Renée Carberry, Government Recruitment Manager at Alexander Appointments, shares with us her extensive experience in Government recruitment. In this interview, we explore Renee's insights into the current state of the Government job market, and the challenges that are specific to recruiting for the public sector. Through humility and adaptability, Alexander Appointments remains heavily focused on connecting the right job seekers with Government opportunities that support the community.

What distinguishes Alexander Appointments as a recruitment agency specialising in Government positions?

We are a small, dedicated team of highly experienced recruiters with a lot of heart. We work collaboratively to ensure the success of our client and their recruitment needs. Through partnering with our Government stakeholders, we have been able to establish solid and lasting relationships. We are responsive and efficient, especially within crisis. We have supported massive Government initiatives including 2019 Bushfires, COVID19 pandemic, 2021 and 2022 Flooding across NSW. We are passionate about Government initiatives and the impact these positions contribute to the community.

Could you provide some insight into the current state of the job market for Government roles? What trends or changes have you observed recently?

Given the recent machinery in Government, the market has significantly slowed. As Departments restructure, there will be a pivot in the market. 

Are there specific challenges in recruiting for Government positions that differ from the private sector? How do you address these challenges?

Majority of the vacancies we receive within Government are short term temporary assignments. In a highly volatile market, that is driven by cost of living, most people are looking for job security and longevity, making recruiting short term temporary assignments extremely challenging. Through communication with stakeholders and candidates, we understand the drivers within the market and overcome these challenges.

Many people aspire to work in Government roles. What advice can you offer to job seekers looking to break into the public sector, especially if they have limited previous experience?

Reach out to an Alexander Appointments consultant. We can work with you to understand your aspirations along with transferrable skills to assist you in branching into the Government sector.

Can you share a success story of a candidate you've placed in a Government role through Alexander Appointments? What made that candidate stand out, and how did they benefit from your services?

Just recently, I placed a candidate with no prior Government experience into a 6-week temporary assignment. Upon completion of her 6 weeks, the candidate was offered a permanent position within the NSW State Government team. The candidate was so grateful and appreciative. Definitely a rewarding moment in my career! Just goes to show that it doesn’t matter how long or short the Government temporary assignment is, once you’ve have your foot in the door, permanent opportunities can present.

Can you think of a highlight you experienced while leading the Alexander Appointments Government team?

It is hard to pinpoint one specific story, as every person I have placed have their own amazing story to share. The highlight of my career though would have to be during COVID19 pandemic and the 2021-2022 NSW Floods. We were given the opportunity to support NSW State Government in disaster response. These were bulk state-wide initiatives where we were required to source talent from regions across NSW. We managed to recruit over 300 staff to support the NSW community. We received recognition and praise from the NSW State Government Department for our responsiveness, support and partnership to ensure the success of these disaster response initiatives. Alexander Appointments has since been selected to join their Disaster Response panel for any future disasters that may occur within NSW, illustrating the amazing work we achieved. 

Are there any specific Government agencies or sectors that Alexander Appointments specialises in, and what unique challenges or opportunities do these areas present in terms of recruitment?

Alexander Appointments partner with all Government agencies across NSW State Government and Local Council. We can source anywhere in NSW, both Sydney Metropolitan and Regional NSW. In fact, a lot of our success stories come from Regional NSW.

We specialise in Administration and Customer Service, Accounting, Finance and Analytics, Communications and Marketing, Executive, Human Resources, Policy, Projects, Procurement, Heritage, Sustainability and Environmental Services, Asset and Facilities along with Information & Technology Services. We have also had success in recruiting Indigenous Identified vacancies. 

Can you tell us about any innovative strategies or technologies that Alexander Appointments utilises to enhance the recruitment process for Government positions?

Throughout my almost 6-year tenure with Alexander Appointments, we have been continuously evolving and adapting to keep up with market and industry trends. If you are a Government Hiring Manager, please reach out if you would like to learn more.

Finally, how can job seekers and Government agencies interested in your services get in touch with Alexander Appointments and explore opportunities for collaboration or recruitment?

Please feel free to reach out to Renée or Ronita via Government@alexanderappointments.com.au, telephone (02) 9659 4411 or our LinkedIn accounts:

Renée Carberry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ren%C3%A9e-carberry-820688b8/

Ronita Fourie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronita-fourie-9421a4239/

We would love to hear from you!