| Let's just get this out of the way now - I'm not a fan | | | | best you can. You could well be competing with |
| of the public service. | | | | thousands of people for certain advertised positions. |
| You see, in my book Job Secrets Revealed I try to | | | | When you are interviewed it will probably be a panel |
| teach that there are no rules when you're applying for | | | | interview of about 3 people. (Private companies usually |
| jobs. This isn't true in the public service. They have a | | | | have one person do the interviewing - starting to see |
| rule for everything, including how to apply, what to say | | | | what I mean about public service not wanting to save |
| and how to say it. | | | | money?) |
| The public service isn't noted for its customer service | | | | The fact is that the public service is so regulated by |
| or expense reduction abilities, so if you want to work | | | | rules that you simply have to play THEIR game. Talk |
| for them then you are in for a battle. The fact is that | | | | to some people in the department you want to work |
| they have "selection criteria" which you must meet. | | | | for. Have a chat with the personnel officer and see |
| Generally there will be an address for you to write to | | | | what they're looking for and mention speaking to them |
| get a list of these criteria. | | | | on the application (who is usually in the area of the |
| Once you have this list, simply organize your | | | | unfilled position.) |
| experiences and skills that match the criteria. Make it | | | | Also - in order to save you time, check if the position is |
| easy for the personnel department by writing down | | | | in fact vacant: many advertised positions are already |
| the individual criterion as a heading and then show how | | | | filled by ?temporary? or ?acting? public servants who |
| your skills match the criteria. You?re marked on how | | | | are being put through a formalized process of having |
| closely to the selection criteria you respond. Similarly, if | | | | their position advertised ? thereby ensuring equity |
| you make it to a shortlisted interview, your responses | | | | when they apply for their own position they may have |
| are similarly marked and then plotted on a grid with | | | | been acting in for years. |
| your written application. | | | | Unfortunately you're pretty much on your own on this |
| As you can see, the public service is a totally different | | | | one. Prayer, crossing your fingers, networking and |
| animal to private enterprise. Customer service isn't as | | | | even dumb luck may get you the job. I'd try them all. |
| crucial here as it is private enterprise, and the desire to | | | | I'm going to leave it here with the public service. But |
| make a profit or save money isn't as strong. | | | | before you start thinking "But he hasn't told me what |
| What I'm trying to say is that the savings or | | | | to do", let me say this: I don't have to. The selection |
| profit-making ideas you may have that would really | | | | criteria will do that for you. |
| interest an employer in the private sector may be met | | | | If you are particularly skilled at negotiating or lobbying |
| with a yawn in the public sector. | | | | for budget increases or more funding, that may help. |
| With this in mind try to address the selection criteria as | | | | Every department would love more money. |