15:55 Sep 17, 2011 

You can't imagine how much it helps getting comments from friends and colleagues. Thank you very much.

12:42 Sep 17, 2011 

I was just about to post, when I realised I was suggesting the same as you!! This is what I was saying "Plenty of ways to put this, so just another suggestion.

Personally I'm not fond of the word "candidacy", but that certainly doesn't mean that its use isn't valid.

There are still posts to be filled, and (candidate) applications are being evaluated / considered / assessed"

This is what sounds most natural to me (and I spend a busy period every year handling job applications).