Hello. I'm new to the list (again, I had a subscription long time ago) but not new to this discussion. I have to totally agree that it is almost impossible to get a job at the SI. In the past year, I have applied for 4 or 5 jobs there, all of which I was completely qualified for but never got a call back. One I never even received a letter, two or three I got a letter and one I'm still waiting to hear from since the beginning of December. I have no idea if the position has even been filled but I suspect it has. The frustrating part is that I actually worked over a year (recently) for the SI on contract in the same department that I applied and as an intern when I was in grad school. I've worked in the museum field for over 10 years now and I have never seen a place so difficult to get through. I agree that HR is understaffed and overworked, but they could be more polite. Each time I call to find out the status of my application, I get a somewhat rude "It hasn't been long enough" statement even though the post ending might have been 2 months before. I have enjoyed reading this post and threads. If anyone has any other information that would be helpful, please pass it on. Paige Textile Conservator ========================================================= 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).