When employers extend a deadline

[UrbScotty]

Scene: Two nonprofit organizations, late summer 2011 into winter 2012.

Organization #1: Progressive advocacy organization

Mid- to late August: I learned of an excellent opportunity for which I think I'd be a good fit.
A couple days later: A friend of mine who works there spoke with me to discuss the job, the organization, etc., and pledged to work behind-the-scenes to get me an interview. This individual is well-known as one of the leading young progressive activists in the state, and when he promised to try to get an interview, I believe he meant it (unlike with many people). He also noted that the funding for the position is there, and in his words, "there is a lot of work to be done."
August 31: I applied.
September 7: Deadline.
Ensuing weeks: I made a small number of contacts - a couple with the organization itself, one with the aforementioned connection.
Mid-October: I checked, and the posting was still up on the website. Now says, "Deadline extended to November 1 or until ideal candidate is identified."
January 2, 2012: Position still posted on website. It still says "Deadline extended to November 1 or until ideal candidate is identified." It has been 124 days since I applied, 117 days since the original deadline, 62 days since the second deadline. Not that I'm counting. Again, as I was told a few months ago, the funding is there, and "there is a lot of work to be done."

Organization #2: Nonprofit advocacy organization. I have interned with another organization that has similar goals as this group, and I have done similar work to what I would be doing here.

Mid-November: I learned from another friend, a local staff member for this organization, about a great opportunity with this organization.
November 18: "Priority deadline;" applications submitted by that day were to be given given priority. I happened to apply that day.
November 21: Another friend of mine - a board member with this organization who knows the hiring manager - said she would recommend me for this position.
November 23: Original "hard deadline."
November 30: I contacted them to follow up, but did not receive an answer.
December 19: I received an email saying that applications were being reviewed and I would hear back soon.
December 20: A posting for the exact same position was posted on a nonprofit job board that I frequently check (but the position did not appear until 12/20; again, I had heard about it from a friend the previous month).
December 23: New "priority deadline." This time, however, there is no second deadline; they just say they will accept applications until the position is filled.
January 2, 2012: Nothing yet. 45 days since I applied.

Questions:

1. What could be going on (i.e. why are they extending these deadlines)?
2. What the hell am I doing wrong? (Okay, that's probably not something you all could answer - but I keep thinking that there's something in what I am doing that needs to change.)
3. Any tips for following up with them at this point?

[Downwinder]

1. Could it be funding?

[UrbScotty]

2. I highly doubt it.

Both positions are still listed on their respective websites. I suspect that if the funding wasn't there, they would've either (a) not posted the positions in the first place, or (b) taken down the postings.

With Org. #1, my connection said the funding was there. So unless they lost said funding...

With Org. #2, they just recently posted it on a job board.

[Scuba]

3. It may have nothing to do with you. I was interested in a job in 1996...

... but went elsewhere when they dragged their feet. They finally filled the position in 2003.


It was all internal turmoil holding things up.

[rbnyc]

5. +1

It's amazing what's going on inside some of these organizations.

[rbnyc]

4. Possibility...

It's possible that the position is being funded by a grant and the grant promises to find someone with very specific qualifications that your friends may not realize are so paramount. When you review the qualifications in the job description, do you meet them all?

Or, the ultimate decision maker may have an ideal candidate in mind and just feels there's something missing from your resume, even if the job description doesn't make that clear. Can you get any specific feedback from your internal advocates.

I recently applied for a position and had a friend with a great reputation in the field close to the executive director. I have 10 years of progressive experience with great metrics, but I was amazed that I couldn't even get an interview. It turns out that they were looking for someone who was very heavy in one area that had not been made clear in the job description, and I was just light in that area.

It's hard not to take it personally.

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. Try to get feedback from your friends.