Interesting story here. Either the job is filled or this guy has a bit of a scam going on. My friend did apply for it some time ago and the guy had him do some printing for a few hours to see how they worked together. The photographer told him that he had eight other people lined up to also try out and that he would let him know. Then the ad reappeared and my friend called about it. He was told on the 11th of June that the job was filled. Now, on the 15th, it has been listed again. Hmmm.
If anyone wants to try for it, make sure that you sign the prints you make, so that he can't use them. My friend who applied and gave this guy several hours of printing didn't do so and regrets it.
Of course, we don't know that it is not a case of perhaps the photographer being very picky, but it looks funny.