Current trends within the public and not for profit sector

Recruiting professionals for public sector jobs and not-for-profit organisations is a task that is often underestimated: the finance and accounting positions within these sectors are often complex and there are many political and legal issues regarding roles which mean that specialist skills and knowledge is very important. During the hard times we are currently facing, the attractiveness of jobs in the public sector is ever increasing.

The Government have announced increased borrowing to protect and increase the number of jobs in the public sector and this has led to a general feeling that public sector jobs will be more secure than other areas of the economy. Whilst this is a debateable point, it certainly isn't the case with the not-for-profit charity sector. Although this sector has seen a lot of growth over the years, many organisations within it rely heavily on funding through donations which will be expected to reduce in the face of the economic downturn.

To help improve business efficiency, many organisations in the public and not-for-profit sectors have been trying to tempt industry and banking candidates by offering improved packages and salaries in the hope that importing candidates from a commercially minded 'results based' background will bring fresh ideas and a corresponding improvement performance and effectiveness.

Employers in the public sector often see certain candidates (such as individuals with technical finance skills used mainly in banking) adapt well when placed in organisations such as government departments that are heavily regulated.

However, one problem employers sometimes experience when looking to recruit candidates from out of sector is that these individuals do not always have the right mindset and understanding of the principles behind the not-for-profit sector. Having someone who wants a stable job during this volatile climate is not enough; employers are looking for candidates who understand (and are able to add to) what the organisation is trying to achieve.

This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of Martin Ward Anderson who offer Public Sector Recruitment for Public Sector Jobs