Public service, private ambition
The skills shortage is claiming another, welcome, casualty - red tape.
Government jobs are no longer playing hard-to-get. A nationwide talent war is forcing the biggest change to take place in the public service for many decades.
Many workers consider federal, state or local government jobs as the Holy Grail, offering stability, security of tenure and the chance to contribute positively to society.
However, public service recruitment has been shackled with the perception that plum jobs are hard to score. Applicants have had to jump through the fiery hoops of selection criteria, face numerous interview panels and wade through reams of red tape before waiting months to hear if an appointment has been made.
Get that Government Job author, resume writer and trainer Dawn Richards says many people employ her to help them score their dream government job because the process is just too hard.
"I have written applications with selection criteria for all levels in local, state and federal positions and they all had similar requirements," she says.
"Without exception, if selection criteria are part of the selection process, this is the biggest fear.
"Most people don't have a clue where to start. They can't understand the mumbo-jumbo of the criteria and don't know what they need to write.
"I believe it's fair to use selection criteria if written communication skills are a requirement of the job. But, for positions like waste service collectors (garbos) and cleaners, it's ridiculous. It's simply putting a barrier there that stops applicants from gaining their choice of employment."
Application processes are being refined across the board, as the skills shortage bites into the normally fruitful public service recruitment scene. Many councils and the State Government are using private recruitment firms to fill many positions, from top-level management to contract administration jobs. All levels of government have online job search tools, many with the facility to apply online or upload resumes.
The Commonwealth Government has ditched the Public Service Employment Gazette for their APS jobs website, which includes selection criteria tips and online applications.
All jobs with Brisbane City Council are listed on their website, from which online applications can be lodged by writing a letter and uploading a CV.
The Office of the Public Service Commissioner oversees recruitment processes for the State Government.
Principal policy officer Paul Farrugia says the process is being "streamlined", with their employment website, www.jobs.qld.gov.au including email alert system and application process tracking.
"We have also improved the way we recruit, making the necessity of writing long applications a thing of the past," Farrugia says.
"Many of our agencies have leapt at the change to improve their recruitment approach, becoming more competitive in the marketplace."
When asked to respond to complaints about the application process for State Government jobs taking too much time between resume lodgement and final appointment, Farrugia says: "We agree, it is too long and is something we are actively working to fix. If you look at many of the 1000 jobs advertised on our website, you will notice that the application process is becoming much more streamlined. We have begun to reduce this time significantly and will continue to work to improve the gap."
However, regardless of the application process involved, government jobs are still an object of desire for many workers.
Farrugia says that is because the State Government, being the largest employer in the state with about 200,000 people working in varying locations and thousands of job descriptions, can offer what few other employers can - true flexibility.
"People seek greater work-life balance, work that fits around their family and social commitments and provides challenge, variety and professional and career development. We are also a big employer in the bush, and try to get into the challenges that remote communities face each day.
"To attract new employees in a fiercely competitive labour market, these work practices aren't just desirable, they are essential," he says.
Work your way up
Name: Elisha Keighley, 28.
Job: Brisbane City Council air quality officer.
Mission: Work out what needs to be done now to keep the city's air clean in the future.
Why government: As an engineer, I am quite passionate about the environment and the local area. I have worked in different sections to develop my career and skills. I went to the Solomon Islands as a volunteer to help them plan their transport system. I won a Prime Minister's Award for that.
Career: Started vacation work program while still at university, then applied for assistant position on a contract; then worked my way up from there.
Advice: You can't just apply to be in the government, you have to be passionate about the job you want to do. It can be a hard, bureaucratic environment, and you have to be able to work with a diversity of people, so you have to want to get things done and to keep the process moving. Research the organisation and find out what you can contribute.
A lot of people come into government jobs looking for a high-paid job straight off. But there are all kinds of work and sometimes you need to get in and work hard to be considered for a higher position.
I was recently on a selection panel, and I would encourage everyone to include at least a short response to the selection criteria in their introduction letter. It helps to guide the panel. And be excited about the job, and say you want to tell us more.
(Keighley also appears in Brisbane City Council's employer branding advertisements, launched last month as part of its employee retention and attraction strategy).
INTERVIEW TIPS
Know how to sell yourself, both in your job applications and in the interview itself.
Think of the interview as "just another meeting" where you are evaluating the organisation and the position and deciding whether you would like to work there, while the employer is evaluating how well you'd fit in with the team and the job.
Thinking of it as a meeting takes away the power imbalance and will build your confidence.
Research the organisation and prepare questions to ask when offered the chance. Brainstorm questions that might be asked and prepare written answers (to clarify your thinking).
Practise entering a room, holding your documents in your left hand (keeping the right hand free for a handshake) and taking a seat.
Visualisation is extremely helpful before the interview.
Get that Government Job author Dawn Richards
