I can't speak for other institutions, but in my experience hiring at a museum is often "hurry-up-and-wait." Approval to spend the money to advertise, let alone hire, often comes mere days before the intended start date. I've always taken those with a grain of salt. I've also found Personnel offices very slow to accept the Internet as a way of finding candidates. At every institution I have worked for, I had to introduce the notion to the Personnel Department. This also explains why so many postings are "second-hand:" candidates need to contact the Personnel Director, but the person who actually knows enough about computers to put the posting on the web is someone else. I have also been asked by others to put jobs on the Web. In short, it is far from a perfect world, but we're working on it... Eugene Dillenburg Lead Developer, Philippines Coral Reef exhibit John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois 60605 V: (312) 939-2438 x3555 F: (312) 939-8001 e: [log in to unmask] "I believe in swordfish." -- The Dead Milkmen, circa 1985