A Public Sector Guide to Sourcing Key Skill Sets

Effective use of technology can boost productivity and improve public services, which is why public sector organisations are often on the lookout for specialised talent. Whether that’s experienced IT professionals for central government projects, tech support for the HSE, or contingency staff with data skills, demand for specialist skills is on the rise. 

Unfortunately, while demand is great, the challenges to recruit are greater still. Lengthy appointment processes and outdated technology mean public sector bodies can struggle to source the talent they need. And that’s before you take into account that private sector pay for niche skills is often higher than in the public sector. 

When looking to fill this kind of post, you may need to employ creative recruitment strategies, including turning to a specialist employment agency like Unijobs. Our unique model can help you fill specialised, temporary public sector jobs at speed, using a variety of tools to ensure that candidates are equipped with exactly the skills you need. 

Specialised Skills – Knowing What You Need 

Understanding which skills your organisation lacks is the first step in finding your perfect candidate. Increasingly, with the growth of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, these skills will be tech-related, which can make for a tricky recruitment process if you yourself don’t have experience with these technologies. 

Tech roles are not the only ones causing issues, however. Demand for data skills is also on the rise with Skillnet Ireland and IDA Ireland citing 49% of businesses now acknowledge the need to upskill their employees in data analysis skills, even in non-IT roles. 

Regardless of whether you need specific IT expertise or core data analysis and visualisation skills, if you are looking to fill specialised roles, you will be looking for unique abilities, usually developed as a result of specific training or work experience. These people can help you solve complex problems and add value through: 

• Critical decision-making abilities 
• Technical expertise 
• Unique insight 

Why Niche Roles are Hard to Fill 

Unsurprisingly, recruiting for niche roles in the public sector can be tough. Despite the recently announced increase in public sector wages, public sector recruitment remains constrained by tight budgets, and private sector salaries for tech roles are often higher, making it difficult to attract the talent you want. 

Furthermore, there are often very specific internal recruitment policies for public sector positions which need to be followed in order to demonstrate that all appointments are open and fair. Vital as these measures are, when recruiting at speed to fill a high number of roles, they can make life difficult for your HR department during in-house recruitment. 

Finally, and particularly in relation to tech skills, it’s important to think carefully about the longevity of the roles you advertise. With technology evolving rapidly, it’s essential to establish whether a long-term niche hire will offer a good return on investment. Ask yourself: 

• How long will their skills be relevant? 
• How much does it cost to hire them? 
• How long would it take to train them in-house? 
• Can they move to another role when this project is complete? 

If your answers indicate that employees would cease to add value once their niche skill becomes obsolete, it’s likely you need to consider short-term employment solutions. 

Creative Sourcing Solutions 

As an expert recruitment partner specialising in the public sector, Unijobs can provide fast, flexible, temporary recruitment for a variety of niche and specialised roles. So, whether you need a cybersecurity specialist, a procurement manager, or even a team of pensions specialists, we’re on hand with creative, technology-focused sourcing solutions to meet your needs. 

With access to sector-specific job boards and data-driven search tools, we can source and vet niche candidates easily. Custom candidate testing can also be used to identify specific technical knowledge and assess core competencies. This reduces the likelihood of bad hires and can even increase the possibility of temporary jobs switching to permanent employment if you have longer-term requirements. 

Custom Recruitment for the Public Sector 

With access to innovative tools such as these, Unijobs aims to reduce the stress involved in hiring for niche roles in the public sector. As a shared non-profit service specialising in short-term public sector recruitment, we understand your sector and the specific hiring challenges you face. 

We also offer a cost-effective solution to recruit at scale where required. That means when tech hires are on the cards, you can increase the efficiency of your recruitment process and reduce time to employment – ensuring faster, easier access to the specialised talent you need now, as well as innovative solutions to plug the tech skills gap that is yet to emerge. 

Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can identify the perfect candidate for your niche, tech-focused, or specialist roles.