Most advice you’ll find about working smarter, not harder focuses on what an employee should do. But, optimizing their time and effort is not solely an employee’s responsibility, nor is it entirely within their control. Your agency plays an essential role.

It’s frustrating when your organization’s job openings don’t attract enough applicants, or worse, when no one qualified applies at all. Or perhaps you’ve been told to hire someone new immediately, meaning your usual thoughtful recruitment process is out the window.

You may already have an easily accessible pool of qualified candidates. The secret is to take a look at people who previously applied for positions at your organization.

Public sector budgets are often stretched to their limits and inflexible. HR efficiencies can give your organization new ways to do more with less.

An applicant tracking system is more than a human resources tool. The software can reduce frustrations for recruiters, hiring managers, job applicants, and everyone on your staff who pitches in to hire talent.

Executives and human resources leaders are recognizing how applicant tracking software for government agencies can improve the entire employee hiring process. Here are five ways technology can make hiring less frustrating at your organization.

Planning ahead is the lifeblood of any human resources professional. Tapping into trends helps you proactively develop responses to the evolving demands of the public sector workplace.

Processes change and new ideas emerge. What worked well enough in previous years has become obsolete, and solutions previously unimagined have become today’s most effective best practices. Knowing what trends may pop up as hot topics at your agency gives you an advantage in the coming year.

Here are four important trends human resources professionals in the public sector can anticipate in 2018 and beyond. 

We can improve public sector performance if we make decisions about people practices based on data. One of the biggest initiatives in gathering people data is the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. In particular, data from this study points managers towards practices that drive engagement.

Fast growing HR Software as a Service company expands breadth of solutions with the purchase of a learning management software company

More than five hundred people convened at NEOGOV’s 16^th Annual User Conference to get a sneak peek at upcoming product updates, learn from experts, and network with other NEOGOV users.

Organizations that embrace diversity are more innovative and do a better job of meeting community needs. A lack of diversity can inhibit your organization’s creativity and even make you the focus of public criticism.

The markers of diversity are diverse. There’s race, ethnic group, gender, cultural background, age, disability, and more. Valuing diversity also means welcoming those with a range of experiences, perspectives, education, and ideas.

With all that to encompass, how can you change your recruitment approach to cultivate a more diverse workforce?

Performance reviews are often unloved. The feeling is justified when the process is outdated and disconnected from your employees’ day to day work. If this is the case, giving your organization’s performance review process a thorough overhaul can radically rejuvenate your employee engagement.