Letter to the editor

This is in regard to Milt Zall's Bureaucratus column in the Sept. 17 Federal Computer Week, "Fair and open job postings?"

His point is well-meant and well-taken. However, he misses a major point — that the majority of "open" positions are wired, that is someone is ID'd for the position prior to posting, announcing, etc. Therefore, a qualified candidate who is not in the "good old boy" network has no chance to get a position when it's posted.

Therefore, I submit that the posting of vacancies does not improve the candidate pool. Posting vacancies only makes the bureaucrats feel good and gives them the excuse to use when someone complains that they tried for a position but didn't receive the time of day.

Now everyone is happy, but posting 100 percent of openings does not ensure that the best-qualified person is hired.

Joe Takacs
Project supervisor