For Smithsonian and
>> Federal jobs, I generally won't even bother to apply unless the
>> position is
>> open for longer than 2 weeks.  Another suggestion... I will generally
>> try
>> to call someone I know at the museum and ask them to find out if the
>> position is "real."  It is surprising how many are not.
>>
>> --------------------------
>> Laura M. Mahoney
>> Grant/Contract Specialist
>> Office of Sponsored Projects, Smithsonian Institution
>> 955 L'Enfant Plaza, Suite 7400
>> Washington, D.C. 20560
>> Voice: (202) 287-2170;  FAX: (202) 287-3707
>> E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
>>
>> >>> Ross Weeks <[log in to unmask]> 01/16/98 10:20am >>>
>> The question is raised about why so many museum job postings allow
>> very
>> little time for someone to submit an application, and the anticipated
>> "start date" for the successful applicant isn't mentioned.
>>
>> Are many, if not most, of these postings simply an effort by the
>> museums
>> to
>> be able to verify that their openings were "advertised" widely in the
>> effort to seek non-traditional applicants, i.e., to comply with
>> affirmative
>> action policies?
>>
>> In so many cases, I am afraid, the museum has already pre-selected
>> someone
>> for a job but either government regulation or museum policy requires
>> that
>> every vacancy be advertised.  I'd be curious how many museums really
>> do
>> open their best positions to all who might be
>> qualified/interested....and
>> then select from that pool without prior familiarity with the
>> applicants.
>>
>
>