Alice,

It doesn't hurt to keep any eye on your application now that you've turned it in. Do your research. Find out who supervises that position--they're liable to be doing the hiring or be part of the hiring committee.

Don't become a pest, but do call at least once (and probably not more than once) in a few weeks to ask about the process and speak briefly with the supervisor if you can. Help them remember your name later when that list arrives. How you handle the conversation depends on how the supervisor lets it run--if he/she takes the time to speak with you about the job, and some good information is exchanged, that's helpful. Don't pump them, and don't let yourself be pumped for info. You never want to become a nuisance, so after one good contact, be patient and hope that your interest puts you at the top of the list.

Sorry, Art, about the crack about human resources (my ex works in HR for the COE, and I think probably does a great job), but I've discovered through academic channels at least that HR doesn't always hire the sharpest folks. I applied for a job at U of New Mexico in the library administration office, doing what I do now plus one other easy task. When I went through town a few weeks later I stopped to ask about interviews, only to be told they'd finished them. The young woman at the HR front desk was very sweet, but when I asked if the application had any notations showing why I wasn't selected, she said "it says you have to have an associate's degree." I politely pointed out that I have a master's degree. "Let me write that down" she offered. I pointed to the first line on the page under my name, where the MA was clearly the first thing listed.

When I applied for my job now, as writer for the library (filled at the high end of the administrative assistant category), I sent everything, and called a few weeks later to find out about interviews. The secretary told me my name wasn't on the list. Again I called HR. I was told "you didn't show on your application that you can make hotel and car reservations."

"But I applied to be a writer."

"Doesn't matter. If it's an administrative assistant position, you have to show that you can make hotel reservations."

I wrote a page of notes with examples of times I'd made reservations for hotels and rental cars and faxed it to them. And then they sent my application over to the library. I have not in six years there made a single hotel reservation for anyone.

Good luck!

SRS