Staffing Up: Innovative Recruitment Strategies to Fill Critical Roles in the Federal Government
Although it has been estimated that over the next ten years a huge portion of the Federal workforce will be retiring and 193,000 mission-critical job vacancies will need to be filled by end of 2009, the current economic outlook will affect the retirement expectations. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported that most federal employees do not retire as soon as they become eligible, and the economic downturn could encourage some to remain on the job until their retirement accounts are replenished. In the current economic climate, managers must balance the long-term goal of reaching out to the next generation of government workers with the urgent need for rehiring retirees to fill mission critical positions.
Methods to Recruit Retirees and Experienced Government Workers
Many agencies are implementing innovative ways to retain their knowledge base, from working with nonprofit groups that hire federal annuitants and rehiring retirees as contractors to developing skills-based databases to instantly match positions with relevant experience. GAO is working to effectively share these best practices across government. Naturally, engagement and integration challenges exist when rehiring workers, especially those who are rejoining the workforce after a period of retirement.
Methods to Recruit, Engage and Satisfy New, Entry-Level Employees
Entry-level employees tend to be those that have the most contact with those your agency serves. Studies suggest that during the first 3-6 months of employment you have the highest risk of losing employees. Effective recruiting and onboarding can increase your chances of retaining those employees. The elusive goal is to quickly bring new talent on board, set them up to succeed, and provide them with growth opportunities to engage and retain them.
Methods to Enhance Diversity Recruiting
A qualified and diverse workforce better allows government to meet the needs of its citizens. Understanding the impact of bias and micro-inequities on the recruiting and hiring process and how it impacts employee engagement is the first step in recruiting a diverse workforce. Develop strategies in your organization to combat and eliminate the mindset of “We can’t find good candidates,” or “There are not any quality diverse candidates.”
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The Washington Post is the leader in recruiting solutions for the DC area job market, providing the best venue for employers and job seekers to connect. As the local expert on local jobs, we have the most qualified candidates in Washington using our job board as well as the most employers using us as their primary recruitment resource.
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