At the interview, ask how long before they plan to make a decision. If it is longer, then you are likely their 2nd choice as the first one (or two) did not pan

At the interview, ask how long before they plan to make a decision. If it is longer, then you are likely their 2nd choice as the first one (or two) did not pan out. I worked for one company that could not seem to schedule an interview before a resume was 2 months old. They missed out on a lot of people, although the company was very stable. I agree with Epiddy that government can be VERY long process. If you are unemployeed, I would not set your heart on a government job, as you might starve.