How to recruit for public sector jobs

Your specific processes for public sector recruitment and hiring vary based on your agency’s requirements.

The following general steps can help you update your approach to attract the talent you need. Customize the steps based on your agency’s requirements.

1. Review your hiring requirements

All jobs require minimum qualifications that you expect applicants to have. While you don’t want to compromise on the quality of candidates you attract, having strict hiring requirements could eliminate candidates who have the skills and knowledge to fulfill the position.

For instance, loosening your education requirements expands your talent pool to job seekers with relevant skills and experience. Those candidates might have work experience that compensates for the missing educational requirement.

Some positions require specific degrees, licenses and certifications. For example, when you hire an attorney, you need a candidate with a specific education. However, other positions allow for more flexibility on certain requirements. Decide which requirements are true necessities and which ones are nice to have but not necessary.

2. Update your job descriptions

When your public sector recruiting faces tough competition, upgrading your job descriptions could draw attention from more job seekers. Look to similar private sector job ads for inspiration, but tailor the wording to fit your agency’s branding.

Incorporate relevant keywords that job seekers might use to search for similar positions. Additionally, make the job post easy to scan by using bullet points and short sentences.

3. Decide where to advertise

Expanding where you recruit for public sector applicants helps increase the number of resumes you receive. Ensure your agency’s career page is current with your existing vacancies listed.

Expand to other online sources, including Indeed, to reach a broad range of active job seekers. Other options include:

• Social media posts
• Hiring events
• Employee referrals
• Reaching out to your professional network
• Promotions

As you expand your sourcing options, track the metrics on each source. This helps you identify where most of your new hires come from.

4. Complete your screening processes

Applicant screening processes for public sector jobs start with narrowing down the applications. From there, various types of interviews, such as screening interviews, video interviews and in-person interviews, help you evaluate qualifications.

Many public sector jobs also require testing, either at the time of applying or later in the selection process. Defining these screening steps early and moving through them quickly allows you to extend a job offer to your selected candidate as quickly as possible.

Tips for improving public sector recruitment and hiring

The following public sector recruiting tips can help you achieve better outcomes from your efforts.

Improve the perks

Recruitment in the public service sector is often limited by budgets. Finding small ways to offer better employee perks could make your position more attractive. For example, one appealing perk for many job seekers is flexible scheduling. This can mean adjusting working hours or allowing remote work at least a few days per week.

Highlight the pros of your public sector job

Even if you can’t expand your benefits package, highlight what you offer when advertising job openings. For example, you could say you have secure funding for the position, as job security appeals to job seekers who want stability.

Training and mentorship opportunities attract applicants who prioritize learning and growth. For some people, knowing they have room for advancement encourages them to apply. You might also emphasize the sense of purpose that often comes with working in the public sector.

Utilize technology

Advocating for improved recruitment technology in your agency can help improve your processes. Using applicant tracking software and other technology to perform initial applicant screening saves you time over manually evaluating each resume.

Technology also allows you to automate communications with applicants and some of the screening processes, such as sending out evaluations. You can also use hiring platforms to handle pre-employment paperwork and onboarding processes.

Create cohesive branding

Branding can be an effective part of a recruitment plan for any organization. For government agencies that use a more traditional approach, modernizing your image can help capture job seekers’ attention.

Consider your key objectives. Incorporating your agency’s goals and values into job descriptions and other recruitment materials serves as a beacon for applicants who align with those ideas. Using consistent messaging also helps build brand awareness.

Focus on retention

Having an employee retention plan helps make your public sector recruiting efforts easier. Reducing your turnover rates means you have fewer open positions to fill. You also have more opportunities to promote team members to higher positions when they’re happy and committed to staying long-term.

Fostering a positive, inclusive work environment can improve employee satisfaction. Work on team relationships to build connections and improve the workplace. Showing appreciation for your employees also helps them feel valued.

Government agencies often have strict processes for many procedures. However, giving your team more decision-making power when possible is another way to boost satisfaction and retain employees.

FAQs about public sector recruitment

How can you reduce time to hire in the public sector?

Reflecting on previous hiring data helps you identify issues that slow down the process. Use that information to streamline processes, such as speeding up screening methods or focusing on the most successful talent recruitment sources. Preparing for every stage of the hiring process before posting the job saves you time once applications start coming in.

How is public sector hiring different from private sector hiring?

Government agencies detail specific steps you must take when hiring a new employee. Private sector employers have more freedom in how they hire staff members, which can shorten the hiring process. Private employers can also adjust their salary offers, benefits and perks, such as flexible working arrangements, to make their positions more appealing.