"It's mostly people you know, or somebody who says this person is a brilliant lawyer, a brilliant banker or a brilliant policy person and here's their resume," Daley said. "And I forward it on to the transition team."
But for those working out of a transition office in Washington, it's a constant barrage of requests and the knowledge that a lot of people will ultimately be disappointed.
"I just don't want anybody to be mad at me," said one transition staffer, describing the stress involved.
He jokes that his mother in Chicago is running her own field office because so many people have been approaching her. He's also been inundated by requests for jobs and inaugural tickets when attending church.
"I had somebody who I have not seen since the fourth grade call me and say, 'Hey, I'm really excited about the opportunity to work in the administration. Here's what I'd like to do, and can you get my resume to the right people?' " he added.
Others have responded to all the incoming messages by trying to lower their Internet profile, removing their Facebook pages from public access and trying to keep their names out of the newspaper.
One transition official said creative applicants have tried to reach him through alumni information provided by his college and law school. Others have used his multiple e-mail addresses from the campaign, Senate and transition. Still others have sent resumes to his home address.
"It's amazing - the people's persistence," he said. "People have e-mailed me now four or five times since Election Day. I'm trying to be polite, but there comes a time when you're actually annoying me now."
