Moving from working in the public sector to the private sector is a challenge, but it can be done

Research into public sector workers moving into the private sector suggests that these workers can face serious challenges and be forced to battle sometimes unfair perceptions.

A survey of employers conducted by recruitment consultant Hays revealed that 87% believed that public sector employees lack sufficient market insight and are unrealistic about the differences between the two sectors. The majority of employers surveyed did not believe public sector experience was important to them and the jobs they had on offer, reflecting an image crisis for many experienced and hard working public servants.

The Hays survey of 1,435 employees and 348 employers showed 87% of private sector employers believe candidates from the public sector need to better identify and convey their skills to potential employers. Meanwhile employers struggle to accurately assess candidates coming from the public sector, with over half reporting difficulties in identifying potential employees because of different job titles.

According to Mike Emmott, employee relations adviser at the UK Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, "There's so much media publicity about inefficiency and waste in the public sector that even quite reasonable people might feel nervous about recruiting people from a public sector background. I think it's a problem of perception, I don't think it's to do with the inherent ability of public sector workers."

Concerns expressed by public sector workers in another survey also revealed their perceptions about making a transition to the private sector. This survey showed that nearly a quarter of public sector workers fear that their background would put them at a distinct disadvantage if they switched sectors. When it comes to recruitment practices, public sector job candidates attending interviews in the private sector expect them to be similar to those in the public sector, but 29% expect them to be both harder and more structured and over 20% report they need help with interview skills.

Although 60% believe a move to the private sector would enhance their career progression, more than two-thirds of those surveyed predict that they would need to develop new skills or gain qualifications in order to help them find the right job. Workers also felt that salaries, benefits and career opportunities would be better in the private sector, but thought work/life balance would be worse.

Many public sector employees fear that their skills will not translate into the world of private sector employment. More than half (56%) of employees in the public sector who would consider moving into the private sector fear they lack the appropriate skills to do so, according to research by recruitment consultants Badenoch & Clark, which also found that workers in local government were the most concerned that their skills would not help them get a job in the private sector.

While public sector jobseekers have a high level of transferable skills, in today's market they need to be flexible about the roles they can get and to move with the times. According to career coach Peter Cobbe, first and foremost, ex-public sector clients should be readily able to give examples of how their core skills are easily transferable, as the public and private sectors share many similarities.

“How someone analyses complex information, builds great relationships and coalitions, manages resources or motivates their team, for example, is not sector-specific,” says Cobbe.

“If they can do it in one area, they can do so in another. If they demonstrate their skills, experience and achievements as a value proposition of use anywhere and work to map this to roles of interest in the private sector they are on the way being successful. They then need the skills to market and campaign effectively based on a rigorous approach and a positive psychology (‘Don't wait for your boat to come in, Swim out to it’).”

Reaching out to one’s network offers a critical advantage says Ian Munro, an experienced careers professional.  “Where clients have been able to make a strong impact through networking, this has opened the door on a number of occasions.”

According to career coach Sue Duncan, who has coached public sector and central government employees for years, much of the challenge lies in managing expectations. “It’s about being realistic, plus active networking, and also considering interim job roles - for those open to working in this way - as a means to get into the market.”

Mark Staniland, Managing Director of Hays career transition services, sums up the challenge.

"There is a lot of stereotyping about working life in both sectors, which both sides will have to overcome. Having a clear idea about your career goals, understanding your skills and how you can add value to a prospective employer are always essential in a job search, but it is even more critical that you can convey them in the current climate and when making the transition from the public to the private sector."