Why Are Government Jobs Reposted?

The primary reason a government job is reposted is the hiring manager does not believe the applicant pool that responded to the original posting is sufficient to yield a good enough new hire.

Hiring managers do not want to repost positions. Doing this further delays the hiring process, but in the long run, it is better to hire a qualified candidate who fits the position and organization than to rush the hiring process for the sake of getting a warm body on board. Managers feel pressure to get positions filled as quickly as possible because the volume of work that needs to be done does not slow down just because there is a vacant position. The amount of work that can be done decreases, but the demand for government services does not experience a corresponding decline.

Should you reapply for a reposted job?

Applicants are frustrated when jobs are reposted. An applicant is left wondering if the application submitted has been considered and discarded or is still under consideration. In a small percentage of times, when jobs are reposted, managers say whether or not previously received applications will be considered. Doing this benefits hiring managers because they drastically reduce the number of duplicate applications they will receive.

Usually, a reposting means those who applied for the position in response to the original posting will not be hired. Sometimes, hiring managers have one or two people in the original pool they want to interview but will repost the job in hopes of getting a few more people worth interviewing. Managers can do this when there is not as much time pressure to get the job filled. If a hiring manager has a few people in the pool who look promising but chooses to repost, the manager increases the likelihood those people will no longer be interested in the job when they are offered an interview.

Jobs may be reposted due to lack of viable candidates

When hiring managers get an applicant pool with no viable candidates, they sometimes repost the position with a higher salary range. Not all hiring managers have the flexibility to do this. When this is done, it is most often done with senior positions such as school superintendents and city managers.

Jobs may be reposted if the original had errors

A government job might also be reposted if the original posting contains critical errors. For example, the salary range could have a typographical error. Human resources staff strongly discourage and often prohibit hiring managers from offering a salary outside the posted range even if the offered salary is within the position’s pay grade. Reposting would be necessary to satisfy human resources staff.