NEOGOV Blog

Learn how to improve public sector time to productivity with an HR onboarding system and other human resources onboarding improvements.

Recent research by GovernmentJobs.com found that public sector applications are down overall even though hiring is on an upswing. This poses a problem today for agencies who are looking to fill critical vacancies. While offering unique perks and benefits, as well as a more stable work-life balance compared to the private sector, are great things you should be highlighting in your job listings, you should also consider what may be turning job applicants off early on in the hiring process. Doing everything you can to shine a light on what makes working for your organization special will help you get the best talent. Let’s take a look at nine red flags in job listings that prevent candidates from applying to a job.

The job market is hot right now, with many people not only job searching in the wake of the pandemic, but also being more selective about which jobs they apply to. This is likely to increase even further in the new year, when job applications are traditionally at their highest anyway. That’s why it’s so important that your organization has a careers site that stands out and is engaging to job seekers. You might have some of the best perks and opportunities for professional growth out there, but if your careers site doesn’t catch someone’s attention, they would never know it. 

While many public sector organizations attempt to up their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, how many of them are actually facilitating a welcoming environment for diverse employees? 

Even if your workplace is diverse, diverse employees may not feel understood, valued, and represented at every level of the organization -- and they may not feel like there are as many opportunities for growth. Beyond mission statements, there’s likely plenty of room for improvement throughout every stage of your hiring and retention processes.

Keep reading for actionable steps your team can take to foster a more welcoming environment for employees of diverse backgrounds. 

Workplace culture has become increasingly important for public sector organizations to develop and put into action. From attracting prospective employees to enjoying higher retention and productivity levels among existing employees, establishing a well-defined and positive workplace culture has a multitude of benefits. 

If you feel your time-to-hire and/or quality of candidates are not up to par, you should take a look at where you’re sourcing your candidates. This includes everywhere you post your jobs: online job boards, career pages, social networks, job fairs, traditional media like newspapers or magazines, and via referrals. This will allow you to determine where to find the best job candidates.

It’s a question that seems obvious, but can be used to gain critical insight into your recruiting and hiring processes: how attractive is this job I posted to job seekers?Determining a job posting conversion rate will allow you to see which job postings are doing well and which could use some help to attract more applicants.

Building diversity, equity, and inclusion is vital for public sector organizations. Learn how to support DEI in the workplace with education and training.

While rules for each organization may differ based on location and state legal regulations, local government agencies across the nation are grappling with the challenge of how to collect and track employee vaccination information to ensure the safety of their workforce -- especially given the recent FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on August 23, which may prompt more organizations to mandate employee vaccinations. 

Entry-level employees are critical to your organization's success. Here are vital to ensure your new employees are prepared to perform at their best.